2001 Volvo XC70 review from Australia and New Zealand

There is a tendency for the battery to go flat if you happen to be in the car waiting for someone for a time and listening to the radio/CD, opening and closing windows etc., something that did not happen in our 850 during the same period of time. Fortunately there is a warning on the computer if you are paying attention, but I have been caught once and had to call for road service.

The doors are very heavy (probably great in an accident) but the stays that hold them open on an incline are weak so the doors tend to close on you (again the previous 850 was better in this regard)

Buy an interior colour which has a dark coloured dash top. The bone-coloured one reflects the sun badly.

Generally I really like the car. It is very comfortable with great seating and the cabin ergonomics are very well thought out. The radio/CD is excellent.

It gets indifferent reviews from the press for suspension, but I find in day to day driving it gives a very compliant, comfortable ride in metropolitan conditions (much more comfortable than the choppy ride in my friend's new 5 series BMW on it's run flat tires).

I've read a number of reviews with bulbs continually blowing (haven't had one go in five years) and transmission problems. I particularly like the five speed auto (no problems either) which seems to be able to pick a gear and be happy rather than hunting (in city driving) like our new six speed Golf 2.0FSI.