Exterior
I love retro design as much as the next person, but I tend to appreciate it more in inexpensive things like sneakers, T-shirts or coffee tables that I can get rid of when my taste changes. But $49,000-plus (when loaded) cars that I spend the majority of my daily mom-life in? Not so much.
I'm a huge fan of the XC70's gargantuan cargo area, the powered liftgate, the nice, wide backseat and the kid-friendly step-in height. The old-school boxy wagon design, however, is just a little too suburban housewife for me. Granted, that's essentially what I am: a work-at-home mom in the 'burbs of Denver. Maybe that's why I feel the need to express my inner tigress and stand out from the carpool-lane crowd just a smidge.
I'd prefer something more updated and modern-looking than the XC70. Take the tiny Volvo C30, for example. With its functional hatchback design, it's still a wagon at heart, but the sleek, curvy exterior is totally 21st-century Volvo. It's past time for the XC70 to be stripped of its mom-jeans and forced into something much less comfortable.
See also:
Suspension
The advanced, independent suspension system employs spring struts at the
front, the geometry of which has been carefully calculated to provide quick and
precise steering response, enhancing the ca ...
Driving dynamics: engine
The second-generation, 2.4-litre, five-cylinder, diesel D5 is a cleaner and
more advanced version of the engine fitted to the outgoing XC70. It gives superb
performance (130mph) allied to fuel eco ...
Anti-lock Brake System (ABS)
The ABS system performs a brief self-diagnostic
test when the engine has been started and
driver releases the brake pedal. Another automatic
test may be performed when the vehicle
first reache ...