Swedish Superstar! (Volvo V70 in general)

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Product:	Volvo V70 in general
Date:	14/12/00 (74 review reads)
Rating:

Advantages: Rocket-like, safe, agile, spacious

Disadvantages: Pricey

Blasting at high speed in a Volvo estate isn't the joke it was. The T5 carried on when the 850's replacement, the V70 arrived, and now Volvo has released the R versions with 250bhp in manual guise and 240bhp in auto.


They come superbly equipped, with leather, air-con and an eight-speaker CD stereo... but they're not cheap. The saloon's rear end is old-fashioned whereas the estate looks right from every angle. It looks mean too, crouching on lowered suspension and 17-inch alloy wheels.


The V70R shifts, racing from 0-62mph in 6.7secs for the front-wheel drive and 7.3secs for the four-wheel drive. Turbo lag is minimal and acceleration in fourth and fifth is excellent, making it a brilliant motorway car.


The V70R breeds confidence. It feels stable and safe at speed, encouraging you to keep your foot buried. We didn't test Volvo's claimed 155mph top speed, but on a German autobahn we saw 150mph and the car still felt rock solid.


Fortunately, the newly developed anti-lock brakes, incorporating ventilated discs at the front, stop you effectively and there's plenty of feel for controlled, precise braking. Handling is impressive, too. The 4WD has killed off the chronic wheelspin that afflicted the front-wheel-drive version.


When you welly it out of a tight corner now, you increase momentum not Michelin's profits. Fortunately it doesn't kill the fun element and the V70R AWD is involving and enjoyable. It's tidier inside, too, thanks to the modern design of the V70's cabin and the special R trim with patterned aluminium panels and blue-tinged instrument panel.

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