1997 VOLVO V70 2.5L 5MT FWD (144 HP)

Vehicle Overview

With the retirement of the Volvo 850 station-wagon and introduction of the new V70 in 1997, the Volvo evolved into a new market, and it did it in safety.

The V from the Volvo V70 meant “Versatility” and that was exactly what the Swedish car-manufacturer offered. In the mid-’90s, the family car was a station-wagon, not an MPV in the European market.

The V70 was not completely a new car. It was based on the Volvo 850 platform and it still shared some body-parts with it, such as the doors. The flat, vertical, tailgate was another reminiscence of the boxy-design. But the front side was narrower, with a flat and straight-up grille and a rounded spoiler underneath the bumper. There were some rounded shapes over the hood too.

Inside, the luxury station-wagon featured leather seats, 3-CD on-board changer, and even a sort of navigation system with a remote controller. The dual-zone climate system and the automatic transmission were on the list. It was an advanced vehicle for its era.

The V70 was available even with an all-wheel-drive system that could send up to 50% of torque to the rear wheels. It was available with diesel and gasoline engines, with manual or automatic transmission. A good point for the station wagon was the independent rear suspension for the AWD models. The driver airbag and the ABS were standard-fit, as well as the reinforced side protections inside the doors.