The third generation Volvo XC70 is another example of Swedish style and all-road practicality in what is now a rather good-looking wagon, says Hailey Philander in her latest www.cars4women.co.za review. 

Sleek and spruced up exterior

The exterior on the latest Volvo XC70 has been significantly spruced up, bearing many influences first seen on the XC60 concept shown at the 2007 Detroit Motor Show. Things are looking up, as the XC70 adopts a sleeker nose treatment with attractive front foglamp housings for an appearance that is a lot more pleasurable to look at.

A serious style injection

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The rear light clusters have also been addressed, now extending lower down and also incorporated more into the hatch itself. 
I, for one, am grateful that the latest all-road station wagon has received a serious style injection. The sombre Scandinavian look was starting to wear me down. But, I digress…

The latest Volvo XC70 is big and beautiful

While looking better than before, the Volvo XC70 also beefs up its presence in other departments. This crossover is a stylish station wagon that also tosses in some useful off-road capability for good measure. 

A Volvo with great load lugging capability

However, the genius of the Volvo XC70 lies in its load lugging abilities. Essentially a wagon based on the S80 platform, space is never an issue and the way in which this Volvo allows you to use this space is pleasing.

Rails, tethers and anchor points abound, hopefully avoiding that sinking feeling invariably felt when the family's crystal heirloom takes a tumble while cornering. The tailgate is electrically operated too, and opens to a wide angle that would swallow most loads when a few of the seat backs (front passenger seat included) are popped down.
However, the 555-litre load bay comes as a cost - a space-saver spare wheel is offered on the Volvo XC70.

Roomier interior and more space for stretching

But for its occupants, the five-seater is extremely comfortable with increased overall dimensions ensuring all benefit from better leg-, shoulder- and elbow room.

Instrumentation and layout is typically Volvo, though and has an understated but functional quality to it. 

Laborious

A major source of irritation on XC70 is the grumbling powertrain. The 2.5-litre inline five cylinder turbodiesel is good for 136 kW and 400 Nm between 2 000 and 2 750 r/min. All that torque looks good on paper, but when mated with Volvo's lazy six-speed Geartronic transmission makes for frustrating progress.

Perhaps its only saving quality is that the ride is fairly tidy. Despite XC70's obvious size disadvantages, the ride is compliant and body roll on fast sweeps is barely discernible.

The Volvo XC70 takes on rugged terrain with ease

But the raised ride height, coupled with an all-wheel drive system, is a definite boon when tackling more rugged terrain. An intuitive traction system and hill descent control (in the absence of low range) makes for even more convincing off-road pursuits. 

Volvo's top-notch safety features are all there

And being a Volvo, safety equipment is predictably top-notch on the XC70 with adaptive cruise control, a host of airbags and collision warning forming part of the arsensal.

All in all, the XC70 is a capable station wagon with a level of off-road capability that is unlikely to be fully exploited by its owners. But this would not detract from it being a comfortable and spacious family vehicle, too.