2008 Volvo XC70
The third generation of Volvo’s XC70 crossover utility vehicle arrives in October with a new engine, personalized ride features, a height-adjustable child booster cushion and new dynamic and comfort technologies.
Volvo first introduced its XC70 to the U.S. automotive market in 1997, long before the term “crossover” had been coined. The XC stands for “cross country,” as in a vehicle designed for travel across a variety of surfaces. Or, as Volvo puts it, a vehicle for those whose active lifestyle can range from driving children to school, negotiating city traffic or navigating mountain trails.
Volvo also produces the larger XC90. It seems like the XC70 is the model most often chosen by rock climbers, kayakers, and mountain bikers, while the XC90 is more popular with families.
Like sport utility vehicles, the XC70 offers an elevated driving position and ground clearance necessary for off-pavement exploration.
But it also features a full array of Volvo’s typical safety features, a package enhanced on the 2008 model by the new height-adjustable child booster seat that keeps a youngster in the proper position to have a good view of the environment while also being fully protected by the vehicle’s side-curtain airbag in the event of a collision.
The new 2008 XC70 can be equipped with Volvo’s Four-C active dynamic chassis system and comes with Hill Descent Control that makes driving down steep and slippery surfaces easier and safer.
A 3.2-liter inline six-cylinder engine provides 235 horsepower. That power goes to all four wheels through an all-wheel-drive system that can be supplemented by Volvo’s Four-C active chassis that allows the driver to select among comfort, sport and advanced settings.
Outside, the new XC70 gets a more dressed up design for a more elegant and luxurious appearance that includes a chrome molding at the bottom of the doors, framed side windows and a raised and sculpted rear section that provides the wagon with a more dynamic design.
Inside, the XC70 features ortho-posture supportive seats that can be ventilated for enhanced comfort.
The interior has more room than in the previous generation with more distance between the front and rear seats and thus more legroom for those sitting in the second row. Both front and rear seats can be equipped with built-in heaters. The rear seat is split 40/20/40 to provide various ways to expand the rear cargo floor.
The rear cargo floor has aluminum rails and adjustable anchor points for securing various loads. There also are anchor points in the side panels of the cargo area and various nets, dividers and cargo-management accessories will be available.
The new XC70 also can be equipped with an advanced audio system that features an Alpine amplifier, Dolby Pro Logic II Surround sound and Dynaudio speakers.