While the exterior look of the 2007 V70 has changed little from its predecessor, traction control and a tire pressure monitoring system are now standard for all models. The V70 has also lost its optional third-row seat and puddle lights.
The V70, Volvo's larger front-wheel-drive wagon, comes in both 2.4 and 2.5T trims. Volvo also offers a smaller V50 wagon and an all-wheel-drive XC70 wagon with certain SUV-like characteristics. A high-performance V70 R wagon is also available.
Rounded front corners resemble those of Volvo's S80 sedan, but the rear half retains the straight lines and body profile of a traditional wagon. Clear-lens headlights are installed. The 2.5T wagon has chrome accents inlayed into the color-coordinated front bumper.
Metallic paint is now a standalone option, as are several new 17-inch wheel designs that vary between the 2.4 and 2.5T models.
All V70 wagons ride a 108.5-inch wheelbase and measure 185.4 inches long overall. Fog lamps are mounted on the 2.5T wagon. A power moonroof is optional.
Each V70 seats up to five occupants on two front bucket seats and a three-place, 60/40-split rear bench seat. Cargo capacity is 37.4 cubic feet with the backseat raised, but that space grows to 71.4 cubic feet when the seat is folded down. A cassette/CD audio system is standard, and Sirius Satellite Radio is optional.
Aluminum accents have been added to the column stalks and steering wheel switches, and a Convenience Package adds integrated child seats and a compass for the rearview mirror. A dual-screen rear seat entertainment system is now a standalone option.
Volvo's navigation system and a power passenger's seat are optional on the 2.5T wagon. Rear park assist, leather seats, integrated rear child booster seats and heated front seats also are offered.
Buyers can choose between two inline-five-cylinder engines in non-R V70s. The 2.4 wagon uses a 168-horsepower 2.4-liter that teams with either a five-speed manual or five-speed automatic transmission. The 2.5T model gets a turbocharged 2.5-liter that produces 208 hp and 236 pounds-feet of torque. The 2.5T works only with a five-speed Geartronic automatic. Premium fuel is recommended for both engines.
Safety features in the V70 include all-disc antilock brakes with electronic brake-force distribution, side-impact and side curtain airbags, and Volvo's Whiplash Protection Seating System. Daytime running lights are standard. Volvo's electronic stability system is newly standard for 2007.
Volvo's thoroughly civilized and tightly constructed wagons offer engine choices to suit various driving needs. Steering is on the heavy side, but it's not ponderous. These wagons are stable on the highway and corner well, but they aren't snappy in urban driving.
Introduced as a 2004 model, the V70 R uses a 300-hp, turbocharged 2.5-liter inline-five-cylinder that teams with a six-speed manual gearbox. A six-speed automatic with Geartronic operation became available in 2006. The automatic cuts 0-to-60-mph acceleration time from 7.4 to 6.5 seconds; a manual-shift V70 R reaches 60 mph in a claimed 5.6 seconds.
According to Volvo, the standard Haldex Instant Traction all-wheel-drive system "instantaneously delivers up to 50 percent more torque to the rear axle only when needed."
Rear park assist is available. Volvo also offers a high-performance S60 R sedan with the same drivetrain. New for 2007 are a tire pressure monitoring system, a compass in the rearview mirror, a grocery bag holder and a 12-volt outlet in the cargo area
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