 
|
|||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
              
|
PG on Wheels: Volvo V70 Wagon
Friday, August 11, 2000 By Don Hammonds, PG Auto Reviewer
And what better car to fit Sweden's popular image than Volvo? Yep, I know. There's Saab. But humor me. That's another story.
Volvo V70 T5 Wagon, base price, $32,400; in-line 5 cylinder turbocharged engine, 247 horsepower, 20 mpg. city, 28 mpg highway; 48 month, 50,000 mile warranty.
Saab 9-5 SE V6T wagon, base price, $38,150; 3 liter V-6, 200 horsepower; 48 month, 18 mpg. city, 26 mpg highway; 50,000 mile warranty.
BMW 3-series sportwagon, base price $29,200, 2.5 liter in-line 6, 193 horsepower, 19 mpg city, 28 mpg highway, 48 month/50,000 mile warranty.
AudiA6 2.8 Avant Quattro wagon, $36,900 base price; 2.8 liter V-6, 200 horsepower; 17 mpg in city, 24 mpg. highway, 36 month, 50,000 mile warranty.
The bottom line
This one's for you ... if the growing sport wagon market has you intrigued, but you need more room than is offered by the more popular brands and you prefer luxury and comfort over sports car characteristics and handling. If you place high priority on safety and luxury rather than sportiness. If you live in the 'Burgh or other cold winter cities, don't miss the cold- weather package with heated front seats and headlight washer and wipers.
And if you really want to personalize your Volvo wagon, pick up a copy of their 2001 accessories catalog. There's a navigation system, hands-free phone system, ten disc CD changer and extra-long cargo carrier for weekends and family trips, a pet and cargo barrier, ski holder, sailboat carrier and a host of other items available at cost.
What's the buzz? Although the 2001 model is not yet rated by Consumer Reports, the magazine historically thinks highly of Volvo products. Car and Driver magazine lauded the car for its styling, handling, acceleration, generous space and sturdy construction. It's EPA rated at 20 miles per gallon in the city and 27 on the highway.
In a Family Way? Bet you'll think about a Volvo sooner or later. There's the Volvo Whiplash Protection System, side impact protection system, inflatable curtain side impact and head protection system, safe approach and home safe perimeter lighting system, ISO-Fix Baby/Child Seat Anchorage and ... well, you get the picture. This one's made for families, at least those with the means to afford it.
Like Sweden, Volvos had an "image" in my mind. They were, first and foremost, very safe cars -- a nice choice if you had children to worry about. There was the boxy styling. Not the most exciting around, but sort of classy and elegant.
And back in the days when I was a yuppie, not a "topnoc" (tired old parent with no cash) during the 1970s and 1980s,Volvos, like BMWs and Saabs, were supposed to be at the top of your shopping list.
But this one was a surprise because it's anything but staid and dull.
It's attractive, nimble, contemporary looking on the outside and ultramodern inside. Come to think of it, Volvo's been turning a new styling corner, in the last few years anyway. If you glance at some of the other Volvos around the showroom, you'll see that the other models, such as the C70s and S40s, are downright stylish, thanks to the influence of Italian designers.
Of course, the price was not a surprise. As you might expect, you pay for quality, and buying the Volvo V70 will relieve you of $32,400 if you don't order an extra thing. Now, if you want the metallic paint, the leather package, the cold-weather/STC package (which frankly, I would not be without in Pittsburgh), the power sunroof, the touring package that includes a computer system and a host of other stuff, you're going to have to come up with $38,525.
That puts it in a class with some decidedly tough competition, such as the BMW 3 series sportwagon, the Saab 9-5 wagon, Volkswagen's Passat wagon and the Audi A6 Quattro wagon, excellent alternatives all.
How does the Volvo V70 do in comparison? Quite nicely -- and that's another part of the surprise. I'm not saying that the Volvo handles as sportily as the other wagons. The steering is far more definitive and the suspension system firmer on those other vehicles. They simply feel more nimble.
But in terms of hauling a family, that extra soupcon of safety and security you get with a Volvo, along with classy elegance, should make you quite happy with the V70.
But don't think the Volvo doesn't have its frisky side. Au contraire! It is quite, quite fast, thanks to a 2.4-liter, 5-cylinder, 247-horsepower turbocharged engine. Car and Driver clocked it at zero to 60 in 7.2 seconds, and I can attest that it handles passing, merging and all those other things adroitly.
By the way, while you watch everything go by you in a blur, you can just make your little old self right at home. The leather is buttery soft and the seats have just the right amount of support. The car itself is quiet as a church, and being aware of the wealth of safety equipment, I came to think of the interior as a nice cocoon of safety and comfort as I traveled down the road.
And speaking of the interior, Volvo should get a round of applause from families everywhere for offering a third seat at extra cost. That will doubtless make a difference for many consumers who like station wagons, not minivans, but need the extra room for their kids. What's more, the seat itself was easy to move around and convert for cargo space, too.
And speaking of storage, you should see how many cubbies and other storage spots the Volvo has.
There's even a place up front for you to hang a little trash bag if you wish, and a spot for your pencil -- more on that point later. We played a little game of "guess where the next space will be" as we used the wagon. It's amazing what you can do with a little thought and creativity.
But like all seemingly perfect things, including Sweden, Volvo does have its problems -- at least this one did.
Hey you! Do you own a 2000 Cadillac Catera? How about a 2000 Chevy Suburban or a GMC Yukon? What about a 2000 Chrysler Sebring Convertible, Toyota Avalon, Lexus ES300, Audi A6, Audi A4, Volkswagen Jetta, Passat or Eurovan? Or do you own a 2000 something or other, period? We would love to hear from you -- and so would our readers. Good, bad or indifferent -- tell us how you like your wheels. Or if you would just like to chat or offer some advice or suggestions, just get in touch. You can reach Don at dhammonds@post-gazette.com, or by mail at Pittsburgh Post-Gazette, 34 Blvd. of the Allies, Pgh, PA 15222.
Maybe it's just me, and it could be that I've driven other cars whose brakes weren't as up to snuff and thus, the sensation of really good brakes is something new to me. Whatever it is, I found them annoying. But try it yourself, you may think differently.
The other thing that was bothersome was that I kept bumping my head when entering or exiting the car because of the angle of the windshield post. Maybe I'm clumsy -- gym class never did go over big with me -- but several other people who rode in the car commented on it too.
Then on the really niggling side, there was the little pencil holder on the console. Now, the way it's designed, you'll think that it's just a little handle for a hidden drawer.
Wrong! Off came the holder in my hand, to my embarrassment, and since it's not labeled , I didn't discover what it was for until I saw it in the owner's manual.
But its few peccadilloes aside, the Volvo delivers the goods.
|
||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
