Volvo V70 T6 2009 Review

Volvo V70 T6 - Road Test

Volvo's capacious V70 wagon used to be the Swedish maker's biggest seller in Australia. Take a look at the figures from ten years ago and the V70 accounted for nearly 30 per cent of the marque's annual total. But then there was a seismic shift in Australian car buyers' tastes... They fell for SUVs.

And then the V70 suffered not only from rival brands, but also from within the ranks of Volvo. Just two years after it was introduced in 2000, the beefed-up Cross Country version, as it was initially called (later it became the XC70), was outselling the standard car. With the introduction of the brand's first 'proper' SUV in the form of the XC90 in 2003, the nails were further lined up for the V70's coffin. Indeed, by 2005, the XC70 and XC90 were accounting for nearly 70 per cent of total Volvo sales, while V70 volumes had shrunk to barely 70 units a year.

Thus when an all-new model came up on offer last year, the local subsidiary thought long and hard before signing on the dotted line. It's just as well they did...

The XC70 was always guaranteed, but there was some to-ing and fro-ing before the company decided to supplement that car with just one 'standard' V70 variant. That car proved to be the performance-oriented T6 version -- hardly what you might call a "standard" wagon.

But there's a history upon which to draw... Volvo has long thrust performance versions of its big load lugger on us and by and large in the past the T5 and R versions of the five-doors tended to be quick and effective. That said, while the range of turbocharged five-cylinder engines delivered in a straight line, seemingly most models had their suspension systems replaced with bricks... The end result was fine on billiard table-smooth racetracks, but unsettling on anything approaching a typical Australian road.

Even the introduction of the three-mode Four C -- Continuous Controlled Chassis Concept -- adaptive suspension system in 2003 failed to iron out the worst ride quality traits in Volvo's uber-performance wagons.

Thankfully, the same cannot be said for the latest generation, which takes the updated electronically-controlled Four C system and applies it to a much more compliant and better sorted chassis for very positive results. But more on that later...

Priced from $68,950, the new V70 T6 combines all the traditional Volvo wagon attributes of safety, spaciousness, versatility and a good level of equipment for the price. It also adds no shortage of performance.

From the outside, the performance is relayed in subtle body adornments with side skirts, a hatch-top spoiler, dual tailpipes and big 18-inch wheels. Step inside and you are faced with Volvo's new contemporary corporate dash layout that offers superb ergonomics, great fit and finish, top materials and good looks.

As always, the seats and audio system are superb, but the main beneficiaries of the V70's square-rigged styling are rear passengers, with the car easily accommodating a couple of adults in the outboard seats. The V70 also features Volvo's excellent built in booster seats to help raise smaller children to a safe level for using the standard seatbelts and as a parent of two small boys, I can definitely vouch for their convenience.

Luggage space too has been increased and the cavernous load area will now swallow 555 litres of baggage -- held in place by the adjustable anchorage points on the aluminium rails that run the length of the load area. This capacity can be further expanded courtesy of the simple to use 40/20/40 split seatback. Volvo supplies rollaway luggage barriers if you choose to really load it.

Under the bonnet, the latest V70 eschews the traditional five-pot powerplant, instead boasting a compact 24-valve turbocharged 3.0-litre DOHC inline six-cylinder engine generating peak outputs of 210kW and 400Nm.

The latter is on tap from just 1500rpm and while you wouldn't call it turbo lag-induced, there is a distinct increase in grunt as the revs hit the midrange. The engine doesn't offer blistering acceleration, but it is strong off the line and gets even stronger as the revs rise. Indeed, it'll keep pulling right through to about 7000rpm in a delightfully smooth and refined fashion, if that's what you're after.

If you want to get out on a country road for a bit of a punt, it is definitely through the mid to higher rev range that it likes to play. To do so you can use the tip shift function for the slick-shifting automatic box (there are no steering-mounted gearshift paddles) but under most driving conditions it is not necessary. Shift the trannie into Sport mode and the six-speed auto responds quickly and efficiently to throttle inputs.

And so too the suspension... In Comfort mode, it is very, er... comfortable, with the car ably muting even the harshest road ruts. At the same time there is still good control with a solid feeling on the road and only a little body roll through tighter corners.

Out of town, however, Sport mode would probably be the default setting with a very well composed mix of suppleness and dynamics. If you really want to push hard, the Advanced mode firms things up even more, ably controlling the car through fast directional changes and keeping every flat and fleet without destroying the impressive ride quality.

Grip levels are high, even in damp conditions, and the standard stability control only intervenes at very high levels of commitment.

The only let-down in the handling stakes is the steering which although reasonably direct, is via a large tiller that tends to dull sensation and communication.

The diameter of the wheel is matched by the large 12.2m turning circle -- likely a symptom of the wide 18-inch wheels fitted standard to the V70. In contrast to Volvo's normally tight racks, this means three-point, rather than U turns, are common in town.

Regardless of how or where you are driving, you're left with a very distinct impression of refined performance from the V70 T6 -- an impression confirmed by the Carsales Network's Editor-in-Chief who snaffled a T6 for an extended period as his Christmas holiday wheels.

Swallowing a full family-load of luggage -- including roof racks full of bicycles, surfboards et al -- the V70 proved a quiet and surprisingly frugal family truckster. And once the lion's share of gear was offloaded it was also impressively quick and surefooted when time came for an early morning blast along the Great Ocean Road and into the Otway Ranges.

Having driven HSV's 317kW R8 Tourer in the weeks before getting to know the T6, it's our estimation the two would make for an interesting comparison. What the Swedish car might lose to the local in sheer horsepower, it would likely make up in surefooted all-wheel-drive traction and turbo-boosted midrange.

On wet roads, the HSV wouldn't see which way the Volvo went! In terms of interior fit and finish and cabin ambience there's no debate -- the Volvo has it over the local car in spades.

And in Euro v Euro terms we'd also pick the Volvo over the considerably more expensive BMW 5 Series Touring and on-the-surface dollar-comparable Audi A4 Avant.

Though we're suckers for the look of five-door 530i in Sports trim, the Volvo is arguably better value for money, even if it does miss out on the better integrated satnav et al of the Bavarian car. Compared to the Audi, you'll have to spend considerably more than the T6's $70K sticker to match the Volvo's equipment and performance in what is a demonstrably smaller wagon.

Getting the idea we like the T6? You'd be right... In fact, we'd go so far as to suggest the V70 T6 is currently the pick of Volvo's range. You get the feeling that this is a car that is very well screwed together. The styling and execution is right on the money to boot...

Indeed, it seems with the latest generation V70 T6 Volvo has delivered a wagon that meets all the criteria for a well-rounded hauler with a (fair) bit more go... Consider it a return to form for a brand that built its reputation on delivering exactly that...