Volvo V70 DRIVe SE Start/Stop 5dr Car Review - January 2012

REVIEW
List Price: £28,245
Tax Band: C
Insurance Group: N/A
MPG: 62.8
CO2: 119
0-62 Mph: 11.5 secs
BHP: 113 BHP
Range: 967 miles
CarSite Verdict:  2.75/5
If you’re looking for an eco-friendly car that is large enough to accommodate your expanding family, then this spacious Volvo V70 DRIVe SE could be a smart choice. Not only is it reasonably priced, but it is filled with useful features set as standard. With the only downside being its speed, this Volvo would make a great family car.

PROS:  The Volvo V70 DRIVe SE is practical, reliable and classy. One of the cheaper Volvo’s in the V70 range, it is also one of the most economical.

CONS:  The Volvo V70 DRIVe SE does not have a good looking exterior and comes with sub-standard interior features. The car's handling becomes rough on certain terrain and the engine delivers less power as compared to the competition.

Behind the Wheel

People driving the Volvo V70 DRIVe SE will enjoy the car's smooth and balanced handling, but will be disappointed with the engine's sub-standard performance.

The front-wheel 6-speed manual estate is incredibly slow. Like the Volvo V70 DRIVe ES, it has a pathetic 1560cc, 8 valve, 5-cylinder engine, rendering it pretty useless against a sports car: or even against the Volvo T6 models.

With a painfully slow speed of 11.5 seconds to get from rest to 62 mph, and a low top speed of 118 mph, it really only suits someone with a very small baby. The engine produces just 113 bhp at 3600 rpm, and has torque figures of just 199 lb-ft at 1750-2500, making it slower than any in the V70, XC60, XC70 or XC90 Volvo ranges, with exception of the V70 DRIVe ES, which is equally dismal.

Looks & Equipment

Like all the Volvo V70s, the Volvo V70 DRIVe SE has a very classic look, and its long, sleek bonnet helps to create the illusion of a slimmer car than the older, bulkier versions.

With 1600 litres of boot space with the seats down, and 575 litres with them up, the 4823 mm by 1861 mm large executive has plenty of space for families to store their baggage, again making it ideal for someone with a baby as the boot can easily store a pram, plus all the extras, without any difficulty.

It also has numerous useful gadgets set as standard, such as Bluetooth, MP3 connectivity and a CD system. Rather than increasing the price of the vehicle, the Volvo V70 DRIVe SE allows you the option to decide whether you think a SAT-NAV is necessary, so you can install one for an extra £575 if you wish.

In addition, power-steering, alloy wheels and DSTC stability control, cruise control, electric front windows, electric door mirrors, central locking and climate control, and rear-parking sensors are standard features too.

Practicality, Safety & Reliability

The Volvo V70 DRIVe SE is very practical, safe and reliable. It’s practical because of its numerous useful features and large, airy cabin. It’s safe because it has an overall 5 star Euro NCAP, which is excellent.

This includes a 5 star NCAP rating for occupants, 4 star for children and 2 star rating for pedestrians, so again, it is ideal for a family car. The V70s 3 year warranty or 60,000 miles suggests it’s reliability too, so you know it is built to last.

Value for Money

For a family car the Volvo V70 DRIVe SE is fantastic in terms of value for money. Not only do you get lots of useful gadgets incorporated in the original price, but with its good quality build and strong body, it will last you, saving you money in the long term.

Furthermore, the diesel engine is super economical for a large executive car, so you can be eco-friendly too. With CO2 emissions of just 119g/km, it is in a respectable tax band (C), and therefore insurance and running costs will be low. This again makes it ideal for driving your kids to school and back, as well as to football, ballet, piano lessons and the like.

Considering all this, £28, 245 it is very reasonable price. Of course the V70 DRIVe ES is a couple of grand cheaper, but then it has less features included as standard to begin with. If you don’t get a car with a decent sized engine, you should at least have decent features to make up for it.




Volvo V70 DRIVe SE Start/Stop 5dr Car Review - by 
All Volvo V70 Reviews
Volvo V70 DRIVe ES Start/Stop 5dr - January 2012
For an eco-friendly family car that looks and feels classy, the Volvo V70 DRIVe ES may be an option. Similar to the DRIVe SE model, this V70 estate is not only spacious, safe and secure, but it is ...
Volvo V70 DRIVe SE Start/Stop 5dr - January 2012
If you’re looking for an eco-friendly car that is large enough to accommodate your expanding family, then this spacious Volvo V70 DRIVe SE could be a smart choice. Not only is it reasonably priced,...
Volvo V70 D5 SE Lux Start/Stop Geartronic 5dr - January 2012
If you’re looking for smart, spacious, luxurious car with a bit of speed, 70 D5 SE Lux could be the car for you. Valued not only in terms of top-quality features and trimmings, but in terms of safe...
Volvo V70 T4 SE Start/Stop Powershift 5dr - February 2012
Volvo has a great reputation and history when it comes to building estate cars. The latest V70 looks better than previous models as well as retaining all the qualities you would expect from the Swe...
Volvo V70 T6 AWD SE Lux Geartronic 5dr - March 2012
The V70 is one of the core models for Volvo, a large practical estate car, which Volvo became famous for. It’s now developed into something a lot more upmarket than just a load carrier and offers a...
Comments
Large Exec Alternatives

You might want to read reviews for other Large Exec cars that you can then compare to the Volvo V70. Here are some popular Volvo V70 alternatives:

NEW RELEASE
Jeep Avenger revealed for 2023
NEW RELEASE
Ferrari Purosangue revealed
NEW RELEASE
Ford Mustang revealed for 2023
NEW RELEASE
New BMW M2 has been revealed
NEW RELEASE
Electric SUV coming soon
NEW RELEASE
Popular hatchback gets an update