Volvo XC70 estate (2007-2016) - Engines, drive & performance

The Volvo XC70 has a soft suspension setup for better off-road performance, which means the car rides very comfortably on rough or potholed roads. This also means it’s a smooth motorway cruiser, but the trade-off comes when you hit a twisty back road, as it tends to wallow and roll through corners more than the standard V70.

Combine this suspension setup with vague steering and you have a car that’s generally much more about wafting around in a comfortable, relaxed fashion than it is about driver thrills.

It’s worth qualifying the XC70’s performance on the road with its ability on other surfaces, as the XC70 doesn't disappoint when it comes to tackling the rough stuff. It has an impressive four-wheel-drive system and its ground clearance and extra body cladding help to avoid damage from large rocks and ruts.

Volvo XC70 diesel engines

The 2.0-litre D4 diesel is the entry-level XC70 engine, but it still produces 179bhp, giving the car sufficient speed and lots of power at low revs for tackling steep hills and lugging heavy loads. At town driving pace, the Volvo can occasionally feel slow to respond with this engine, but overall it strikes a nice balance between performance and fuel economy. With the D4 engine, the XC70 can do the 0-62mph sprint in 8.8 seconds.

Moving up to the D5 gets you a 2.4-litre diesel engine that produces 212bhp. The extra power is noticeable and if you plan to use the car for towing often, it’s worth spending the extra money for this bigger engine. The D5 comes with four-wheel drive as standard and can get from 0-62mph in 8.2 seconds. Both of the diesel engines can be a bit rattly and gruff under acceleration, but once up to a constant speed they become more refined.