Volvo XC70 (2007 – 2016) Review

Volvo XC70 (2007 – 2016) At A Glance

3/5

+Smart-looking 4WD estate with more off-road ability than the previous XC70. Comfortable, safe and practical.

-Mediocre to drive and arguably not as good looking as its predecessor. Serious issue of carbon build-up in pre-AdBlue EU6 D4 VEA engines that have not been run on high Cetane superdiesel.

Insurance Groups are between 22–40
On average it achieves 80% of the official MPG figure

According to Volvo, more of its XC70 models are driven off-road than the larger XC90. The V70 estate based four-wheel drive car with raised body height has proved a real success for the Swedish firm, especially in its home market where snow and ice are an everyday hazard.

Smaller, lighter and cheaper than it’s bigger brother it seems buyers choose it for its go-anywhere, do-anything attitude.

Like the V70, it’s based on the S80 saloon and is safer than before, offering greater comfort and extra capability both on and off-road than before.

Of course it’s not a new idea. The firm launched the first generation car in 1997 as an alternative to a full-size SUV. Designed for customers who required the extra capability of all-wheel drive and increased ground clearance for tackling rough terrain, it quickly proved popular here, especially with those who tow.

From the front it’s easy to see that the XC70 shares much with the S80, but the beefed up bumpers, raised ride height and accentuated foglights give it a unique look. Black cladding on the wheelarches and lower doors along with underbody protectors front and back add to the effect.

Importantly it’s unmistakably a Volvo and the same can be said of the interior. There’s a genuine sense of style thanks to the neat design, which is dominated by the floating centre console that flows seamlessly into the central cubby.

Real MPG average for a Volvo XC70 (2007 – 2016)

RealMPG

Real MPG was created following thousands of readers telling us that their cars could not match the official figures.

Real MPG gives real world data from drivers like you to show how much fuel a vehicle really uses.

Average performance

80%

Real MPG

21–51 mpg

MPGs submitted

224

Diesel or petrol? If you're unsure whether to go for a petrol or diesel (or even an electric model if it's available), then you need our Petrol or Diesel? calculator. It does the maths on petrols, diesels and electric cars to show which is best suited to you.

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Ask Honest John

Does the 2008 Volvo XC70 have a dual-mass flywheel?

"I know most diesel cars have a dual-mass flywheel but cannot find confirmation on a car I am Intending to buy, which is a 2008 Volvo XC70. Do you know if it does? "
The Volvo XC70 equipped with the manual gearbox has a dual-mass flywheel (as do most Volvos after the year 2000), but the automatic model is a torque converter and so doesn't have a flywheel.
Answered by Lawrence Allan

Can you recommend a fun 'Jack of all trades' car?

"My 2007 Renault Clio diesel has been a trooper that can handle almost anything but I now need something bigger to handle our dog and other adventures. I usually dislike SUVs in favour of estates due to better handling but don't want to restrict options. The car would need to do 100-mile trips to work twice a week and short town driving, space to hold the two of us and triathlon/kayak/paddle board gear (plus dog in a crate!), be somewhat fun to drive and reliable, to fit a budget of approx £12,000. We'll load it up for holidays in the UK and EU too so any creature comforts are welcome. The Skoda Yeti seems to do the trick but I'm worried about the engine problems I've read on here."
The Skoda Yeti is the definition of a 'Jack of all trades'. It drives like a normal car and has similar runnings costs, but has the interior space of an SUV and some of an SUV's off-road ability. It's easy to drive in town and relaxing to drive on the motorway but, like you say, there are a few known issues you can read about in our review: https://www.honestjohn.co.uk/skoda/yeti/ Cars of a similar ilk include the Volvo XC70 and the Skoda Octavia Scout. I'd also advise having a look at the BMW 3 Series Touring xDrive. It's not got the jacked-up suspension of the Yeti, but it is a brilliant all rounder and will be the best to drive of the bunch: https://www.honestjohn.co.uk/bmw/3-series/2012/
Answered by Russell Campbell

How do I appeal the ULEZ charge and avoid paying the daily fee?

"My wife and I drive a diesel Volvo XC70 (first registered in 2006) and a Volvo XC60 (2013 model). Both have very low emissions readings on their MOTs and we have a property just within the South Circular road that we go to occasionally. Is there any way that we can challenge the set requirement for a Euro 6diesel engine to be compliant with the ULEZ?"
The short answer to this question is no. The ULEZ is based on total tailpipe emissions, which includes particulate matter (PM) and nitrogen oxides (NOx) - things that old diesel cars will emit an awful lot of My advice would be to sell one of the cars and replace it with a Euro6 diesel or Euro4 petrol.
Answered by Dan Powell

Can you recommend a comfortable Estate?

"I'm looking at an Audi A6, Volvo V60, Mercedes-Benz C-Class and Skoda Superb to replace my 2015 Volvo XC70. I require 4x4 and it must have very comfortable front seats with good lumbar support. Is there another estate that I have missed? I have about £25,000 plus the trade in for the Volvo. Doesn't need to be new. What would you recommend?"
Your shortlist is pretty strong. A Volvo V90 could be a good option, particularly if you like your XC70. Perhaps even go for a V90 Cross Country for the ultimate in comfort. Or a Mercedes-Benz E-Class All-Terrain...
Answered by Andrew Brady
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