Let's start with prices: the Octavia Scout is the most affordable in this quartet, starting at $36,000. The Outback is more expensive, starting at $39,000. The Volvo XC70 bites even harder — $45,000–$55,000. And the Allroad is a whole different league: from $86,000. True, the Czech and Japanese never aimed for the premium segment, while Volvo and Audi have always positioned themselves as luxury brands.
The XC70's interior feels like a spa for the driver: everything here is devoted to caring for the body. The automatic gear selector is so comfortable that it seems like it's been part of your palm all your life. The steering wheel is wrapped in matte leather with an incredibly pleasant texture — it's tanned using a special technology, and over time it should only become more beautiful. The power steering is tuned so velvety that the balance between firmness and softness seems perfect, and the very act of turning the wheel immerses you in a state of relaxation. In parking lots, the wheel turns with literally one finger, but at speed it fills with heaviness, and the car's responses become sharper. Moreover, the steering sensitivity can be adjusted to your liking — three modes are available.
I'd bet that the suspension of the new XC70 wasn't designed by stern Swedish engineers. Men are simply incapable of such things. Most likely, a girlfriend or even the chief designer's mother sat at the drawing board while he was ill. Instead of dry calculations, care and tenderness are embedded here.
The other components work in the same vein. The engine gently picks up and smoothly pulls forward at the slightest touch of the pedal. The automatic doesn't linger with pauses, doesn't let the engine rev needlessly, and sets a serene mood.
QUITE ECONOMICAL
But sooner or later, measured driving gets boring, and you want to floor the gas to stir up the six-cylinder. Volvo will respond something like "I have kick-down, remember?", but there's little pleasure in such a dialogue. Sharp movements are best avoided — you can drop at most one gear down. And enter corners more calmly: the lateral support of the seats is too weak, and in a turn, the driver noticeably leans.
But street racers will be in for a surprise — manual mode. It allows revving the engine up to 7000 rpm until the limiter kicks in. You can have some fun. True, you'll have to turn off the music and ask the passenger to be quiet, because in the cabin you'll hear nothing but the roar of the six-cylinder. And that, by the way, is also a pleasure.
The inline six-cylinder petrol engine with 238 hp turned out to be quite economical. During the test, it was satisfied with just 21 liters per hundred in the urban cycle. Don't like it? There's a diesel. The all-aluminum five-cylinder turbo diesel with 185 hp of the new generation is lively and technically advanced: direct injection, common rail, and a variable-geometry turbo. The engine is also very compact, which reduces the car's weight and increases safety in a frontal impact.
SPECS: VOLVO XC70
EASY DOES IT, NO FOAM!
Venturing off-road would be pure bliss. It's a pity the bumper is a bit low, and the plastic cladding around looks flimsy. I managed to test its off-road talents only on one of the slopes when I drove off the asphalt. Descending on an incline, the Volvo does it confidently and safely — the hill descent control system helps. It's not afraid of climbing either. The ground was dry but loose, and the tires were road tires. So at the end of the climb, I deliberately stopped, expecting the XC70 to start spinning and shamefully slide back. I was wrong. Without extra throttle, fuss, or any struggle, the Volvo calmly crested the top, as if mocking the photographer who was waiting below for at least a brief battle with the off-road. That's how the advanced Haldex AWD all-wheel-drive system with Instant Traction technology works, distributing torque to all four wheels without hysterics.
NOT JUST PREMIUM
The updated wagon will appeal to anyone who values comfort and coziness. After the trip, only pleasant emotions remain. The only disappointments are the modest ground clearance and the plastic cladding. Without them, it would be even more fun.
