2004 Volvo XC70 Review Summaries

What reviewers liked most about the Volvo XC70:

...this is a practical wagon with a maximum of 72 cubic feet of cargo space and all the safety features you expect in a Volvo, including whiplash-reducing seats, side airbags, and side-curtain airbags.

-- Car and Driver

A viable alternative for those who need an all-weather wagon but don't want the bulk and poor handling of most SUVs.

-- Edmunds.com

With its soft, forgiving suspension, the XC70 provides a smooth, isolated ride on all surfaces.

-- Edmunds.com

The XC70 is distinguished by its raised suspension and SUV-flavored trim.

-- Consumer Guide

With its uncluttered, handsome styling that says wagon, without any pretense of being anything else, good luggage space, largely sensible controls (except for the radio, as usual), a smooth and powerful turbocharged inline-5 and 8.5-in. maximum ride height, it makes a pleasant touring partner for the snow country.

-- Road & Track

What reviewers liked least about the Volvo XC70:

Higher-riding XC70 leans the most in turns, but never alarms. One test XC70 showed mild steering-wheel tug in hard takeoffs -- odd for an AWD vehicle.

-- Consumer Guide

A few of our editors were unimpressed by the matte-black cladding on the nose and sides, but others noted that, for driving in brush country, it makes perfect sense. Its appeal depends on how far off-road you intend to go.

-- Road & Track

Best one-liner about the Volvo XC70:

It's simply a good blend of handling, luggage capacity, ergonomics and common sense.

-- Road & Track

The original family-friendly SUV that kick-started a craze and transformed Volvo's image.

-- TopGear