Quick Take
WHAT’S DIFFERENT? The XC70 is basically an all-wheel-drive version of the Volvo V70 wagon, jacked up a bit and equipped with a good-looking lower-body wrap in black. If the XC could talk, it would say, “I’m ready for all weather conditions.” The XC comes standard with the same 235-hp, 3.2-liter inline-six that powers the V70. A turbocharged, 3.0-liter inline-six, known as the T6 and seen here, is optional.
AND THE RESULT? The XC escapes the anonymous looks of the donor car, the V70. A T6-equipped XC has a 46-hp advantage over a V70 and will win any footrace with that wagon despite weighing 336 pounds more. As with the V70, this wagon is all about the cruise. The XC rides so well and so quietly, only concrete expansion joints remind its occupants they are riding in a car.
CHECK, PLEASE! The XC70 3.2 AWD starts at $38,075, which is $4350 more than a V70 3.2. The T6 costs an additional $2250. We would opt for the $2995 Premium package, which includes leather seats with exquisite stitching and authentic wood trim.
