Road Test: 2008 Volvo XC70

(page 2 of 2)

The middle seats are versatile: they're split into three separate cushions, each of which folds flat forward and amplifies cargo room. And for smallest passengers, the second row can be outfitted with integrated two-position booster seats that eliminate the need for aftermarket strap-ins.

The XC70's suspension and steering will not benefit from Volvo's active chassis control setup, with Four-C automatic damping control. All the test cars provided on a drive outside Cologne, Germany , were outfitted with the system, making a direct assessment of ride and handling more difficult. The similar S80, without those systems, has fine steering response and ride control.

The overall sensation is a bit willowy, though. The XC70—and the S80—transmit vibrations through the steering wheel and body structure that simply don't ever emerge in a Lexus RX or an Acura MDX. The controls feel substantial but more rock-solid architectures can be found over at Mercedes and BMW, too.

Among the raft of hardware to help the XC70 with light-duty off-roading and on-roading are Hill Descent Control, a blind-spot alert system, cornering headlamps, and adaptive cruise control.

Less Drag or More?

It's become progressively more masculine, and this time the XC70's aero-butch theme plays out well on its pretty flanks and tightly drawn front end. Everything's amplified—the size of the Volvo "ironmark," the thickness of bright trim around the grille, the headlights themselves, the spread of the VOLVO letters across the tailgate. It's all drawn from the XC60 concept we revealed to you in January from the Detroit auto show—and it's a safe bet the same theme will reappear when the XC60 goes into production late next year.

The ritzy interior has been loaned out by the S80 as well. The shapes and textures are carried over ( Europe gets a handsome matt walnut we'll have to wait for), but Volvo says special attention has been paid to the XC70's ventilated sport seats. It has to be true—they felt better after hours of driving than any crossover seat in memory. All the rest of the interior trim is tastefully coordinated, and the XC70 has useful bins in the center console for a cell phone or iPod, and a bin beneath a rolling tambour.

The niggles are few, once you nestle into the front seats. The XC70's cruise control is indecipherable at first pass. Unlike other luxury vehicles, the stop-start button isn't given any ceremony—no red lighting, no dramatic placement, just a discreet placement high on the dash. Oh, and while that iPod bin is handy, the actual jack is located down in the glovebox, when everyone knows we all shuffle and click ahead through songs we don't want to hear.

We're not sold on two of the high-tech features found in the XC70. Radar cruise control adds a layer of thinking to an idea that already dismisses driving concentration. And the new obstacle detector built into the dash goes off like you've hit a nerve in a game of Operation! Closing in on a car turning right will set it off—and it bleats cheaply.

Of course, it's all in the name of safety—and those features plus the rolling stock of airbags, traction control, and stability aids remind me of the Volvo exec who once told me Swedes are paranoid about safety. He wasn't kidding.

Homing Device

Every vehicle is the product of its environment, which explains why the nimble, safety-conscious XC70 looks like the SUV that American shoppers want, and drives like the station wagon they really want—and that Euro drivers will also want when the big tires and Yankee frippery are stripped off.

The look of a real truck-based SUV translates pretty well to Volvo's new large crossover. And by keeping the light steering and damping, the worst sins of big, truck-bred SUVs have been avoided. Other makes may build crossovers with tighter feel and more edgy performance, but few also carry Volvo's enviable reputation for safety.

When it goes on sale Oct. 1, we're sure the elite hipsters who signed up for the original Cross Country won't be disappointed. And neither will most drivers of American-made sport-utes, who realize that the biggest SUVs don't always suit the task at hand.

2008 Volvo XC70

Base Price: $37,500 (est.)

Engine: 3.2-liter in-line six, 235 hp/236 lb-ft

Drivetrain: Six-speed automatic, all-wheel drive

Length x width x height: 172.8 x 73.3 x 63.2 in

Wheelbase: 110.8 in

Curb weight: 4092 lb

Fuel economy (EPA city/hwy): N/A

Safety equipment: Inflatable-curtain side airbags, stability control system, Whiplash Control System (WHIPS), Brake Assist, Ready Alert Brakes, Fading Brake Support

Major standard equipment: Dual-zone automatic climate control, power windows/locks/mirrors, power driver's seat, tilt/telescope steering wheel, wood trim, cruise control, electric foldable rear headrests, AM/FM/CD sound system

Warranty: Four years/50,000 miles

Provided by TheCarConnection.com—The Web's Automotive Authority