Used Volvo XC70 2007-2016 review

Believe it or not, there are some people who need an off-road-worthy vehicle with a sizeable boot but don’t want a big SUV. They require something with four-wheel drive that can deal with poor weather conditions or a muddy, potholed track. A normal estate car wouldn’t be suitable, then, but a used Volvo XC70 certainly would.

The XC70 is based on the regular Volvo V70 estate but has a raised ride height, extensive black plastic body cladding, chunky tyres and the option of a four-wheel drive system. It also has a hill descent control system – just as Land Rovers do – to allow you to drive down steep gradients in a slow, controlled manner.

Early versions come with either a 235bhp 3.2-litre six-cylinder petrol engine or a 183bhp 2.4-litre five-cylinder diesel. New engines were added during the life of the XC70 to improve efficiency, including an 2.0-litre diesel in the post-2014 D4 model. There was also a 304bhp 3.0-litre six-cylinder petrol to replace the earlier engine, but it wasn't a popular as the diesels at the time and is therefore hard to find on the used market.

All the off-road additions don’t make the XC70 that nice to drive on the road; its ride is a little unsettled, its body rolls a lot through corners, its steering is a trifle vague and it has a tendency to run wide when pushed in corners. But, when combined with an automatic gearbox and four-wheel drive, the XC70 makes for an excellent tow car, because most variants can tow more than 2000kg.

The XC70's boot is just as practical as the regular V70's. Optional aluminium rails were offered to help you divide up the luggage space and prevent items from rolling around. However, leg room in the rear seats isn’t great, and the XC70 can’t match the rival Audi A6 Allroad for interior comfort.

Every version of XC70 came very well equipped from the factory, and even the revised entry-level ES cars introduced from 2011 onwards feature Volvo's active city safety technology with automatic emergency braking. SE examples have 17in alloy wheels, climate control, Bluetooth and automatic lights and wipers, while SE Sport cars add larger 18in alloy wheels and ventilated front seats. SE Lux cars have electric front seats that are also heated, bi-xenon headlights and a powered tailgate.

The XC70 is a very safe car, and from 2010 it was fitted with the a low-speed automatic emergency braking system called City Safe.

Early versions of the XC70 with a high mileage can be bought for less than £4000, but you would be better off spending £8500-£9000, because this will provide you with a good selection of examples manufactured from 2010 onwards with the more efficient range of engines, fewer than 60,000 miles and a full service history.

If you'd prefer a facelifted (post-2011) car with the City Safe technology and a more intuitive infotainment system, a 2012 example with fewer than 60,000 miles could be yours for around £12,000.

Fancy something a bit newer? A 2016 Volvo XC70 with below-average mileage will cost you around £24,000.

You can check the value of any used Volvo XC70 with What Car? Valuations.

There's a choice of two six-cylinder petrol engines, a 3.0-litre and a 3.2-litre, both badged T6. Neither is particularly efficient; the 3.2-litre has an official average of 24.8mpg and a CO2 output of 272g/km, while the 3.0-litre claims 26.7mpg and 248g/km.

Sensibly, most XC70 buyers went for a diesel. The most efficient version was a front-wheel-drive 2.0-litre (D4) manual, with 62.8mpg and 117g/km. Most aren’t quite so efficient, especially when paired with an automatic gearbox and four-wheel drive. An early 183bhp 2.4-litre automatic D5 claims an average of 34mpg and 219g/km. However, this engine was steadily improved over the years; a late 217bhp model will manage 48.7mpg and 153g/km.

The D3 DRIVe, another 2.4-litre diesel, comes with either a manual or automatic gearbox and has an average of 51.4mpg and 144g/km or 41.5mpg and 179g/km. Click here for further information about the current road tax rates.

Servicing costs for a Volvo will be on par with premium brands such as BMW and Mercedes-Benz. You can get a fairly accurate indication by using the calculator tool on Volvo's website.

The XC70 is well equipped, with every model being fitted with climate control, cruise control, electric windows, adjustable lumbar support on the driver's seat and electrically adjustable and heated door mirrors. However, we'd recommend a higher spec SE Lux example, because there are plenty of them available used and they make the XC70 feel a bit more luxurious.

Look out for cars fitted with the optional Winter and Family packs, too. The former added heated seats and headlight washers, while the latter added the hugely handy integrated child booster seats in the outer rear seats.

Neither of the petrol engines is really an option for most people, because of high running costs and the limited number of them available on the used market. Of the diesel range, the 2.4-litre D5 is reasonably efficient and flexible enough to suit most people's needs. There are plenty of examples available, and you can usually find them with an automatic gearbox and four-wheel drive.

Our favourite Volvo XC70: 2.4 D5 SE Lux

The XC70 is considered to be a premium off-road estate car, and there aren’t many rivals to match it. However, there is the Audi A6 Allroad to contend with. Thanks to larger engines, a more sophisticated air suspension setup and an impeccably finished interior, the A6 Allroad is more expensive to buy than the Volvo, but it might be worth it for its superior driving manners, both on and off the road.

If you’re prepared to look a bit further afield, the Skoda Octavia Scout is worth a look. Its boot is just as practical, its rear leg room is much more generous and Skoda's 2.0-litre diesel engine is much more efficient and cheaper to tax.

The Vauxhall Insignia Country Tourer isn’t quite as good off road as the XC70 and can’t match it for luggage capacity, but it is well equipped and cheaper to buy.

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