2008 Volvo XC70 Quality Review

Conceivably doubling as a high-end Swedish furniture gallery, the 2008 Volvo XC70’s interior hits a home run with reviewers: “Both the driver and front passenger seats are exceptionally comfortable,” says Cars.com. ConsumerGuide agrees, commenting that the leather seating and real wood trim of the premium package “impart a convincing luxury feel.” Autoblog also praises the chairs: “Our XC70's dark brown leather seats were among the more pleasant in which we've sat, with ample bolstering and thigh support. ConsumerGuide declares that the front buckets have “plenty of headroom and legroom, even for taller occupants.”

The space efficiency and utility of the second row and rear of the XC70 receives accolades. Volvo wagons have been swallowing astonishing amounts of oddly shaped cargo since the '70s, and it seems the XC70 builds upon this tradition. Cars.com attests that “the XC70’s rear seats fold down flat with one easy motion” and that “the load floor's low height also makes everyday tasks like loading and unloading groceries or luggage much easier to handle.” When its seats are folded into the floor, the XC70 offers up to “an SUV-like 72 ft. of cargo space. In the cargo area, aluminum rails on the floor offer attachment points where items can be secured in place,” reports Popular Mechanics. Road & Track giddily proclaims, “Check out the Volvo’s 33.3 cu.-ft. of rear storage volume - even with the seats filled! Fold down the second row of seats and you’ll get…enough room to fit a go-kart.” ConsumerGuide is a little more subdued, saying the rear seat offers “decent space for two adults, but three abreast seating is best reserved for quick trips. Under-seat foot space is tight, compromising comfort when the front seats are too far back.”

The XC70 is convincing as a luxury car and, at an entry point of around $36,000, yields impressive value to boot. ConsumerGuide remarks that “cabin materials are padded and/or nicely grained where it matters most,” “gauges are large, clearly marked, and easy to read,” and “assembly quality is first rate.” Kelley Blue Book reports “engine noise and vibration are barely detectable from inside the car.” Popular Mechanics is “most impressed by the interior, which was noticeably quieter than those of more traditional SUVs and even than that of the last-generation XC70.” “Even better,” Popular Mechanics declares, “is the handsome layout of the instrument panel, with its sweeping horizontal lines, precisely placed controls and easy-to-read instruments.” The only real negative seems to be “the hard plastic against which our knees would bang while driving,” laments Autoblog, whose editors quip that the S80 uses more plush materials in that particular portion of the interior.