 | Volvo V70 D5 |
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ESTATE MODERN?
What could be better to have thrumming away under the bonnet of your big estate car than a big diesel engine? Steve Walker checks out the Volvo V70 D5.
Is there still a place in modern family life for the large estate car? It wasn't so long ago that everybody boarded the conveyor belt to big estate ownership as soon as they started a family. Many would hop off at points along the way, electing to keep their brood at a manageable size but those who stuck it out were spirited inexorably towards the inevitable. Suddenly, they'd find themselves with three growing kids, two enormous dogs and the only vehicle that could realistically accommodate them all without provoking the wrath of the RSPCA. Of course, all this was before the MPV boom and the dramatic rise of the 4x4. Today, big estates like Volvo's V70 have competitors closing in on all sides. Perhaps the D5 diesel engine can help keep it relevant.
Volvo has a great reputation for producing large family-friendly estate cars; this in a market sector where the focus of the leading models has turned increasingly in a sporty, lifestyle-orientated direction. It's a place where spoilers, roof rails and monster alloys are prized more highly than rear legroom or a well located curry hook. Amidst the cluster of trendy tourers, tourings and sport wagons, the V70 remains unashamedly an estate and the inclusion of D5 diesel power adds to its practical credentials.
The D5 is a five-cylinder diesel engine with a 2.4-litre capacity. Its peak power is 182bhp and it's produced at a relatively low 4,000rpm. The best modern diesels adjust the parameters of their combustion processes to make the best of their power and torque available across a broad band of the rev range but the D5 lags behind a little here. Its peak torque is a muscular 400Nm but it's generated between 2,000 and 2,750rpm so it often seems like as soon as you hit the sweet spot, you're out of it again and it's time to grab another gear. The V70 D5's performance is average; it can cover the 0-62mph sprint in 8.4 seconds and achieve a 140mph top speed, but its strength is as a long distance cruiser. The suspension is tuned for comfort rather than spiky handling and the rather gruff engine note when accelerating at low speeds dissipates when it gets into its stride and starts munching on some mileage.
"Clean, functional design abounds and safety provision is predictably good"
The D5 diesel engine is available with the standard six-speed manual gearbox or the six-speed Geartronic automatic option. The V70 handles neatly but doesn't respond with relish when you hurl it into bends so driving in a relaxed manner, perhaps with the Geartronic 'box doing the shifting is probably the best way to get the most out of the car. A further option is Volvo's AWD four-wheel drive system and this can give useful extra bite for greater confidence on slippery surfaces and transform the V70 in to a phenomenal ski-drive vehicle. Finally, the Active Four-C chassis option comes with the SE Sport trim level and adapts the V70's suspension into Comfort or Sport modes on request.
The rear end looks a little more svelte than before but Volvo hasn't been diverted from this car's raison d'etre ? lugging gear. Lots of it. The clever trick is that Volvo has disguised the car's inherent boxiness with neat detailing like the split high-level tail lights. There's a class-competitive 540-litres of virgin space back there and a massive space can be liberated if you fold the rear seats down and stack your cargo to the roofline. The 40-20-40 three part split/fold rear seat offers 16 different combinations and the load bay floor itself features aluminium rails and movable anchoring points. A sliding load floor is also offered as an option as is a powered tailgate.
The V70's front is pleasantly curvy in-keeping with models like the S80, C70 and V50 which have reinvigorated Volvo's reputation for stylish design. The car's designer cleverly decreased the amount the side glass curves from front to rear, for maximum style at the driving end and maximum carrying ability at the business end. It's unmistakably a Volvo. The interior reflects the individual character of the exterior lines with clean surfaces and a number of creative design touches. Build quality is a definite strongpoint and this is certainly a car that you can load your young family into safe in the knowledge that they destroy its residual value within the first few seconds.
Prices start at £27,995 for the V70 D5 SE and the SE Sport model tops the range at £30,845, just £100 more than the SE Lux alternative. The 2.4D engine, a 161bhp version of the D5 is £1,000 cheaper. It's no surprise to find the V70 bristling with safety equipment even in standard form and all models benefit from traction control, WHIPS whiplash protection, SIPS side impact protection and a plethora of airbags.
Even SE models get electric front seats, a 160 watt 8-speaker stereo and 17" alloy wheels. The SE Sport adds speed sensitive power steering, the Four-C chassis, leather seats, 18" alloys and a collection of spoilers. Go for the SE Lux and it's a case of SE trim plus, leather, wood plus powered and/or heated everything. Bi-Xenon headlamps and silver roof rails are also included.
The 183bhp Volvo V70 is priced competitively compared to its German rivals. 177bhp of BMW 520d Touring is going to be at least £1,000 more expensive and you'll need an extra £3,000 for 170bhp's worth of Mercedes E-Class. With the Volvo's superior equipment provision and interior space factored in, it has a crucial edge that will look better still from the perspective of family buyers.
The D5 engine may lack the finesse of the top diesels in the executive estate class but it's a proven unit that should prove reliable and keeps running costs down. The official combined economy figure is 43.5mpg but this drops substantially to 38.2mpg if you opt for the Geartronic gearbox. Do the shifting yourself and you can expect upwards of 50mpg on long motorways runs. The engine produces 172g/km of CO2 or 195g/km with Geartronic so company car users would do well to stick with the manual.
The V70 benefits from Volvo's good reputation in the big estate market and it's desirability amongst those looking for a practical load carrier helps keep residual values buoyant. The D5 will be the most sort after engine too, so you're unlikely to take too much of a hit when the time comes to part company with this vehicle.
As an antidote to the cold, clinical efficiency of its German rivals, Volvo's V70 makes a lot of sense. Clean, functional design abounds and safety provision is predictably good. The V70 is a cuddlier family car than rivals from BMW or a Mercedes but on more objective grounds it looks less convincing. The flagship D5 diesel engine feels low tech next to the best units in the sector and the V70 lacks the depth of engineering that sets the very best executive estates apart. Tight pricing and decent equipment levels should still see it achieve popularity with value conscious buyers.
A powerful diesel engine is a great fit inside a big, practical estate car it's just a shame that the unit Volvo has access to is falling off the pace a little. In terms of economy, it's competitive but performance and refinement leave something to be desired when pitted against the cream of the crop. That said, the V70's practicality, price and safety credentials will still be a powerful draw and once you've settled on the big Volvo for those reasons, the D5 diesel should be the pick of the range.
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