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It was only three and a half years ago when the whole Volvo 850 lineup was renamed and revamped. Sporting both new looks and new mechanicals at that time, the sedan and wagon version of the revolutionary 850 was renamed as the S70 and V70 respectively. Hence, it was understandable when I was surprised to find new replacement models at this year’s Detroit Auto Show where an all new V70 made its worldwide debut, a revision of such major magnitude at such a short span of time would be considered unusual even by Japanese standards.

If I was not foretold, I would also have mistaken the new wagons on the show floor were new wagon versions of Volvo’s S80. The snout nose and bulging shoulders on the side of the car are as strong as they are on the S80, but as it turned out, these are V70 replacements. Already on the market right now, the 2001 Volvo V70 will initially be offered in GLT and T5 trims, shortly, it will be joined by the 2001 V70 XC Cross Country. There’s no word yet on when the sedan version of the new car will make its debut, and when it does arrive, I’m sure I will once again mistake it for an S80.

After all, the new V70 is based on the same platform as the Volvo S80, albeit being shortened from 109.9-inch to 108.5-inch from wheel to wheel. Compared to the old V70, wheelbase has actually increased by as much as 3.6-inch, length however is shorter by 0.5-inch. Nevertheless, interior dimensions are now much better than before, pitting the new Volvo ahead of BMW’s 528iT as well as Audi’s A6 Avant in interior measurements.

According to Volvo’s design director Peter Horbury, the new V70 reinforces the new Volvo look and at the same time, maintains its powerful heritage. Typical Volvo features such as the V-shaped hood which originated from 1940s Volvo PV444, the vertical grille with its diagonal cross-bar, the side windows which have a single, simple line running along the top from front to rear, and the proportionately larger third side window have all become the basis on which the car is fashioned. "Designing this car involved designing a car with the front of a sports car and the rear of a van" says Peter Horbury, "The element that ties the two distinctly different halves together is the full-length shoulders." Door handles are now flushed instead of the heavy-handed looking but extremely functional pull type of before, further accentuating the car’s smooth appearance.

To this end, Volvo has succeeded in shredding some of the "boxy" image associated with their cars, and if you have only seen the new V70 from the inside, well, you are in for more surprise. Although craftsmanship and choice of materials of the interior is still unmistakably very Volvo, the design is not. The dash is nicely contoured with lines flowing smoothly from one end to the other. Even the center console is now slightly oriented to the driver, headed by a prominent and large gearshift knob. Hi-Fi and climate controls are organized and thoughtfully laid out. Worth mentioning is the presence of a gas sensor inside the ventilation system. This gas sensor monitors the air entering the car for substances such as toxic carbon monoxide. It closes the air intake if the levels become unhealthy- when driving behind trucks, for example, or in tunnels.

Or if you would like to have the route well planned beforehand, Volvo can also provide you with the means in the form of a video screen that rises up from the top of the dash whenever you press a switch hidden behind the steering wheel. This is Volvo’s Navigation System, but instead of incorporating it into the center console as most other manufacturers did, Volvo has made its system a "standout". Unfortunately, my test car isn’t equipped with a navigation CD, hence, I have no idea as to how well it functions and operates.

There are lots of nice and thoughtful touches inside the car, for example, a coathanger in the form of a small button on the side of the passenger-seat head restraint is a good idea, not only will it not obstruct visibility but can also be reached easily by the driver; when not occupied, the center cushion of the rear seat can be flipped out as a table with cupholders; for those who always complain of not having enough storage space, the new V70 has compartments and pockets for just about everyone traveling in the car.

Just as Volvo claims, converting the wagon from a five-seater car to a roomy load carrier involves only a few quick turns of the wrist. The rear seat is easy to fold down and the headrests don’t get in the way. The very flat cargo floor has 2 hidden compartments and the outmost one on the test car is half occupied by a large subwoofer.

Safety features, as expected is typical Volvo. Being based on the same platform as the Volvo S80, the only car to have received the top score of 5+5 stars in the NHTSA side-impact tests, the new V70 is probably the safest wagon money can buy. Frontal airbags are the newest dual stage type inflating only to 70% of its capacity in less severe impact or to full capacity if impact is more severe. Inflatable Curtain that protects front and rear occupants from side impact is standard, ditto for WHIPS whiplash protection system, specially designed seats that restrain the upper body and head in a rear-end impact thus reducing the risk of whiplash injury.

There’s no significant changes in the engine compartment in the new V70, the GLT still equipped with the 2.4-litre light-pressure turbo 5-cylinder and the T5 with the much more powerful, 2.3-litre turbo five. With horsepower as high as 197 hp and torque figure of 210 lb-ft, the GLT is nothing to sneeze at. But the one with the T5 badge is really the one that transforms this Volvo from a practical and safe wagon to a fun and fast speedmobile. At 5200 revs, 800 rpm lower than that needed by the 2.4, the 2.3-litre five-pot pumps out 242 hp, torque is also huge with 210 lb-ft available all the way from 2400 rpm to 5200 rpm, probably the flattest and widest plateau ever mastered by a 2.3. All these power making contact with the road via the front wheels only. Traction Control is standard.

GLT is offered only with a 5-speed automatic, but the T5 gets to choose between a 5-speed manual and a 5-speed Geartronic with manual shifting capabilities. This is basically the same automatic as in the S80, with gear ratios chosen more for fuel consumption than for performance. At the legal speed limit of 100 km/h, the engine is turning at a very leisurely pace of 2000 rpm.

With such an abundance of low-end torque, it’s best to let the transmission do its job itself, besides downshift responses in manual mode is rather slow compared to other similar transmissions like Honda’s SportShift or Lexus’s E-Shift. Acceleration is impressive for what is basically a large, heavy car. The new V70 is significantly more stable both on the highway as well as through twists and bends than before, but steering is still rather numb and unrewarding. MacPherson strut front and multi-link rear suspension do a decent job in keeping the car firmly planted on the road and in the meantime providing a supple and comfortable ride. Brakes are also excellent, but would bite hard once engaged. Although Traction Control is standard, I would definitely recommend fitting the car with the optional DSTC (Dynamic Stability & Traction Control). Having the ability to brake the inner or outer wheels independently, DSTC is very effective in correcting understeer or oversteer, situations so frequently encountered during the winter months.

Priced at $46,495, the new Volvo V70 T5 is easily the safest and fastest luxury estate money can buy.    Return to top of page