V70-BW Series

VOLVO took its V70 premium sports wagon further upmarket in Australia with the launch of the third-generation model, raising the price by some $15,000.

However, the new all-new V70 bears little resemblance to the superseded model, not only in looks but in terms of technical specification and features.

Based on the bigger S80 platform rather than the previous S60-based model, the new V70 has a turbocharged six-cylinder engine replacing the previous five-cylinder ‘atmo’ unit and has the drive going to all four wheels rather than just the front.

The new V70 was launched at $67,950 and, apart from the massive power boost and all-wheel drive, gets a substantial list of standard features that push it well beyond the previous model (which was priced at $52,950) and even above its high-riding XC70 sibling (priced between $56,950 and $64,450).

It is powered by a turbocharged 3.0-litre six-cylinder engine, which features a two-stage turbo for strong performance throughout the rev range and produces some 210kW of power and 400Nm at just 1500rpm (compared with 175kW and 320Nm for the 3.2-litre version in the V70-based XC70).

Driving through a standard six-speed automatic transmission with a ‘Geartronic’ sequential manual mode (only five-speed previously), the V70 accelerates from 0-100km/h in a very unwagonlike 7.2 seconds – some 1.8s faster than the outgoing 125kW/230Nm model.

Being based on a larger platform with a 56mm-longer wheelbase, the new V70 benefits from a bigger interior and greater use of high-strength steel throughout the chassis is said to have improved torsional rigidity by 15 per cent.