2000 VOLVO V70 2.5L D5 5MT FWD (163 HP)

Vehicle Overview

It was a new era for the Swedish carmaker Volvo, where it had access to new technologies provided by its new owner, Ford Motor Company.

Ford bought Volvo in 1999, but Volvo already had its P2 Platform ready and used it for the S60 and the S80 before building the V70 on it. In the end, the car was more Swedish than Ford tried to make it, and for some, that was a reason for joy.

Peter Horbury designed the car with the same front fascia as the S60 model. The pined-out grille and the curved, horizontal headlights were inspired by the design of older Viking boats. Its v-shape on the hood followed the same theme. Unlike other carmakers who modified the sedan and added a few panels in the back, Horbury reshaped everything from the B-pillar to the back. The designer imagined its vertical tailgate to offer a big trunk volume, disregarding the market’s trend that favored the design.

Inside, a Swedish minimalist concept was easy to recognize and see in any Ikea store. Its buttons and controls were easy to reach, while the center stack was sloped and slightly tilted towards the driver. In the rear, the car featured a 40/20/40 split-folding bench that allowed the trunk to be enlarged from 485 liters (17.1 cu-ft) to 1641 liters (57.9 cu-ft). It wasn’t the biggest in its class, but it featured a completely flat surface.

Under the hood, Volvo installed a choice of six engines, both diesel, and gasoline. Depending on the trim level and options, the carmaker offered the car with a five- or six-speed manual or a six-speed automatic gearbox.