Volvo XC70 Review: Quite tempting...

Not much really. The most significant impression it left us with was the supreme level of ride comfort – almost Citroen or Lexus-like which really, is a tremendous feat. We do not recall Volvos ever being this comfortable to drive in, not even in the XC90 V8 we tested in Cameron Highlands earlier this year.

The suspension is very, very apt at absorbing those unexpectedly big road bumps, and keeps everyone in the cabin terrifically isolated from the outside world of pollution, traffic and noise.

There is a downside to all this, of course, and you would expect that to be the XC70’s rather soft handling qualities. Brake hard and watch the car dive forward, upsetting everyone in the process. The same goes when you corner, accelerate, and swerve in a manner that could remotely be called violent.

As predicted, the straight-six heart does not yield much in the low end, but it does give one that BMW-like, linear acceleration with a good measure of punch at the mid and top end. You must get used to working the engine at those rev ranges if you want some serious speed though, which in a car this big and heavy, is surprisingly possible.

Not that you would want to drive this thing fast though, because the amount of mid-range torque that you ride on is adequate enough for overtaking your daily dose of traffic, in the comfort of your mobile office.

It cocoons and pampers you, very much like how a Mercedes Benz would, but in this case it’s even more comfortable, and that is a big surprise.

The station wagon was the real McCoy stemming from the mid 20th century, and Volvo were one of the first to build them from the ground up instead of adding a roof over the boot of its sedan derivative.

In many eyes, it might seem a tad irrelevant in today’s SUV, “uncle sedans” and sport compact-ridden culture. This is where the Volvo fits right in, being the unpretentious vehicle it is. Spacious, very comfortable, and an increasingly rare sight on the roads. Buy one, and you’ll be guaranteed to not meet one at every single red light 10 years from now, because this Volvo will last. It is that solid, that accomplished, and that safe.

Credits: Text and Photos by Amery Reuben