Volvo V70 (2007 – 2016) Review

Volvo V70 (2007 – 2016) At A Glance

3/5

+Big and practical estate. Perfect for families. Good cabin quality. Plenty of safety kit as standard.

-Lacks the refinement of its German rivals. Steering feels overpowered. Ride tends to be bumpy at low speeds. 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 21–41
On average it achieves 82% of the official MPG figure

Have a crash in a new Volvo V70 and your chances of stepping out intact are better than in any other station wagon.

There are now extra airbags in the seat squabs to protect your lower body in impacts from the side, while the front crumple zone is built from four different types of steel to absorb head-on impacts progressively, leaving the cabin intact. Even the rear bumper is of a new, buttressed design.

There's no safer estate to be in.

It's a bigger, heavier, stronger car than the previous V70, based on the new S80 floorpan rather than the narrower S60 floorpan of the previous V70.

It isn't as pretty, though. The old V70 was one of the best-looking estates you could by. The new one is handsome enough and doesn't offend the eye, but doesn't catch it either. It actually looks better in XC70 four-wheel-drive guise with matt black bumpers and side protectors to ward off damage, and, thankfully, no matt black nose like the old XC70.

Volvo V70 and XC70 2007 Road Test

Real MPG average for a Volvo V70 (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

82%

Real MPG

21–65 mpg

MPGs submitted

656

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

Will ULEZ compliance rules change again in the future?

"Hi, I am having to change my beloved Volvo D4 for a ULEZ compliant car. If I buy a Euro 6 compliant vehicle, is the Mayor likely to change the criteria for vehicles and their emissions in the coming years if he gets re-elected, forcing many like me to change their vehicles again?"
It is difficult to predict if or how ULEZ regulations will change in the future, but it is safe to say that the rules will only become stricter rather than more relaxed. What is clear is that Euro 7 emissions regulations are due to come into effect in July 2025, so it would not be possible for this to be implemented as a ULEZ standard before then.
Answered by David Ross

ULEZ-compliant substitute for my Peugeot 406 estate?

"I have a 1999 Peugeot 406 diesel estate. It has 160k miles on the clock and I bought it for £2000 12 years ago. The expansion of the London ULEZ means that I have to change it, I really don't want to, but the daily ULEZ fees would be unsustainable. Can anyone please suggest any car that can match the cabin roominess and comfort, load space, durability and longevity of my beloved 406? I have a budget of £2000. "
If you can find one, a petrol Toyota Avensis estate sounds like the ideal option. It'll be spacious, comfortable and should prove to be very reliable. It'll be thirstier than your 406 and 700 miles from a tank won't be realistic - but you're not going to get a sub-£2k ULEZ-compliant car that can do that, unfortunately. A Ford Mondeo could be a good alternative - there are more about so you can be picky about finding one in good condition and with evidence of regular servicing. Also consider a Volvo V70 - they're very comfortable and spacious, but not particularly economical and might be more expensive to run.
Answered by Andrew Brady

Are imported cars worth buying?

"I want to buy a used Volvo V70. There are a number for sale with lowish miles that look good but most seem to be imported from Japan. Are Volvos, originally exported to Japan, made to the same standard as those originally exported to the UK?"
Yes, they're made to the same standard and are likely to be in better condition than UK cars as they won't have been subjected to salty UK roads. There are downsides to buying an imported car, though – it might not have the same history as a UK car, and it could cost more to insure. You might find that it's more difficult to sell in the future, too.
Answered by Andrew Brady

Does a Volvo V70 make a sensible used buy?

"I'm after a £1000 car for family and dog with space and that's cheap to repair. Where do you sit on a Volvo V50 or V70 for this sort of cash? "
I once bought a cheap S60 (saloon version of the V70) and it was a lovely car, but you have to be prepared to scrap it and move on if anything goes wrong at this kind of budget. If you go down the V70 route, look for a manual as the automatic gearboxes are renowned for issues. A V50 would be rough at this price - most are diesels, too, which would make me nervous.
Answered by Andrew Brady
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