2012 Volvo XC70

Volvo has decided to hit the ground running when it comes to getting the word out about the 2012 line up. Starting with the XC70, Volvo has most manufacturers preview their new vehicles at different spots around the country. They will fly journalist in, feed them, talk about Volvo, do a lot of intense driving the next day, and then maybe eat again before flying out.
Not Volvo, Volvo decided to get the best from the media journalist. Volvo decided to put together a Road Trip, not just any road trip, but a trip to Gateway Colorado.
Mark Maynard and I started our journey in San Diego. We drove a Volvo S60 to the Westin Hotel in Los Angeles, spent the night and laid out our travel plans.
We left LA and headed to Las Vegas, we were on our own, but wait there is more! You can't give a $32,550 dollar Volvo to a bunch of journalist without any concerns of abuse. Volvo fixed that problem by making it a contest, fuel mileage was a big item in the trip, maintain 25 mpg on the road and gather extra points for the final competition, we averaged 25 and up to 31 mpg on the trip, we stopped in Vegas and completed a few tasks, going to the top of the Stratosphere, taking pictures of sharks at the Mandela Bay, then off to Colorado!
Let me tell you about the XC70, it sure is a nice a nice ride! When was the last time you were on a long road trip and during the trip looked at your partner and without any provocation you said, wow this car rides good and the seat are very comfortable? Not very often I would guess.
The XC70 was All Wheel Drive, which was helpful when we got lost looking for Grafton Colorado, a well preserved town from days gone by! Yes we finally found Grafton!
You have two engines to choose from and one transmission, the first engine is an inline six cylinder and it develops 240 horsepower and 236 foot pounds of torque and fuel estimate of 19 mpg city and 25 mpg on the freeway, the other engine is also an inline six cylinder but turbocharged, you will get 300 horsepower and 325 pound foot of torque with fuel mileage averaging 17 mpg city and 23 mpg on the freeway. You can opt for front wheel driver or all wheel drive, plenty of room for the family, luggage, kids, animals, the Volvo XC70 fills all your requirements plus being safe!
Volvo has concentrated on safety for so long that they felt it is time to give you the driver style, performance, fuel economy and safety. Everything on the Volvo was perfect for the trip, comfort, space, connectivity, navigation, one thing I must tell you about the navigation, because of safety you need to set your navigation before you start your trip, if you try to do it on the open road, Volvo will not allow you to be distracted, it was so bad the car would not even tell us to stop messing with the navigation while driving.
Was that a distraction? Yes, but once we found out how to do it correctly (Gee maybe we should have read the owners manual on navigation!). So we asked Volvo if we could make the 12 hour trek back to San Diego and forget about flying!
Volvo said sure if you wanted too! Another road trip, better than before, great mileage, no aches and pains on the trip, in fact every time Volvo has asked Mark and me on a trip lately we insist on driving! What does that tell you about Volvo!
My suggestion is to head down to your local Volvo dealer and check out their lineup, you may be pleasantly surprised!