Overview:
This week let’s take a look at the 2002 Volvo V70 Station Wagon. I had the opportunity of checking it out in New York, New Jersey and Pennsylvania. What a beautiful country America is. The gentle rolling hills of the east coast, and particularly the states we visited didn’t give the kind of rigorous tests I’ve done in the Rockies of Colorado, for example, but the terrain is similar to what most of us travel most of the time.

Thanks to the great air conditioning system, the July heat and humidity of New England was eliminated… until you had to stop. Well, we left Manhattan and traveled upstate all the way to Niagara Falls. Enroute we stayed in the Fingerlakes, Watkins Glen, Ithaca and surrounding areas. Beautiful. We stayed at a bed and breakfast on Seneca Lake and I can understand why New Yorkers talk so much about “Upstate New York”. 

Handling & Performance:
Delightful. I have to say that I'm prejudiced and have always loved Volvo cars. They are well built and the solid feel adds to the confidence you get from the performance from the 247 horsepower 5-cylinder engine and seamless transfer of that power to the front drive wheels via a 5-speed automatic Geartronic transmission with “Adaptive Shift Logic”.  

Styling:

Thankfully Volvo has smoothed out the lines over the past several years and they’ve done it beautifully.

Fit and Finish:
Exceptional. And when you think about it the way something looks is usually has a lot to say about how it will perform as well. There are exceptions, and Jaguar is a classic example in past years.  

Cost:
Pricey but you get what you pay for. This is an elegant wagon that rivals or eclipses the Mercedes and other even more expensive wagons.

Consumer Recommendation:
Perhaps the best image in the family wagon market that projects safety and quality and it stands alone. You have to love the progression in styling over the years even if you are not a Volvo lover. This is in my top 3 list of cars in this class. 

The Competition: * (see ranking below)
(1) Volkswagen Passat Wagon $23-39,000, (2) Subaru Legacy Wagon $20-24,000, (3) Volvo V70 Wagon $30-36,000, (4) Audi A6 Avant $38,000, (5) BMW 5 Series Sport Wagon $38-54,000, (6) Mercedes Benz E-Class Wagon $49,000.

* - Ranking is based on cost, cu ft, number of features, warranty and gas mileage.

  Good News:
 It’s a Volvo that projects safety and Swedish quality, first cabin luxury appointments and equipment, station wagon styling that is classy and projects the thoughtful character and personality of the owners, comfortable seating.

Bad News:
Sensitive window controls, small cargo area while using rear seats, pricey.

Standard Equipment:
2.3 liter 5 cylinder w/ variable valve timing, 247 hp engine,  5-speed automatic Geartronic trans, 4-wheel power ABS disc brakes, dynamic stability traction control, power steering, unibody construction, dual front and side airbags, whiplash protection system, anti theft ignition immobilizer system, security system, rear door wiper, child safety locks, side turn indicators, fog lights, cargo cover, 8-way front power seats with memory and lumbar support, dual zone climate control, tilt and telescopic steering wheel, rear center armrests, remote keyless entry, power windows, heated power mirror, power sunroof, leather shift knob and steering wheel, dust and pollen filter, lighted vanity mirrors, Dolby Stereo audio system with 4 in-dash CD and cassette players and steering wheel controls.

 Gas Stats:
20 City and 26 Highway MPG.

Pricing:

MSRP $36,425.

Your comments are welcomed. My e-mail is joe@autolove.com
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