2.4D SE Auto AWD 205 bhp

Good motorway car, unduly uncomfortable on rural or city potholed roads

Owned from new and intend to keep as long as possible. Bought after having an earlier oh so comfortable XC70 thinking it would be a more up to date version. How wrong. A totally different car. Yes, it's AWD, but that's about it, the platform it's built on and some of the details make it disappointing. Firstly the ride. I find the almost universal reviews saying the ride was good are mystifying. The Volvo forums tell the real story that the springs and shocks are way too hard meaning a very jarring ride over bumps, potholes, and the average city road these days. And this is on the smallest rims / tallest tyres. Not that good on any but the flattest surface either. Partly the modern trend for handling against comfort, but if you want cornering, why are you buying a tall car? Needs to be four-up, or with a good heavy sandbag or two in the back, which makes a big difference. But even then, bouncing around off road car rutted parks is extremely uncomfortable and needs a very slow speed.

Had a number of problems - the common leaking screen due to the bonding failing, fixed by a screen specialist as we dislike the dealer's practice of charging over £100 to even look at it. It led also to sloshing in the rear chassis. There was the recall due to the rising oil level, the wind noise from the door mirrors, and worst of all and not what I expect from a Volvo, rusting wheel arches at 9 years old. Not a rarity, have seen another car with a worse problem, same age. Just a poor wheelarch protection design. Volvo denied responsibility under the anti-perf warranty, did a 50% goodwill deal with the dealer to replace the front wings, then we found the rears were about to go as well, fixed in time by a decent body shop at own great expense.

Yes, the gearbox can be sluggish at part throttle but generally fine and easy to pop into manual when it refuses to change down, and changes not a problem when overtaking. Car makes good progress with 205 bhp and diesel torque, but poor economy, 30 round town / short trips, only up to 35+ on long trips.

A little cramped for all but a "standard size" family, drivers seat does not go back enough for a tall driver and in its rearmost position is poor for the rear seat passenger. Rear seat depth fine for kids but not decent sized adults.

Still looks lovely though, even with the newer model out. Restrained, and zero bling, of which there is far too much these days.

Lesson from this car (to self) was look a lot harder before you buy.

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