Volvo Cross Country V70

Volvo’s press literature describes the V70 Cross Country SUV as “a unique Swedish
experience.” That’s a fair overview of the Cross Country, a station-wagon-style SUV which,
like most Volvo products, sort of marches to the beat of its own drummer. The Cross Country
is a five-door, all-wheel-drive (AWD) wagon with seating capacity for five, plus an
international-standard ISOFIX rear-facing child seat attachment system. Occupant safety is
a big issue with this car, which includes a Dynamic Stability Traction Control, four-wheel
ABS, dual-stage airbags and seats designed for maximum rear-impact whiplash protection.
Front seat side-impact air bags plus front and rear seat inflatable curtain head protection
are also standard. A 5-cylinder, 2.4-liter turbocharged/intercooled engine is standard, as
is a Geartronic 5-speed automatic transmission with adaptive shift logic and winter driving
mode. The 4-wheel traction control (TRACS) transfer case is a full-time unit that requires
no driver input. Four-wheel power disc brakes, rack and pinion steering, independent front
McPherson strut suspension with coil springs and multi-link rear suspension with coil
springs make up the balance of the running gear. Inside, the car features dual front
passenger bucket seats and a 40/20/40 split rear bench seat with a fold-down center section
to accommodate long cargo. Out back, the single-piece liftgate provides access to the
71.5-cubic-foot cargo area with security screen cover, and with the rear-facing child seat
that folds up from the floor deployed for seating, the cargo volume is 37.5 cubic feet.
Luxury-class accessories such as the optional Volvo Navigation System, leather-faced
seating surfaces, HU-803 4-disc CD/AM/FM premium sound system, an electronically controlled
automatic climate control system, and an Immobilizer theft-deterrent/security system, are
among a long list of features. The Navigation System utilizes a GPS-linked computer with
optional verbal trip direction notification, and a series of CDs to provide detailed map
data to work with the GPS location system. The trailer hitch, which is part of the car’s
3,300-pound tow-rating package, is a dealer-installed option that’s powder-coated for
corrosion resistance. A variety of additional dealer-installed options are also available
to further upgrade the Cross Country’s functionality.