I am looking to change my towcar from a trusty Volvo 850 T5 saloon which is a brilliant towcar, but not so good at getting my van off a wet field.
I am looking at Volvo XC70 with the D5 engine as a replacement, the AWD drive on the XC70 should cope much better with the wet fields and still give a good run on normal roads. I have read many reviews on the XC70 but NONE on it's performance as a towcar. Are there any members out there with such a beast that might give me their opinions on it's performance and capabilities.
Many thanks
Dave
------------- Thats not a light at the end of the tunnel...it's a train coming towards you.
I have the Volvo V50 with the D5 engine but is only a front wheel drive but been told numerous times that's the D5 is one of the best engines that Volvo has made. The D5 produces 180 BHP with 258 Lbs/ft. of torque which is more than adequate for towing plus the XC70 has a huge luggage area too. I have never drove one myself but as a four wheel drive it's a vehicle well worth considering in my opinion especially if you don't need a huge beast of a 4x4 for towing like the XC90 model.
Thanks Tango. I was definitely looking for the D5 engine for just such a reason. I am torn between the XC70 which is specifically an off roader, it's capabilities i would probably rarely use or a V70 AWD. This is more comfortable for everyday usage, retains the 4WD when i need it and has the D5, also more rare than XC70. I have also heard that there is a known problem (pre 2006) in the 4WD and in particular excess wear on the diff on all volvo 4WD but the proof of this is elusive.
XC90 very nice - could not justify the emissions or excise duty on the beast - wasted on me i am afraid.
Dave
------------- Thats not a light at the end of the tunnel...it's a train coming towards you.
I have found out that the Volvo XC70 estate and AWD have different towball weight limits which is 80 kgs. on the AWD and 90 kgs. on the estate. My V50 is 75 kgs. which is the same as the Volvo V70 estate up to the year 2007 whereby the weight limit increased to 90 kgs. There are a few caravanners on here that tow with the V70 which I believe also has the 2.4 D5 engine who hopefully may be able to offer further info on the XC70.
I had a Y reg S80 with the 2.5litre D5 engine. She may have been old(er) with 147000 miles on the clock, but our '56 plate Mondeo we have now isn't a patch on it.
Big comfy, quiet, spacious and MORE economical than the Mondeo.
I would have had another Volvo, but at work now, a pick up is going to be better.
I had a XC70 AWD back in 2010 it was a 06 model with 80k on the clock we towed a twin axle Bailey Senator Louisiana to the Provence in France and then onto Narbonne.
We took the route from Calais to Castellane via Grenoble with no problems, the car averaged 28 towing and around 38 solo it was a geartronic and towed very well, however i would have prefered the manual to be honest, we later changed the car for a Discovery but only because I've always wanted one.
Thank you one and all for your help and very useful information. Still undecided but I have to say Bocieb that is a big old van to tow with it - mighty impressive and to average 28 mpg towing.
Dave M
------------- Thats not a light at the end of the tunnel...it's a train coming towards you.
Cant comment on the XC70, however, I can say the D5 Engine is sublime, I have a V60 D5 with the bi turbo which pushes out 215bhp and bags and bags of torque which pulls our Abbey effortlessly and still gives is very high 20's mpg when towing...Lovely engine, shame about the car its powering, had quite a few issues with Volvo electrics and the "Stealerships" are positively terrible. I will most certainly be going back to a German Marque when my current deal with Volvo ends, most probably an Audi A6 with the 2.7TDI
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Topic: Volvo XC70
