Volvo V70 D5 SE Lux Start/Stop Geartronic 5dr Car Review - January 2012

Smooth and agile, the Volvo V70 D5 SE Lux is way more fun to drive than any XC70 or XC90 model. The improved Volvo now has perfectly balanced steering and less trouble with70 is slightly more accustomed at turning circles than the XC90, making it smoother and easier to drive around cities and towns.

The 6-speed geartronic automatic also gives a much more exciting driving performance, with the driver-seat having been built and positioned purposely to make the driver feel more involved, and to help forget they are in a large executive. With a 20 valve, 5-cylinder 2400cc engine its power isn’t all that bad either.

Though the engine’s not as fierce as the V70 T6 AWD R-DESIGN’s 2953cc engine, it is still by far the second most powerful in the V70 range. With a top speed of 137 mph, it is one of Volvo’s quicker designs, with a 212 bhp at 4200, and torque figures of 324lb-ft at 1500-3000 rpm. This means that the large executive can go from 0-62 seconds in just 8.6 seconds, which considering its size is pretty awesome.

The fact that it’s a Lux model, and a Volvo, is probably enough to suggest what the car has in terms of looks and equipment. The Volvo V70 D5 SE Lux has a long, sweeping bonnet creating a softer and sleeker look than the previous, bulky editions.

Smaller than the XC90 and XC70 4x4 at 4823mm in length and 1861mm in width, the estate is surprisingly on par with them when it comes to boot space. The V70 has equal to, or more boot space than the XC70 and XC90 with the seats up, and a plentiful 1600 litres with the seats down.

The rest of the cabin is also spacious and comfortable. The luxury tag means that five plush leather seats come as standard, as does the blue tooth, sat-nav, MP3 connectivity and CD system.

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 all come as standard features too.

As well as being fully-loaded with an abundance of luxurious yet practical features, the Volvo V70 D5 SE Lux 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. The estate also has a 3 year warranty or 60,000 miles, so when it comes to practicality, safety and reliability, it comes out on top.

In terms of practicality, you’re definitely getting your money’s with the spacious, roomy cabin and plentiful and luxurious features as standard. The top-quality materials used to build the car also add to its reliability factor, making it valuable in the long term too.

In tax band G, the CO2 emissions from this particular V70 are also relatively low when comparing it to the slightly faster T6 model, but at 164g/km, it still emits far more than the V70 DRIVe models, which only emit 119g/km (but then they are a lot slower).

However, £36,235, the Volvo V70 D5 SE Lux still comes with a dismally large price tag, and is the second most expensive in the V70 range. So really it’s down to whether you would spend that amount of money for a V70 with a powerful engine, or whether the car’s looks and safety are more important to you. If the latter, then you would be better off opting for the DRIVe SE model. Then again if it is speed you want, you might be better off foregoing the D5 SE Lux altogether and spending that little extra on the T6 AWD R-DESIGN anyway.