Volvo XC70 ready for off-road fun

What’s the difference between a station wagon and a crossover sport utility vehicle?

If you’re a Volvo fan, it could be as subtle as the 2008 XC70.

Revamped as a third-generation model, the new XC70 and its sibling, the Volvo V70 station wagon, have a new platform, new six-cylinder engine, more high-strength steel in their structures for better rigidity and new features.

But while the V70 looks like a traditional station wagon, the five-door XC70 has plastic cladding on some lower body parts, such as doors, in a faux-SUV style, rides some 3 inches higher above the pavement than does the V70 and comes with standard all-wheel drive.

Indeed, the “XC” in the XC70 name denotes “cross country.”

As if that’s not enough to convince consumers that the XC70 can really go off-road, the 2008 model has a new, off-road feature called hill descent control. This system automatically uses brakes and engine braking to provide slow, controlled descents on even steep, treacherous hills.

No matter whether consumers consider the XC70 a wagon or crossover, it is pricey, with a starting manufacturer’s suggested retail price, including destination charge, of $37,520. This is a higher starting price for a station wagon other than those from luxury brands Mercedes-Benz and BMW. And it compares with the $31,262 starting retail price for a 2008 Volvo V70.

The XC70 starting retail price also is higher than many other traditional-looking crossover SUVs. For example, a 2008 Saturn Outlook with all-wheel drive starts at $28,981.

But for the price, consumers get a full complement of standard safety equipment that they’ve come to expect in a Swedish-built Volvo. Everything from electronic stability control and side curtain air bags to front-seat, anti-whiplash head restraints come with the car.

Many other safety features, even including a side-view blind spot alert that’s not offered on most other vehicles, are options.

But the rear-seat children’s booster cushions are the niftiest option to me. They are integrated nicely into the regular seat cushions but can pop up and be positioned at one of two heights that are higher than the regular seat cushions. As a result, youngsters who sit on these booster cushions are properly positioned for correct use of the shoulder belts in case of a crash.

Additionally, these boosters give children a much better view out of the side windows. And Volvo engineers made sure to lengthen the side curtain air bags by more than 2 inches to better protect children in side crashes.

When not needed, the boosters fold down into the regular seat cushions and aren’t even noticed.

The federal government has not yet released crash test ratings for the 2008 XC70.

But it is a heavy car, weighing more than 4,000 pounds. This is up more than 400 hundred pounds from the previous XC70, and I noticed the heft immediately.

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