Weekend Athlete: 2008 Volvo XC70

Before we go any further, yes, one can use any sedan and a rack. Or one can do as I did on a recent camping and cyclocross trip: Stuff everything in a rented 2007 Ford Focus sedan and be off and running. Sure. It worked OK, I got there and back. But the point is, what’s the easiest car? Will a vehicle that looks like it means business actually follow through?

If it is XC70, yep, it does. The cargo area is massive. For fun, we tried it with a couple of different objects in addition to the standard test of bike and camping gear.

The downsides of the car start with its price. Getting an XC70 over a regular V70 will cost you a couple thousand more if you’re comparing base model to base model. (It’s about $36,000 to start with). And I always say I’d rather have that money for a new bike or plane tickets to a flyaway race. But that’s me. Of course, if you want all-wheel drive you need to get the XC70.

Also, it’s aimed at the luxury market, so there’s wood and leather and light brown carpeting in there. It’s all very nice, kinda what I’d expect to find in an expensive ski lodge in Sweden, but expensive ski lodges in Sweden are no place for a sweaty Weekend Athlete, his muddy ‘cross bike and rain-soaked gear. Now, if you don’t perspire, never get muddy, avoid rain and always smell of roses, enjoy the ride.

In the end, it did everything I ask of a car better than many others I’ve tested. Still, I’m not entirely sold. Yes, there’s the price, but there’s something more.

The extra body cladding and exterior treatment (over the base V70) seems a bit overdone. That’s subjective, sure, but if your best friend grew a beard, bought a ton of flannel and said he grew up in a Northwoods logging camp, would you believe him? Would you accept a similar tough-guy act from your car? And let’s face it, that toughness on the outside is betrayed by the luxury inside.

Weekend Athlete Scores (Out of 10)

• Ease of loading gear: 8.5. No thinking required, just chuck and go, whether you have the bike in or not. You do have to be wary of mud stains.
• Ease of seat operation: 7. The simple operation is nearly perfect. It’s not part of the standard test, but the nifty fold-down ski pass-through deserves a mention.
• Bike hauling: 9. You don’t have to remove a wheel and it slides in fairly easily. Other vehicles, though, like a minivan, would let you put the bike in upright, which is the easiest and therefore a perfect 10.
• Locker room cred: 5.5. for me, but maybe you’d go higher if you like the add-ons, don’t mind the price and can look past the plush interior.
• All-around: 7.5