What’s new: Volvo has prepared its V70 for the rough stuff, jacking up the suspension, adding 4WD and hill descent as standard and beefing up the styling with tough plastic protection.
Excellent: It will slip under even the most vehement anti-4×4 hater’s radar while offering some genuine off-road and towing advantage over the V70.
Good: Petrol 238PS 3.2 does 0-62mph in 7.8secs, with a broad power spread across rev range.
Average: There will be limitations to its off-road prowess, and the elevated suspension adds to roll and fractionally reduces body control.
Poor: Petrol slips into the highest 35% BIK group and averages just 24.8mpg, almost 14mpg less than the diesel. There’s also the £2850 premium, on top-spec SE Lux, over the 2WD 3.2 to consider.
Verdict: If you need four-wheel drive capability without the stigma of a full-size 4×4, this could be the car – but we’d pick the cheaper diesel.
