THOSE in the market for a mid-sized all-wheel drive wagon would be forgiven for overlooking Volvo’s XC70. Based on the front-wheel drive V70 wagon, it’s the little brother to the Swedish brand’s first dedicated, full-size SUV, the XC90. While XC90 has grabbed plenty of headlines since its launch in mid-2003, after initially substituting a fair slice of V70 wagon sales the passenger car-based XC70 has failed to attract the type of sales recorded by the influx of more mainstream medium SUVs. A number of model name changes in its six-year life has also ensured its low profile on the public’s SUV radar. Volvo Cars Australia hopes to change all that by revising the local XC70 line-up to just one model, as part of mild facelift that includes gentle cosmetic massaging, more equipment and better value.

Volvo Cross Country
Released: September 2000
Ended: April 2003
Family Tree: XC70IT’S not easy to trace the lineage of Volvo’s first SUV. Originally named the V70 XC when it was launched here in February 1998, it was rebadged Cross Country (pictured) in September 2000, before becoming the XC70 in April 2003. The new name brought it in line with the larger XC90 SUV introduced a couple of months later. Now the facelifted XC70 range includes just the XC70 Lifestyle Edition, powered by the same 154kW/320Nm inline five-cylinder engine.
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