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by NewCarTestDrive (World's Leading Provider of Automotive Reviews)

Great outdoor wagon offers improved value.
Reviewed by
  New Car Test Drive

Walkaround

The Volvo XC70 is built on Volvo's large-car platform, which it shares with the flagship S80 sedan, so it has more in common with Volvo's big sedan than it does with any of Volvo's smaller models.   Its wheelbase of almost 111 inches puts it (by today's somewhat downsized measure) at the small end of the big-car spectrum.   It certainly has plenty of room inside.   In overall length and width the XC70 closely matches a BMW 5 Series wagon, albeit on a wheelbase that's 3 inches shorter.   In weight the Volvo and the BMW are just about dead even. The Volvo XC70 body is nearly identical to that of the Volvo V70, which fills the role of a more conventional road-going wagon in the Volvo lineup.   Both were developed with Volvo's attention to impact-dissipating crumple zones, and both have fully laminated glass.   The only unique XC70 structural feature is an extra lower front crossbeam, added to account for its higher ride height in an impact.  

In styling the XC70 follows the current trend at Volvo, with at look that's instantly recognizable, yet smoother, less gangly and visually tighter than the Volvos of just a few years ago.   In profile, the character line at the bottom of the windows rises dramatically (for a Volvo), suggesting a forward leaning, dynamic stance.   The window pillars are blacked out, which makes all the windows look like a single element.   The rear glass angles slightly forward toward the front of the car, rather than dropping cliff-like from the back edge of the roof, yet there's still plenty of cargo volume inside.  

Large, sharply defined headlights sweep back into the front fenders.   Below each light is a prominent pad of dark plastic, suggesting two individual bumpers, or bumperettes, separated by that bold, protruding grille and the trapezoidal air inlet that echoes underneath it.   The bumper pads are finally connected, at the very bottom, by the front edge of the skid plate.   Set into each of the pads is a small foglight surrounded by a bold outline of brighter-colored material.  

From the rear, the XC70's hexagonal shape reminds us of the C30 coupe.   The tail lights are large enough and bright enough to do Las Vegas proud, and the rear glass window extends down lower than the side windows to improve rearward visibility.   The hydraulically operated power tailgate is handy if you approach the back of this car with arms loaded, and it keeps hands cleaner if the tailgate is coated with grime.
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