XC70: Suspension V70 or XC70 for comfort ?

[irondonkey]

Is there a real difference between the V70 and XC70 suspension or it it simply jacked up to give more clearance ?
I loved my V70 but wondered if the XC70 is more comfortable on bumpy B roads and tracks ?

[Tannaton]

Jacked up, more travel, hence better bump absorption on the XC model but more wallowy on corners.

[volvoski]

Wiallowy isn’t a fair description for an XC70. They corner bloody good for a big car.

[Bonefishblues]

How about they lack suspension control then?

[Tatsfield]

Originally Posted by Bonefishblues

How about they lack suspension control then?

Not sure exactly what this question means. If "they" refers to XC70s, then if they have the 4C suspension system there is a great deal of suspension control and in the "Advanced" setting the car is anything but "wollowy ". The "Comfort" setting is ideal for rough surfaces and off road while the "Sport" setting is OK for everyday use on ordinary roads. I use "Advanced" most of the time because I have come from 25 years of driving 2+2 coupes with hard suspension and that's what I'm used to. My 2012 XC70 handles almost as well as the Nissan, Honda and Peugeot 2+2 coupes I've owned and that's saying something for such a big heavy car built like a brick outhouse! XC70s with the alternative Nivomat suspension system have automatic control of the rear suspension controlled by the load weight and are ideal for towing. I don't know how this system affects the overall handling but if anyone was worried about handling in an XC70, buy one with the 4C suspension system and stop worrying!

[Tannaton]

Originally Posted by volvoski

Wiallowy isn’t a fair description for an XC70. They corner bloody good for a big car.

Compared to a standard V70, the XC70 is more wallowy. Whether that is excessive is a matter of personal preference, but for someone coming out of a V70 or S60 who likes a sporty drive, it will be an issue.

[Bonefishblues]

Originally Posted by Tannaton

Compared to a standard V70, the XC70 is more wallowy. Whether that is excessive is a matter of personal preference, but for someone coming out of a V70 or S60 who likes a sporty drive, it will be an issue.

This. Whether with 4C like ours, or self-levelling, or standard. It's just a physics thing.

[Sotosound]

Originally Posted by irondonkey

Is there a real difference between the V70 and XC70 suspension or it it simply jacked up to give more clearance ?
I loved my V70 but wondered if the XC70 is more comfortable on bumpy B roads and tracks ?

I’d be more concerned with bottoming out and wheel or tyre damage than comfort.

Why do you ask?

[george57l]

Originally Posted by Tannaton

Compared to a standard V70, the XC70 is more wallowy.

The question was about comfort. Some people may find more wallowy to be more comfortable, others less. Probably depending on road type, which brings me to....

....to be more accurate, the question was about comfort on bumpy roads. Again, one person's definition of comfort may differ from another's but for comfort on bumpy roads my guess would be more would find the XC70 more comfortable than the V70 - but it's just a guess and assumes both models would either have 4C on the same settings or not have it at all, for comparison's purposes.

I've had both models and to be honest there's really very little in it, relatively speaking. V70 maybe perceived to be slightly firmer and may be more comfortable if that's your bag. XC70 slightly softer, and again, some may prefer that.

If the OP really wants an answer, the only answer for them will be to try both and make up their own mind as to what suits them.

Some people find noise to be an element of comfort. One thing to note is that XC70 is noisier, especially at higher speeds, due to larger echo space between car and road.

[Bonefishblues]

One of, if not the most comfortable cars I've ever owned was a 996. Not because it was massively softly sprung - in absolute terms it's medium-firm, but because everything was so very well controlled, and there wasn't the out of phase pitching that bumpy roads can set up in the XC70, which is rather like a boat at sea on occasion.