Volvo XC70 estate (2007-2016) - Interior & comfort

As we’ve come to expect from cars made by Volvo, the Volvo XC70 feels sublimely comfortable. If you want a soothing, relaxing cocoon to retire to after a long day at work, this car is a perfect choice. It also makes for a brilliant companion on long motorway slogs.

All XC70 models come with leather seats as standard, and they’ve been ergonomically designed to offer excellent comfort and support, so you shouldn’t suffer any aches after hours behind the wheel. The XC70’s raised ride height and soft suspension setup allows it to soak up bumps beautifully.

While the Audi A6 Allroad undoubtedly boasts the class-leading interior, the cabin of the XC70 is still more luxurious than the sturdy-but-dull interior of the Subaru Forester, while the Skoda and VW also have well-built but relatively plain cabins. And not only is quality good – the interior of the XC70 seems light and spacious thanks to the car’s large windows.

Volvo XC70 dashboard

While the dashboard doesn’t look as cutting-edge as the Audi A6 Allroad’s tech-fest, there’s a real solidity to all the materials and the switches feel like they’ll stand up to years of consistent use by all the family.

Volvo's trademark floating centre console is the standout feature and the driver's controls are all very user-friendly and logically laid-out – particularly the intuitive buttons for the ventilation system.

Equipment

The Volvo XC70 certainly isn’t a cheap car, but this is partly because all models come very well equipped. There are two trim levels to choose from: SE Nav and SE Lux.

Entry-level SE Nav cars come with leather upholstery, sat-nav, DAB radio, Bluetooth phone connectivity, 17-inch alloy wheels, automatic emergency braking, a power-operated bootlid, parking sensors, cruise control, LED daytime running lights and roof rails.

As the name suggests, SE Lux makes the XC70 even more luxurious, and costs around £1,600 extra. Adding equipment such as an electrically adjustable driver’s seat, xenon headlights and 18-inch alloy wheels.

Options

Ice White was offered as the basic colour on the XC70, but you could also have the choice of black for an additional £350, six metallic colours at £700 and two special ‘inscription’ metallic colours for £1,000. There were also several alternative alloy wheel designs that cost either £700 or £2,225.

Other equipment available as individual options included heated front seats (£300), a power sunroof (£900), digital TV (£800) and upgraded leather upholstery (£1,700).