Introduction
reviewed by
Navigating Alaska's rugged Chugach mountains is not a challenge we'd normally accept in a car designed
for an affluent urban lifestyle. But with the introduction of the V70 XC Cross Country wagon, Volvo is boldly
going where no Swedish automaker has gone before.
For years, Volvo has enjoyed a distinct identity. Long the leader in automotive safety, Volvos were popular
among people with families. But along came minivans, sport-utility vehicles and pickups and they now account for
nearly half of all sales.
Unwilling to get into the sport-utility business, Volvo has introduced the V70 XC AWD. XC is short for "Cross
Country" and is among a growing new breed of vehicles designed to blend the best features of passenger cars
and sport-utilities.
Volvo's V70 XC AWD is based on a conventional Volvo V70 station wagon, so it handles like a European sports
sedan and comes loaded with an attractive interior and a range of luxurious options. A sophisticated
all-wheel-drive (AWD) system dramatically improves traction on wet and snowy roads. An increased ground
clearance gives the XC better capability over backwoods trails.
In short, Volvo's new XC wagon adds off-highway capability to Volvo's legendary level of safety engineering,
comfort and driving pleasure. But is it going to meet the needs and wants of buyers interested in sport-utilities?
After spending time driving this car down highways and rough unpaved roads, we think it more than exceeds the needs of most people.
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