The new Volvo 208 model called S60 is an attempt by the Swedish giant to launch an affordable luxury sedan. Volvo has 2 other models, the famous sporty S40 and the famous luxury S80, which leaves this particular S60 hovering in the middle of the range. But surprisingly, the S60 has had more sales volume than either of its cousins. A road test and some detailed examination reveals why.
This car is very stylish and vies well for the tag of luxury car. As a sedan, it delivers a good performance on most roads, but the handling can get a bit sluggish at times and this is one area where the S60 needs significant redesigning. The car does well on city roads but coughs and sputters on too many bumps. With its 3 different trims of turbocharged five cylinder engines, the S60 aims at comfort, luxury and some fun. On the exterior, this car has very polished, sophisticated look while the interior is ergonomically designed more for comfort than for looks. But the rear could do with some more leg space. Right now, it could pose a problem for taller people.
Among the three trims, the 2.5T comes with many standard features, while the athleticism is displayed by the other trim, the T5. The third of the trio, the R has been designed with better suspension for great performance, and some special features. With an excellent Dolby audio system, the car is perfect for long drives. The safety features are excellent, and the car performed very well in crash test drives. The transmission is 5 or 6 sped manual or automatic, according to the trim. The engine specifics vary slightly between trims, but overall the S60 performs reasonably well when needed.
In all, we could say that the S60 has been aging gracefully and could do better in a few areas, like a much needed enhancement of stamina, but on an average, the car has been well received. It is convenient, safe, comfortable and luxurious, and a Volvo, a combination people would love to own.

Engine: 3 out of 5….. The car definitely can do better with some redesigning in the engine. Right now, it is good for city driving.

Transmission: 3 out of 5…. Easy controlled manual and automatic transmission in all 3 trims.
Handling: 3 out of 5… good in safe driving condition. Gets tough on bumpy terrain.
Safety: 4 out of 5 … Volvo hasn’t compromised on safety yet. Perfect family car.
Value 3 out of 5… a good pick at $ 30,000 to $33,000 if you are not too concerned about speed and performance.
Tech Specs
Body: stylish exteriors, meant for 4 passengers.

Engine: turbocharged and 5 cylinder engine available with variations in capacity and hp.
Transmission: manual and automatic 5-6 speed transmission in each trim.

Torque: 236 at 1500 (ft-lbs) for the 2.5T

Power: 208 hp at 5000 rpm in 2.5T

Tires: radial tires with front and rear disc brakes.

Verdict: good car for luxury, convenience and styling. Not for speed enthusiasts.
For: style and comfort.
Against: performance is slightly disappointing.

Small cars with stylish and graceful look have become the face of the modern automobile industry. Individuals in large numbers are buying small cars. This fact is clearly evident from the rising sales statistics of cars of such size. Numerous small passenger cars are available in the market. However in recent times, the one to watch out for is the 2008 Volvo V70.

The basic cliché that is distinguishable for 2008 Volvo V70 is its usage of the modern technology. This car is equipped with high-tech modern tools and gear. On top of that, the trendy and fashionable looks are bound to add up a lot more to its popularity quotient.

The most important feature of this car is its transmission and suspension system. It contains electronically controlled adaptive transmission and geartronic interactive transmission. This car is also outfitted with independent MacPherson front suspension and multi link independent rear suspension along with hydraulic shock absorbers and coil springs.

As far as the steering is concerned, it is good to grip and assisted with tilt & telescopic columns along with pinion variable and power rack. The braking and traction system is also highly modernized with DSTC or Dynamic Stability Traction Control. If you are buying 2008 Volvo V70, you are getting an automobile equipped with automatic parking brake, traction control, anti-lock brake, 315 mm disc power brake in the front and 302 mm disc power brake to the rear.

Seating system is also very comfortable and has eight ways adjustable driver seat, manual lumbar hold for drivers, adjustable headrests and centre armrests. You will get a better comfort level from this car than what you might expect from a Volvo trim.

While redesigning the previous model of this car, safety features has been looked upon with pin point precision and all facilities has been included in the car for any unexpected event in the future. Those facilities include dual threshold passenger and driver airbag, rear and front side head curtain airbags, rear and front pretensions with force regulators and rear and front crumple zones.

2008 Volvo V70 is also equipped with state-of-the-art anti theft and locking system. This includes a vehicle anti-theft system, which is run by means of engine immobilizer, interior monitoring and alarm. Again, valet lockout, powered door locks and powered tailgate locks are also amongst the standard features of this car.

Apart from anti theft and locking system, this car also outweighs others on remote releases and remote control systems. Armed with panic alarms, remote controlled lift gate release and multi-function anti-theft feature this car is highly developed and modified than its previous versions.

With 2008 Volvo V70, you are assured of getting more space with maximum style. Each experience of driving in this car is bound to be different from its previous version.

Tech Specs

Body: Five door wagon

Engine: 3.2 liter I6 235 hp

Transmission: 6 – speed automatic

Torque: 236 ft/lbs

Power: 235 hp

Tires: SBRP215/65R16

Verdict:

For: The car has more space and style than almost all its previous version

Against: The car has the ability to give more power than it actually provides its owner

There is a desire of every individual to get on the roads and start traveling in their own car. With recent technology in automobiles and exclusive exterior designing, it is imperative for everyone to have the best model available in the market for themselves. The car, which has been getting excellent reviews from the global automobile market in the recent past, is the 2008 Volvo XC70. It has all the features that are sure to make it a favorite among the buyers.

Interior & Exterior Features

2008 Volvo XC70 3.2 has excellent lighting both on the exterior as well as the interior portion. It has automatic headlights (halogen). There are fog lights at the front as well as at the rear of the car. There are reading lights in the interior apart from the conventional delayed courtesy lights.

It has the latest power windows which have features like pinch protection, one-touch up and down facilities. Again, it is armed with intermittent wipers.

Comfort Features

2008 Volvo XC70 3.2 is high on the comfort factor. The interior of the car is done very tastefully, as is revealed by the floor mats that are there both at the front and the rear regions. There are controls like the automatic climate control and pollen filters in the interior of the car that maintains the comfort level inside the car. 2008 Volvo XC70 3.2 has reclining seats with manual lumbar support. The driver gets to have a power seat which can be adjusted in 8 ways.

Keeping in mind that the users want their cars to provide some entertainment, the engineers of 2008 Volvo XC70 3.2 have equipped the car with 160 watts AM/FM radio having 8 speakers coupled with a CD player and MP3/WMA player.

Mechanical Features

2008 Volvo XC70 3.2 has excellent suspension systems both at the front and the rear owing to the coil springs and shock absorbers. The car has excellent steering control aided by the power rack steering and tilts telescopic steering columns. It has adaptive transmission with overdrive ability and floor mounted shifter.  The car has excellent braking and traction controls with anti-lock brakes on all of the four wheels. There are 315 mm power disc brakes at the front and 302 mm power disc brakes at the rear.

Safety & Security Features

With maximum deaths being caused due to car accidents, a great deal of attention has been paid to the safety features in the 2008 Volvo XC70 3.2. There are airbags both for the driver and passengers, which are controlled by crash sensors.

2008 Volvo XC70 3.2 has various remote controlled features that supplement the style of the car. It has also been designed to provide maximum security against thefts as revealed by the lockout features and anti-theft alarm systems.

2008 Volvo XC70 3.2 offers great mileage, styling, smooth ride and better power than most of the cars that are currently available in the global automobile market. This is bound to stamp their authority on their competitors and is sure to have excellent sales.

Tech Specs

Body: Five door Wagon

Engine: 3.2 liter I6 235 hp

Transmission: 6 – speed automatic

Torque: 236 ft/lbs

Power: 235 hp

Tires: SBRP215/65R16

Verdict:

For: It is a comfortable, safe and stylish car with great fuel mileage

Against: Power could have been more and the engine can be noisy at times

For the stylish at heart, the new 2008 C70 Volvo is all set to take you for a nice long drive. Convertibles are almost always notorious for being speedy and too much fun, but with the Volvo 2008 C70 model, customers have realized that speed can now be safe! This breakthrough by 2008 Volvo C70 is indeed surprising, considering its stagnant state for the past few years. Of course, Volvos were always considered sexy, but the charm had slightly faded over the years. The Volvo c70 promises to change all that.

Volvo has been associated with good looks and safety in all its automobiles. But its new powerful and swanky new convertible is exciting in design and performance. Based somewhat on the S40 sedan, this stylish convertible has a lot of safety features, the most significant being a speedy retractable hard top. The other features include impact protection, good airbags and pretensioners, shock absorbers and also a WHIPS-Whiplash Protection System designed to protect the passenger from any neck injury. The car also has a Rollover Protection System.

The interiors are a marvel indeed, with the thoughtful distribution of leg space and comfortable seating. The trunk space seems almost magically roomy. This trim, the T5 is a turbocharged 4 passenger well-sealed and cozy convertible from Volvo. It has a standard manual transmission with overdrive ( 6 speed) and a 5 speed automatic option as well. It provides a horsepower of 227 hp and quite a good mile-per-gallon output even within city and on highways. This is a handsome convertible with cool exteriors and a long base chassis. The car scores in terms of style, interior design and safety, but a convertible needs some real good speed. Handling is okay but speed lovers would be a little disappointed with this car.

The car comes with pretty cool luxurious packages for those who want a little extra out of this stylish convertible. It moves well on city roads but the drive is not that smooth sailing when the driver demands heavy acceleration from the car.

Engine: 3 out of 5….. the engine could have been a lot better, considering that the C70 is a convertible and sports car material otherwise.

Transmission: 3 out of 5…. Standard 6 speed manual transmission gets the nod on the road test.

Handling: 3 out of 5… handling very good at regular speeds, but gets tough when pushed towards limits.

Safety: 4 out of 5 … very sophisticated and up-to-date facilities make a safe convertible.

Value 3 out of 5… For $39,000 this convertible can make a safe, stylish and luxurious everyday car.

Tech Specs

Body: the T5 trim comes as a 4 door and 4 passenger convertible model.

Engine: 227 hp engine with l5, 2.5 liter.

Transmission: 6 speed manual, 5 speed automatic.

Torque: 236 at 1500 (ft-lbs)

Power: 227 hp at 5000 rpm

Tires: 17 inch, 235 mm radial tires. Disc brakes, rack and pinion steering.

Verdict: affordable, convenient, stylish, comfortable and very safe convertible. But slightly low on performance.

For: In all, it is a good buy for those who want a convertible and yet stay safe and comfortable.

Against: For the wild ones, this car might be lacking.

If there ever was a car that earned the tag sexy, then it was the Volvo series. This car was made to make heads turn and get auto fans weak in the knees. For quite a long while, the Volvo ruled the roost in the stylish car segment. But then, there was a slight dip in the sales because Volvo did not quite change according to the times. The crown king of sexiness is now back with a bang with the all new 2008 Volvo C30. The brand new sporty hatchback promises to lure the young crowds while holding on to its original fans.

The 2008 model hit the United States of America in October and has been receiving quite a few wolf whistles here and there. At about $22,000, this particular Volvo claims to be very affordable among the other cars in the same design segment. With today’s monstrous traffic, what people need is a fast and easy car that is able to manage winding roads and high traffic with ease. Volvo claims that its new 2008 C30 is ideal for intense lifestyles. In the exterior, the car follows the S40 and the V50. The 5 cylinder turbo charged engine is quite powerful, with a hp of 227. Of course, this Volvo does not quite earn a sports car title, but it certainly looks neat.

This front wheel driven hatchback, a 2 door coupe has easy rear viewing facility. The resemblance to its predecessors is pronounced with the exteriors, but the interiors are what crowds call uber cool. The seating is very comfortable and the engine hums smoothly along the city roads. There is definitely a surprising improvement over the stagnant Volvo models of the past. The car performs well on highways too. C30 comes with several luxurious options for those who want more. It definitely scores well on style, design and comfort. But the only hitch is that this hatchback is not too sporty.

Engine: 3 out of 5….. 227 hp is reasonably good enough for city roads with high traffic. The car accelerates quite well.

Transmission: 3 out of 5…. Regular 6 speed manual transmission with overdrive and 5 speed automatic optional.

Handling: 3 out of 5… comfortable handling, traction, steering and brakes.

Safety: 3 out of 5 … this car spares no effort when it comes to safety. It scores very well on its precision safety features.

Value 3 out of 5… Very good value for your $22,700

Tech Specs

Body: 2 door 4 passenger hatchback.

Engine: 5 cylinder, 2.5 liter turbocharged engine that performs at 227 hp with 6000 rpm.

Transmission: 6 speed manual transmission with overdrive and 5 speed automatic.

Torque: 236 pound-feet

Power: 227 hp at 5000 rpm

Tires: 17 inch, 205 mm radial tires. This front wheel driven car has front and rear disc brakes.

Verdict: quite a stylish and all-new model from Volvo. Performs well, impressive design but does not classify as a sports car.

For: looks, luxury and performance.

Against: not quite a sports model.

Test drives of 2008 Volvo XC90 3.2 range have proven that it is a majestic pair of wheels. It carries 24-valve and 3.2 liter I6 standard engine along with a power of 235 hp. Its interior and exterior features are the tale of its prowess in the current global automobile market.

Standard Features (Common with Volvo XC90 models)

Compact spare-tires are provided in 2008 Volvo XC90 3.2, which can be carried under the body. The cars are gifted with Antaeus alloy wheels. Again, its power retention is delayed and has power outlets at the cargo area, both in the front as well as in the rear seat. There is also pre-wired towing, navigation and audio provided within this car.

The 6-speed transmission for the 2008 Volvo XC90 3.2 can be electronically controlled and includes overdrive with manually interactive features. The steering column consists of tilt and steering and it also involves pinion and power rack types. With the stabilizer bar at the rear, it has a suspension that is supported by shock absorbers and coil springs.

Amongst other options, the car has seat and exterior mirrors for the driver’s side with 3-memory adjustments, trip computer, controls mounted on the steering wheel for cruise and audio control, service indicator, digital clock, tachometer, exterior temperature-gauge and tire pressure-monitor.

Exterior Features

With fold-down tailgate doors, this car has skid plate and air dams at the front. These features are coupled by side moldings, which are painted similar to its body color. There are automatic halogen headlights with perimeter lighting and fog-lights at both the ends for supplementing the running lights during daytime.

2008 Volvo XC90 3.2 has an illuminated entry with delayed courtesy-lights. Lighting is also provided for the load area in the interior. Rearview mirror in the interior is electro-chromic and the windshield wipers are intermittent. At the rear, the glasses are tinted and are provided with wipers and washers along with window defroster.

Comfort features

Within 2008 Volvo XC90 3.2, there are clothed seats arranged in theatrical style. The driver’s power seat can be arranged in 8 different ways with lumbar support. The seats also have adjustable headrests.

Safety Features

For safety, it has automatic locking-refractors and airbag cutoff sensors supported by side head-curtain airbags present at the roof. In case of emergency, the fuel shut-off device is activated. Again, there are crumple zones and air bag support at the front and back.

2008 Volvo XC90 3.2 also comes with a control system to look after the vehicle stability, whereas the brake assistance is also electronic. The power disc brakes are at both the ends. However, the front one is vented. Even with these features, each of the four wheels has anti-lock brakes.

It is also equipped with panic alarm and other remote controlled gadgetry. These are complimented by power door-locks, valet lockouts and anti-theft radio for security. Again, you get door locks present on the rear doors for safety of your children.

With sufficient storage space, AM/FM radio, pollen air-filter in the interior, auto climate-control, heavy carpeting on the floor and leather covered steering, Volvo XC90 3.2 defines the word ‘luxury’ in a precise manner. 

Tech Specs

Body: Four-door small sports wagon

Engine: 3.2 liter I6 235 hp

Transmission: 6 – speed automatic

Torque: 236 ft/lbs

Power: 235 hp

Tires: SBRP235/65R17

Verdict:

For: Handling and Safety features are excellent

Against: Comfort level and exteriors of the car can be further improved