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Written by JST
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Monday, 29 December 2003 |
Took a long road-trip in a new V70 T5 over the weekend. I've driven a
bunch of Volvos before (the V70 2.4T, the XC 70, the previous
generation S70 T5, etc.) but never the current generation T5.
Overall, this is a very capable family hauler. It has plenty of power,
even with the slushbox, and it's freaking enormous inside. We had four
people loaded up for an 800 mile roundtrip, and there was plenty of
space. The seats are among the most comfortable in automobiledom, and I
like the high-quality, elegant interior.
Compared to the V70 2.4T and XC, the increased power is very evident
(and welcome). On the highway especially, the T5 has a lot of reserve,
and can easily maintain 90 mph in the mountains even with four
passengers and a giant cargo bubble on the top (ask me how I know). The
T5 also handles more confidently than these other cars, especially the
XC.
Drawbacks? Yes, there are a few. The turbo 5 has a lot of grunt, but
not much in the way of smoothness. At high revs under heavy boost, the
T5's engine emits a stuttering, thundering blat that is only cool if
you're into industrial chic. You floor it to generate Gs, not to hear
the engine wind out. There's not really lag, per se, but the
high-pressure turbo generate more power up top than down low, meaning
that the fun stuff starts to really happen higher in the rev range.
The steering is probably the biggest downside--it has variable assist
that is very noticeable, and is pretty numb at all speeds. Very little
road feel makes its way to your hands. Moreover, there is not enough
self-centering, and the car feels just as happy continuing along with 5
degrees of steering angle as it does with 0. Finally, the comfy seats
have a very flat bottom cushion, and while they provide decent lateral
support on the upper body, driving aggressively sort of feels like
playing GT3 from a Barca lounger.
Bottom line? This isn't really a sports wagon like the 325iT. It's a
big, comfortable family car with space that shames most SUVs and the
ability to erase vast highway distances quickly and easily. Next to the
V70, the M3 feels like a fighter jet, but if I had to pick one to take
on a trip, the Volvo is the obvious choice.
I'm very interested to drive a Saab Aero to see how it compares.
Originally posted on carmudgeons.com.
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