Volvo XC70 Review | 2000-2007 | 2nd Gen

[@brianmurphy8032]

to say the seats are decently comfortable is a gross understatement believe me they are the best you will get

[@DanielSavard]

My Volvo is 15 years old and the seats are still very comfortable with no significant signs of wear. This is simply amazing considering I am an large size human.

[@mbergheaud]

Volvo is renowned for making the most ergonomic car seats.

[@Edgar_84]

I sold my Volvo just because of the headrest. The seats are fine, but the headrests just have an awkward forward tilt. This is especially proeminent on the newer models.

[@UnderMyPalm]

You couldn't pay me to swap my P2 XC70 with an outback from any generation.

[@contemporarymonk]

Well to each his own. But the biggest 2 things in these P2 cars are 1st. The seats. The best dam armchairs ever made for a car. Drove a 2016 Range Rover for 600 miles and my back was separate from the body. Drove the Volvo for 17 hours 1000 miles. Nothing. No pain or aches. 2nd. Show me a BMW from 2007 that still runs and drives fine, has no rust and the interior is not falling apart. These cars last forever. The 20 years body work guarantee is fantastic. The engine with its "underpowered" 210 BHP (how is 210 BBHP for a family estate which will do 0-60 in 8 seconds slow?) is more than enough for 95% of the drivers. If you look after it, and change the oils and fluids as they require, will last 300k miles without a rebuild. We have a 2005 XC70 from new. It has 275k miles. The engine never failed, the gearbox shifts hard from 2nd to 3rd (solenoids need replacing), no leaks no abnormal sounds, drives just like the 1st day we bought it. Now, show me a BMW from 2005 with 200+k miles, which isn't pissing from every gasket and seal, which hasn't rotted away and won't require 5k+ to rebuild. Yeah those are rare, super rare, and they cost twice the price of this Volvo.

[@moryakov4165]

Can agree, my P2 2.4 non turbo Petrol V70 from 2000 is on 187k miles and still going strong, almost no major issues in its life other than the steering rack having a leak

[@callumthomas21]

Yeah couldn't agree more the seats are so damn comfy everyone who gets in my car has something to say about them. Also I bought this car of my mom once she got a new one and its 15 years old and drives amazing with some issues with the technology being the only things needing repair.

[@forwardever6866]

I'm from Germany and can just agree to your opinion. None of Mercedes or BMW or Audi cars would last this milage w/o refurbish the whole engine. Surely they could be faster but they are a way more inconsistant.

[@apeman2580]

i have a 2005 volvo xc70 my first car!! just hit 180k! did all my fluids except aoc fluid for awd love my baby such a deal too 1500$!

[@18_rabbit]

@@apeman2580 do the Aoc fluid! vital for it!

[@leightondelgado9418]

As the owner of two 2007 XC70's: Mike ignored the fact that the XC70 transmission offers a five speed manual shift option which can be used for more spirited acceleration or more importantly enhanced off-road drivetrain control. His comment about the horsepower and turbo lag are more talking points than fact. The horsepower is very consistent with 2007 car standards. For example the Audi A4 AWD wagon offers 200 HP and less torque that the Volvo. The 2007 Subaru Outback offered 175 HP and less torque than the Volvo. Having said that, the XC70's acceleration is more than adequate for any normal driver. Did Mike try stepping on the gas pedal a bit more? There is no turbo lag (a cliche talking point that has been applied to turbo cars for decades). In general this is a somewhat shallow review because the XC70 is filled with features unavailable in a Subaru Outback and a far more sturdy car. A better critique would be the high expense of maintaining them and the unnecessary complexity of their design - especially the car's electronics implementations.

[@tizosh7]

Agreed!!

[@andreborges2106]

100% I would also add that longevity wise, the Volvo XC70 is above and beyond. Mine is 18YO, nearly 250k miles, with manual gears. Still solid daily driver / camping car.

[@ntwalipat2]

I'm guessing that an FWD version would be easier & cheaper to maintain than a AWD version!

[@danb37]

I like the xc transmission because it has a lock up torque converter in 3rd 4th and 5th that will slip then lock then shift for smooth shifting

[@18_rabbit]

@@danb37 unfortunately it was designed undersized and had statistically quite high issues and failure rate

[@volvoman1096]

A couple of corrections: 1. Cars that come with navigation, also include a remote control which makes it very easy to use. Guess yours is lost. 2. The headlight button on the dash is not to spray the headlights. The HID headlights turn with the steering wheel and that button turns the feature off if you desire. 3. That DVD box in the rear is not for the DVD but for the navigation CD. 4. The rugged plastic on the outside of an XC70 actually has a function. Ever see an XC70 with paint chips? Me neither. 5. The poor shifting transmission is most likely due to the fact that it has never had it's transmission oil changed. The car uses the same transmission that you will find in a Lexus and you have probably raved about them. 6. Other than the Dodge mini-wan, most rear fold down seats are not one step. The button that you struggled with is a common issue. Why? Because people rarely use it and it should be greased every few years. 7. If you believe that this car is less reliable than a 6 cylinder Subaru, you need to do better research.

[@fredford7642]

Good commentary Volvo Man. Driven Companion was less informed to be qualified to do a review on the XC70. Perhaps he would be better qualified to do a review on a wagon ( childs wagon )

[@XenomorphLV426]

You seem very knowledgeable about these cars. Someone just gifted our family a 2005 XC70. What are some particular issues to watch out for?

[@jill5006]

I own a 2002 2005 and 2006 XC70. Love them a true classic

[@ntwalipat2]

Whoa... The fact you own three of them should be a testament!

[@kevinmahoney5923]

@@ntwalipat2 This is why I read the comments carefully. Yes, indeed!

[@ntwalipat2]

@@kevinmahoney5923 Oh yes! I did some research before my purchase, and I love the 2015 XC70 T6 that I currently own! Such a fun car to drive!

[@tizosh7]

A group of guys in Philly when I was in high school years ago- used to drive Volvo wagons but they would put rag tops on them and big fat BBS wheels. It inspired me to get one later on and honestly I really can’t complain. Like another person said he should take about how you have to stay on top of them parts can be a lil pricey!! But, overall good wagon runs over snow ice while smiling - just stay on top of them and they perform well!!

[@jamesakers9696]

My 2001 has 216k on it and fools alot of people because how it looks and drives. I bought in 10 with 148k and drove it 9 hours home sight unseen. It weighs more than a tahoe and holds the road great. I just changed the trans fluid per the Mars1952 instructions and it is amazing how great it runs know. Butter smooth shifts. Also had the throttle plates cleaned. A must do for these cars. Would recommend to anyone.

[@lamboshot3225]

5:13 That button all the way to the left is not for the headlight washers. I believe those come on when you use the normal windshield washers. That button is to turn on or off the Active Bending Lights feature. The headlights will turn left or right with the turning of the vehicle.

[@bethelle9099]

This car has eye appeal. Subarus have none. I have owned trucks, 4x4, sports cars, sedans and just acquired a 2007 xc70. The pickup is more than adequate. Lots of room for us tall people. A pleasure to drive!

[@apl175]

so much is said incorrectly 5:15 - that first button disables the dynamic headlamp aiming, that second button activates child locks on the doors (not on the windows).

[@vladavasiljev]

I had 14 cars, among them was Ml270, c180, A4, bmw3, peugeot 407,etc...and ma current 2008 volvo s60 is far the best car. More comfortable than any 5 times more expensive premium class car, since s60 belongs to c segment. The best build quality, the best stereo, the most reliable cat, great turbo petrol engine... Just amazing value for money. My next will be xc70.

[@vteckid82]

Wow this is pretty loaded, it's really hard to find one that has RSE AND navigation. Another rare option are the rear seat shades

[@sponge850bobette7]

Volvo can seem quirky at first, what you call steps, difficult latches. I own a XC-70 2007 and have learned that the Swedes do things differently. So it’s difficult to compare a Volvo to other cars. Swedes do most things diffently and their society is way advanced than most country. They do it their way and that’s that. Problems with Volvo happened after Ford bought them out.

[@kevinmahoney5923]

I was going to tell you that perhaps the seat thing is superior to the new way of doing it, and then I came across this here: "Also, the three step rear seat folding is there to achieve a perfectly flat loading surface" So there you have it. THank you Sweden!

[@paulsinclair3023]

Future classic . Great car

[@jill5006]

I own 4 volvos. Love them so much. Volvo for life! 3 xc70’s and 1 xc90

[@ntwalipat2]

@@jill5006 Is any of your XC70's FWD as opposed to AWD?! I'm trying to make a purchase & the one I found is FWD! I'm thinking it'd be much easier to maintain!

[@jill5006]

@@ntwalipat2 mine are all AWD but have transmission issues unfortunately

[@ntwalipat2]

@@jill5006 Oh that’s unfortunate to hear about the transmission issues! Do you think it’s something that preventable, or it’s a well known issue with the XC70 model?! Could it just be independent to the AWD version?

[@jill5006]

@@ntwalipat2 it’s well known w the xc70. So annoying. I just bought an xc60 the other week but still have my 3 wagons. Not reliable though as they have issues

[@galebailey5583]

I watched this with an eye towards owning my first Volvo. I drove an SUV over the summer and loved the way it rode, but am not looking to buy one of those. Also, I live in a snowy climate and keep getting stuck every winter, and this model offers 4 wheel drive which is what I need. So I think a Volvo wagon like the one shown here would be a good fit for me. Thanks for the helpful video!

[@michaelosborne4944]

i own a 2003 xc70, brilliant car 27mpg & the mid range torque is amazing. mine has 271,00 on it, expecting it to reach 400,00 & my favorite feature & a step back in todays cars due to cost cutting is glass headlights yeah!

[@kevinmahoney5923]

Michael, is there a routine maintenence that you undertake that gives you that kind of mileage?

[@michaelosborne4944]

@@kevinmahoney5923 yes it was routine maintenence that kept it going, unfortunately it was totalled in 2023 when someone ran a stop sign.

[@sebastianeriksson3316]

Good review! However I would like to add a few things. 1. There should be a remote for the navigation screen which you can use to type in your destination etc. and since this xc70 seems to be well looked after it’s probably in the ‘hidden’ compartment in the center console. That compartment opens up if you press both buttons on the lid. Also, the three step rear seat folding is there to achieve a perfectly flat loading surface. Not a lot of other cars in this class has that. (You can fold the seats without lifting the bottom part, only it won’t be perfectly level, so just like in most other cars).

[@gusserks5609]

It has 3 steps because then it makes the loading floor completely flat which is one the best and most rare features of a vehicle. Pretty unimpressed you didn’t realize the obvious intention of Volvo going with that method

[@DrivenCompanion]

There are many other vehicles that are completely flat with a single or dual step system.

[@benjaminsmith2287]

@@DrivenCompanion It was changed in the next generation, the gen 3 Volvo xc70.

[@MrAnticaArte]

You American guys make my laugh when I hear that a 200cv wagon is underpowered!!!! LoL

[@ericvuille6410]

Thank you for your objective talk about this car! 😃👋🇨🇭

[@mrnordyk1125]

The idea of turn off parkering sensorer is that it dont beep when trailer is connected. And is possible to use the telephone option by switching og telephone with Bluetooth transmitter.😎 Nice älg🤘

[@graemebrown1191]

I have this model except Euro with aluminium internal trim instead of wood. I LOVE my xc70✌✌✌

[@fleuger99]

I had a 2015.5 AX70 T6, loved that vehicles. Interior was nice, AWD was good for inclement weather and it felt something special. The replacement V-series have significantly less interior space than the XC models.

[@geekytechycool]

Let's talk about the price, almost nothing out there that can compare at the price point you can get a used XC70 for

[@АзаматСахапов-я9щ]

It's very nice car , hello from are Kazakhstan!

[@fredford7642]

Good video, and honest review. Maybe does not compare to the German vehicles, But the Volvo reliability is well known. Mine is a 2006 XC70 ( yes older ) many times better than my newer Cadillac SRX ( piece of JUNK ) The many comfort features in the Volvo XC70 are well received.

[@treebeardisengard4317]

Hi again, my 2004 XC70 just had a TCM problem. Driving along felt a bang and lost drive power. Volvo has emergency protocol embedded in module. Meanwhile, I lost all dash readings, check engine light, temp gauge, and SRS/ABS. Now, with all this going on, I was able to drive home because the TCM allows the car to be driven with 2nd and 3rd gear activated! Removed TCM went on youtube and typed the issues in. 90% of inquires stated to replace TCM. Long story short, went on Ebay and bought a TCM with the exact P/N, Serial # as the old one, got it 4 days later. Before installing TCM I disconnected battery, pulled old TCM and installed Ebay part. Closed and hooked everything up. Now, crossing me fingers, I'm hoping all goes well because the car may have to be re-programmed by dealership. Turned the key and started it up. With one eye opened I looked at the dashboard, There were no warning lights showing! I let the car idle for five minutes so it re-learns the codes, after that took it for a 10 mile drive and the XC70 performed like nothing was wrong. I paid $30 for the used TCM, the whole procedure took about 1hr. As long as the P/N and Serial are identical it will work just fine. Had to post this should any one else experience this problem, this will save you big bucks. Yes Volvo's are expensive but, the Swedes designed it so replacing modules and parts are easy accessible.

[@benjaminsmith2287]

Meh to the Germans. They have a little nicer steering/dynamics but ride quality is similar and they have this sterile feeling to them I don't care for. Volvo has exceptionally comfortable, not decently comfortable seats, it is solid, it is good car. It has its mechanical issues like any other car. This guy has his opinion but at least we get a good look at the vehicle. I actually prefer the regular v70 to the xc70, but the xc70 way outsold the v70.

[@chrisungaro5575]

Where he’s wrong is that the German wagons he likes have far less carrying capacity and that’s what you get a wagon for, duh. And he’s making that stuff up about turbo lag/ noise Ive owned one and he’s full of poop.

[@benjaminsmith2287]

Whatever noise the xc70 makes is a beautiful noise. The 5-cylinder cars made beautiful mechanical noises.

[@thecarsectionthecarsection6420]

That v70 cross country is very hard to find, so keep it.

[@BBBYpsi]

The back of this says V70 not XC70

[@fulangchang7492]

My driver door handle popped. Not sure what happened but I can’t open the door from the Inside. I have to use my elbow to push into the door near the handle so it can latch to something and then I can open the door from the inside, if not I have to roll the window down to open the door. 🤷🏻‍♀️ has anyone experience this with their car?

[@aldorias]

Wooow 3 steps... Took you 5 seconds with 1 hand. What. An. Hassle. How are you suppose to lift the seat and fold the backrest with 1 step? 99 % of all car models have atleast 2 steps. Especially in that year. And if you like the audi so much how about the 2.0 litre engine that breaks all the time? The audi and volvo xc70 after 2003 have the same awd system and the price of an audi is faaar higher and is NOT high quality. Comfort is awful in audi aswell. Known for having rock hard seats. And the 2.5 litre audi v6 is even worse than the 2 litre. The only reliable audi engine is the 3.0. sure bmw is alot sharper in handeling and driving experience but does bmw even have an lifted "rugged" station wagon? Nope only sedans coupes suvs and regular wagons. Comparing an volvo to an bmw is like comparing grandmas food to a michelin restaurant. Not even the same category. And if you want to compare volvos diesel engines to subarus you are out of your mind. Bmws might be better but not audi and not subaru...no way, and subaru have 0 in interiour quality and comfort. The volvo diesel engine will easaly give you 350.000 miles and more with good maintnence. I do not agree good sir, and sorry for bad english.

[@civicaerodeck14]

Its all because he knows sh!t about cars. How intelligent must someone be to tell people that the xdrive is better and bmw has a better quality? This video is just lame

[@HenningSchneidr]

actually, the headrest folds automatically so it's just 2 steps, or one step if you leave the seat in place (then the cargoarea isn't quite plane) (I own an XC70 from 2006)

[@xenoark2849]

to me its a bonus just to be able to open seat part, say if you need just to put some odd thing which you dont want it to slide over on the bench on the move

[@vkv0789]

Very well explained. 👌👏👍🙏Can u pls mention here which car u will prefer when there is two options,,,, volvo xc70 2007 vs volvo v70 2007 models and why😊

[@DrivenCompanion]

I definitely prefer the XC. I like the added ground clearance for the occasional dirt road and deep snow and I think it looks better. If yours will only see dry pavement you might see a slightly better ride with the V70.

[@vkv0789]

@@DrivenCompanion Thanks🙏

[@raybo1018]

reliable Outback? We had 2 Outbacks that each blew head gaskets TWICE. My 07 Outback was a money pit for repairs.

[@treebeardisengard4317]

The timing belt cover on the 04" xc70 removes easily. I check the belt every 10k. Volvo belts are pretty tough. Volvo technician told me that they can last 110k to 125k miles, the belt in my xc70 still looks new..

[@hankheim4226]

I have a XC70, XC90 and a S60 Volvo's. I had BMW, Mercedes, and a Subaru. I also had a 06' Volvo S40 that was a piece of shite, because it was made by FORD! At a 120k everything started to go wrong. I tried to get parts for it and I had a hell of a time. Some parts that should be Volvo where listed as FORD. Enough said about that "FORDVO". The Be'mer and Merc. where terrible and not dependable. Don't get me wrong they're great, if you buy one every three years! My brother had 2016 Mercedes AMG, for $102,000, you paid for the engine and drivetrain, the rest of the car was krap and the doors sounded like tin metal when you closed them. I felt that for a German cars they should be a lot better in performance and durability, not so. The Subaru at 86k and 6 years old started to rust out and make all sorts of squeaks and rattles and the third gear syncro. started to go. Now the 04' XC70 has 220k other than normal maintenance it's still running strong. The first timing belt on that 5 cyl. engine was changed out at 178k!. The 09' XC90 was giving to my daughter, at 119k it's the closes thing to a tank. The wife had and loved the S40, it was the right size for her. After that 06' "Ford-Vo" S40 hit 120k, well, within a year it cost me $5,800 at the dealer not including what I replaced. We gave the S40 to the technician at the dealership seeing he was the one that always worked on it, and then, went upstairs to buy a new S60. My first wagon was a 84' 240 Turbo Volvo it was used at 125k miles, it had 364k miles and it use to fly! but, I had to sell it. New England winters rotted the floor boards out. VOLVO FOR LIFE!

[@zzoinks]

Holy cow glad your timing belt didn't go. They're supposed to be replaced 75 to 100k miles to my knowledge but I heard 75k is better for these engines since the timing belt can deteriorate before 100k (due to heat from the engine)

[@kmizowhats2899]

Hey toolbag..ask owners of Audi AllRoad or BMW/ Beznz estates "station wagon" how many miles are on it and what's your cost to drive..I've owner an Audi...loved the car when I could drive it but it was in the shop 50% of my ownership! I swear I went through the paperwork! The Bimmer was a bit better but not much. I admit I'm a volvo fan boy...but just for the fact they just do their job!

[@Loogiemistress]

how about the clever cargo net built in to the back of the seats, that is able to be used in both positions... genius for dog owners

[@jonvelde5730]

I've got a 2004 XC 70 and I get about 20MPG city and 26-28 MPG highway. That's in Minnesota, and the car has 150,000 miles. And it's pretty quiet. I can't agree with this guy in regard to comparable German vehicles. Not too many Audi's still on the road past 150K. And repairs, Kee-rist!

[@randolphsloan2263]

Thankyou. I needed that info!

[@clintonphillips4471]

Just wondering why a car that says It gets to 100 in 8.8 sec is slow iv heard that a couple of times

[@DrivenCompanion]

A Camry takes 5.8 seconds and this is a premium vehicle. Slow in my book.

[@jerryb19531953]

Excuse me! 100 mph in 8.8 seconds. HA! HA!HA! I guess I got to trade in my Corvette for this baby.

[@jerryb19531953]

OH! Camry 5.8 secs to 100mph. Forget the Volvo gimme a Camry.

[@tsnaha]

Outback is head gasket blowing turds the xc70 will kill the outback off road

[@woahmeme717]

i have one of these bagged XD on rims v70r internals biggest hole in the wallet but god damn worth it

[@wongwang7666]

Great review! The 2nd gen has some issues otherwise it's reliable and durable. It will last a long time. It sounds like your review car needs new transmission fluid. It should shift like butter. Those seats are not as good as 240 seats but it's comfy.

[@ntwalipat2]

The 240's exterior didn't look too appealing, unfortunately!

[@wyethtalmon7977]

Does anyone know what the silver and the black thing behind the steering wheel to the right does? thanks

[@jaapspaanderman5876]

It’s a Bluetooth carkit

[@platinumfights1128]

It's a station wagon, not sure why he would compare this with an Audi. This vehicle is a tank, it isn't sporty and wasn't meant to be. It has enough torque, and 208; horsepower is enough. It's not a performance vehicle.

[@JR-sl6pq]

Just watch out for transmission issues. Is a known problem. Proceed with caution. They don’t like city KMs

[@ntwalipat2]

I'm hearing that these cars are built to last! Transmission should be the last thing to have a problem

[@MadMaxxMoto]

The automatic transmissions on 2005 -up on T5 Volvos are as reliable as anything else out there, as long as it's properly maintained. Pre-05 had a software issue that SHOULD have been taken care of by the dealerships, and is the root blame for transmission issues. The T6 trannies were made by GM and weren't the best in the Cadillacs they were originally intended, and utterly horrible in the Volvos. Supposedly the 3rd gen got a much better trans, but I haven't seen one yet. (maybe that's testament to a better unit!)

[@Kakiharaichii]

This guy doesnt know what he is talking about, more reliable Outback? Yeah right.

[@rmd6483]

more reliable outback? really? burning oil, cvt transmissions

[@pumpkin462]

So better than outback (of the same era) but worse than allroads (of the same era)? More reliable than the Audi’s. Outback’s are cheap. We’re also talking about cars that are ten years old... splitting hairs tbh between the three

[@JohnSmith-yl6dn]

That's not an XC70. It says V70 right on the tailgate.

[@pr4386]

2001-2002 it was called V70 Cross Coutry. Same car was called XC70 from 2003-2007.

[@thomastommy1192]

Why won't the Volvo station wagon hold their value? I

[@xenoark2849]

you cant compare it to Audi Allroad from that era, because Audi's air suspension collapsed in 10 years , worst invention. Arnott makes traditional strut conversion at $1500 BUT its not perfect and squeks alot, quality ride with it 5/10 i have one... i should have bought XC70 instead

[@LprobotectorL]

the control rods of this XC70 are made in plastic and that´s really bad in safety point of view

[@paulhansen8717]

look at the glasses and ask if you need to take this guys advice

[@druezehler2628]

Dude, this is absurd. Subaru interiors are crap, have low horsepower with engines prone to timing belt and head gasket failures ($750-$3500 for repair depending on if you slapped the pistons into the valves during a timing belt failure). The Audi AllRoad is known as probably the most unreliable car made in the past 20 years. BMW wagons in the 2000's aren't known to be that reliable either and don't have ground clearance.

[@chrispappas3750]

Audi = shiny, overpriced, expensive to fix dicks. Subaru = oil consumption? Volvo 2007 and prior = great cars.

[@DirtRoadie]

Not really a discussion or comparison of model years of this generation so much as a "dumbed down" dealer review of this particular vehicle from the 2007 MY. Mentions "AWD," but otherwise no discussion of drivetrain and the various iterations of the AWD systems which were used. In other words, mostly fluff.

[@mapkyc696]

video is way more helpful than your rant

[@DirtRoadie]

@@mapkyc696 Thanks for sharing

[@zzoinks]

FCP euro likely has great write ups on the various AWD systems, how they work. He could use that source for some in depth video details!

[@jautjoep]

I think wen you have no clou off what you talking about, then don't.

[@chrispewkreme]

Ahhhh yes. Plastic interior. How very Swedish. Nobody else is doing plastic quite like the Swedes…