S80: Information V70 D5 Test Drive

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Just a quick summary - because I should be working!!

Arrived at St Gallen Station around 1540 - and finally located the Salesman who was picking us up - so thumbs up for service.

Headed out for a test drive - town - motorway - short back round - town work - over all about 30km @ 8.2l/100km - hmmm

Car - V70 D5 Geartronic - Summum Spec (about SE-Lux) - Canicula wheels, black leather, titanium grey - 1500km on the clock

Engine - The D5 is far from the most modern of diesels - and it is certainly vocal enough when pulling away in traffic. The engine pulls stongly but the gearbox does feel like it blunts it a little. Whether the 5-cylinder note suits a diesel I am not so sure. However up to speed and the engine is quite and pretty relaxed. Overall it didn't feel as lively as my 20 year old 760 GLE!!

Gearbox - not sure what others have written but I was quite impressed. 6th is definately an overdrive (55kmh/1000rpm) make for effortless and quiet cruising. But it had another more impressive trick up its sleave - floor it and it drops cogs quickly and then after a brief burst of full throttle it holds the gear - almost waiting for you to push on. I could imagine this being annoying but for me it showed an eagerness. The changes were smooth and achieved at low revs - light throttle changes at 1700rpm and mid throttle at 2200rpm.

Handling - it is a big and heavy estate - and quite frankly with a complete lack of lateral support in the seats (I sense a return to 240/740/760 style there) - and with the salesman in the back I didn't want to hoon it. However quick lane changes were handled with a minimal amount of roll

Ride - the 760 was setting a touch act to follow. It maybe 20 years old, but the ride is soft and comfortable. The V70 sets about its task in a different manner - it tries to flatten any bumps into submission - and for the most part it works. You can feel the best part of 1800KG doing its best. Bumps have smoothed away in a firm but not overly firm manner. Certainly softer than a 5-series.

Exterior - looks pretty good. The tail is growing on me, and the long nose is pretty well disguised - even if the cars balance isn't as pleasing as the wheel forward style of the 5-series. But the lines are elegent, discreet, stylish - the more I looked the more I like it. 17" wheels were OK, but 18" or possibly 19" might improve the looks a little more.

Interior - first up rear legroom - with my 6'1" frame up front and comfortable another me would stuggle in the back - especially if there were another 2 along side. Knock a couple of inches off and the space is good - especially shoulder width 3 up in the back. The dash is a stylish place, the curved dash giving a cockpit, cocooned feel - more intimate than the 5-series and more stylish. The popup Sat-nav is neat and a great feature at eye-level. How well the wheel mounted remote works depends on how nimble your fingers are. Materials felt good and solid - but perhaps not to Audi levels. The matt wood finish something different.

Storage - yep it has some, and then some more,and then a bit extra. Superb - the flat folding 20 split is great - the extra net packs well made.

So how does it rate overall - proabably around 4-star. It doesn't inspire in its drive like a 5-series, but it feels more compact (it is length wise), and more sensible - and certainly more stylish. The cabin feels a nicer place to be than the old V70 and it is more spacious. It is a car worthy of being Volvos big estate - but whether that attracts new customer is another matter.