The XC70 is back, but there's a catch

[matthew1]

The new Volvo XC70 is a mid-size SUV, reviving the iconic nameplate as a plug-in hybrid (PHEV) with an extended electric range of up to 200 km (124 miles) under CLTC testing. Built on the Scalable Modular Architecture (SMA) platform, it offers all-wheel drive and a spacious cabin, blending modern Scandinavian design with rugged versatility. Key features include a shield-like closed grille, Thor’s Hammer LED headlights, and Matrix LED technology. Initially launched for China, Volvo is exploring other markets.


Specs:

Powertrain: Extended-range PHEV, 400 hp

Electric Range: ~124 miles (CLTC)

Platform: SMA

Availability: China (late 2025), potential global expansion

Price: Estimated ~$55,000 USD (China base price)

[Vova585]

As a person that had 98v70xc and currently 01v70xc and 2016xc70 I am not amazed with this design. But I am getting to the point of "midlife crisis" so I am stuck in the past.

[BlackBart]

"... blending modern Scandinavian design with rugged versatility."
[/quote]

Dear gawd. Just what we wanted, a slab-sided (with intentional dents) Chinese suv. It is NOT a Volvo wagon.

Is this the end of a product design era, or maybe the End of Days?

Look at what Subaru has just thrown into the ring.... They are calling this an Outback.

Screenshot 2025-05-20 at 20.57.30.jpeg (60.32 KiB) Viewed 3336 times

They have completely jumped the shark. It's no longer a "car," which was part of its appeal. It's a clumsy, blocky... thing, with completely random creases and dents and pointless folds. It's a little suv trying to look tough. It has the multi-blade shaver grille everyone is doing, with a flat slab face. It has flares on its flares, backed up by big flares. It has the standard angry squinty eyes. It has a fake tin skidplate under the nose like a lot of XC wagons got. It has fake rugged-looking plastic rockers, as if you're going to bounce it off tall rocks at Moab. Heinous.

Sube has consistently over the years put out some sharply styled prototypes at the car shows, they obviously have some design talent.

But I think the company has deliberately dumbed down those designs to appeal to the everyman / unpretentious / earthy outdoorsy customer(?). I don't know. Look at the toady Forester over the years. Look at how every nice Outback design is sabotaged at the next gen body update.

[BlackBart]

The Volvo at least looks way better than this, and the back end is nice. Closer to Range Rover than Subaru.

[matthew1]

Subaru just cranks out gigantic, heavy, angular blobs now. A new model every month it seems. They are all, every one of them, artless messes devoid of any pleasing design qualities whatsoever.

(Cars that meet approach/departure angle benchmarks are classed as trucks and thus qualify as light trucks for federal MPG and emissions requirements. This reduces both the engineering requirements for any model, and reduces the carmaker's aggregate exposure to federal penalties. I did not make that up.)

Now that you've introduced that Subaru photo, the Volvo ain't half bad*.


* though if you said that it's just a lowered XC60 I'd not have a second thought about it

[Vova585]

"... blending modern Scandinavian design with rugged versatility."

Totally agree about outback. We had 02 Legacy outback sedan H6 and it was awesome. Elegant, nice interior with wood inlays, horrible acceleration(let's be honest 6cyl H6 but it was sluggish). I always also liked 2005 redesign of Outback sedan 3.0R. Something similar to s60XC, but more rugged IMHO.

[BlackBart]

(Cars that meet approach/departure angle benchmarks are classed as trucks and thus qualify as light trucks for federal MPG and emissions requirements. This reduces both the engineering requirements for any model, and reduces the carmaker's aggregate exposure to federal penalties. I did not make that up.)

Exactly - trucks are cheap to make, trucks don't have to comply with all rules, US manufacturers HEAVILY marketed trucks as new "lifestyle" vehicles to everybody, not to people who carry things and fix things.

[BlackBart]

Funny, people complained about American Land Yachts of the 60's and 70's - big bloated heavy long cars and wagons. Tons of room for families and vacations. Almost always big or excessively big engines, an offshoot of the muscle car era to make them more palatable to macho buyers.

That era passed long ago, we think.

NOPE! Look around. It's right in front of us. It's the big bloated heavy long American pickup truck. Way bigger than a working full-size pickup in 1970 or 1980. Mostly commonly configured with 4 doors and a shortish box with a shell or a cover. It's a station wagon. Tons of room inside, excessively big engines, now way taller and moar macho than before.

Americans haven't really changed their taste, just reshaped their boats.