Why I just purchased a second 2011 XC70 T6
Robert Zamenhof on 03/01/2016
Performance: 0
Comfort: 0
Fuel Economy: 0
Fun To Drive: 0
Interior Design: 0
Exterior Design: 0
Build Quality: 0
Reliability: 0
Comfort Rating: 5
Performance Rating: 5
Interior Rating: 4
Reliability Rating: 4
Safety Rating: 5
Technology Rating: 4
Value Rating: 5
Overall this is a terrific car. Having had only Volvo wagons since 1980, I have to say that this 2011 seems more solid and heavy (in a good way) than any of my previous models or later models I have driven as loaners. Generally reliability has been very good--with three exceptions: At 85,000 miles, the engine started to use a lot of oil. Volvo examined it and replaced the entire engine. They told me that it was a bad batch of piston rings that was responsible, so this wasn't really a "bad" feature of the car. Volvo has never been able to properly balance the wheels, so I have learned to live with a very slight steering wheel vibration at around 60 mph. They said the rims were distorted and sent them for repair; but that didn't help. Tire Rack replaced all 4 tires TWICE, with no improvement. The design of the rims is such that mud stays put and makes the balance problem markedly worse. I have never been totally happy with the brakes. They are very good at stopping the car fast, but when applied with "medium", like approaching a ramp off a highway, they pulsate. I've had the rotors replaced free twice, but to no advantage; so I've learned to live with it. There is a really stupid feature of the software: when the fog lights are on, they go out when high beams are selected, but don't come back on when you return to low beams. Interestingly, the second identical model I just purchased doesn't do this! Finally, I am singularly unimpressed with the headlights, specially the high beams. I've replaced the low-beam bulbs with high intensity "silver tip" bulbs, but see hardly any difference. There are no high intensity replacements for the high-beam bulbs, so when I drive at night, I envy the bright headlights of much cheaper cars.
2nd Review 9/1/16:
After having now owned my 2nd 2011 XC70 T6 for about 6 months, I can add a little to this review. The 2nd XC70 seems just as well built as my first one. I do, however, miss the folding rear-view mirrors and the front seats don'r seem to be quite as comfortable; but since the car has less than 30,000 miles, it could just be a break-in phenomenon. The headlights are markedly superior to those on the first car (see above review), even with standard bulbs, and there are no problems with wheel balance or braking (see above review). The silly fog-light phenomenon I described for the first car is also absent. In summary, the 2nd car is just as good as the first, and just as robust and "heavy" in a good way. I'd like to replace the first car with another 2011 (it has 130,000 miles); but I don't think I could find a low-mileage 2011 again.
Since the first review (see above), the first car has had the following major repairs (all covered by an extended warranty policy): New A/C compressor, new motor for driver's side mirror (motor failed).
Mountain Performance Vehicle
J jennings on 11/14/2015
Performance: 0
Comfort: 0
Fuel Economy: 0
Fun To Drive: 0
Interior Design: 0
Exterior Design: 0
Build Quality: 0
Reliability: 0
Comfort Rating: 5
Performance Rating: 5
Interior Rating: 5
Reliability Rating: 5
Safety Rating: 5
Technology Rating: 4
Value Rating: 5
High Performance Turbo enhances MPG and Smiles Per Mile. Volvo's 2011 T6 engine makes it fun, fast and efficient.
Great Ride
dronepro on 01/30/2013
Performance: 5
Comfort: 5
Fuel Economy: 4
Fun To Drive: 5
Interior Design: 4
Exterior Design: 5
Build Quality: 5
Reliability: 5
Comfort Rating: 5
Performance Rating: 5
Interior Rating: 4
Reliability Rating: 5
You know when you really like a car and you wish you had it. But, you wish it's as good as you expect it... This is, it blew me away. Probably the finest, most fun ride.
Looks good, feels great, but...
an0nym0us on 08/11/2011
Performance: 4
Comfort: 5
Fuel Economy: 5
Fun To Drive: 4
Interior Design: 5
Exterior Design: 4
Build Quality: 5
Reliability: 5
Comfort Rating: 5
Performance Rating: 4
Interior Rating: 5
Reliability Rating: 5
Comparing to 2002 V70XC I traded in for it, it's a mixed bag.
Interior feels much more luxurious and refined; also appears somewhat roomier.
Exterior design mostly improved on the previous generation, except for those silvery things around fog lights.
Actually on mine - painted Electric Silver - they look OK, but on darker cars they're outright out of place.
The engine - 3.2 inline 6 - is nominally more powerful than the T5 on previous generation, but feels not as peppy as the older one.
Gas mileage is not as good, too.
The transmission feels more smooth-shifting and refined.
The suspension is tuned more towards ride comfort rather than spirited driving style.
Sleeper T6
neilxc70 on 06/29/2011
Performance: 4
Comfort: 5
Fuel Economy: 4
Fun To Drive: 4
Interior Design: 5
Exterior Design: 4
Build Quality: 5
Reliability: 5
Comfort Rating: 5
Performance Rating: 4
Interior Rating: 5
Reliability Rating: 5
A fine car. Comfy, functional, powerful, attractive, high quality, safe, and nearly a bargain compared with other "wagons". It replaced my wife's 1996 850 wagon- which I never liked--
and we bought it with European delivery for about $40k (with climate, convenience, incl taxes and license). We put about 3k mi on it in Europe and averaged, according to the display, 24.4 mi/gal. (But $140 fill ups are very painful).
The mpg was a pleasant surprise considering the EPA rating (22 mpg hwy) and some of the reviews.
Effortless cruising at 200 kph on the Autobahn. Overall, almost as impressive as my BMW 335i E92 but they're much different beasts.
I LOVE my T6!
lindsayg on 05/06/2011
Performance: 5
Comfort: 5
Fuel Economy: 5
Fun To Drive: 5
Interior Design: 5
Exterior Design: 5
Build Quality: 5
Reliability: 5
Comfort Rating: 5
Performance Rating: 5
Interior Rating: 5
Reliability Rating: 5
Volvo has read my mind- all my "issues" with my 2008 standard XC70 have been completely corrected in the 2011 T6 model.
It is absolutely worth the extra $ for the turbo version.
I traded in my 2008 and a 2008 BMW M3 on this Volvo and I don't miss the BMW at all because the new Volvo is so much fun to drive.
The best of both worlds.
Way to go, Volvo!
Very fun to dirve
hikerguy69 on 01/01/2011
Performance: 4
Comfort: 5
Fuel Economy: 4
Fun To Drive: 5
Interior Design: 5
Exterior Design: 5
Build Quality: 5
Reliability: 5
Comfort Rating: 5
Performance Rating: 4
Interior Rating: 5
Reliability Rating: 5
I had a 2005 Subaru Forrester XT with 94K miles, and decided it was time for a new vehicle .
I wanted a car that was fun to drive, yet able to carry me, my friends and camping gear up Idaho forrest roads.
I looked at 2010 Forrester and Outback, but settled on the XC 70 T6.
It is very fun to drive.
I love the comfortable seat and the relatively quiet AWD.
The handling was excellent and the turbo had loads of pickup.
I've only had it a week, but I am very happy.
A beautiful wagon
jjf5 on 12/22/2010
Performance: 5
Comfort: 5
Fuel Economy: 4
Fun To Drive: 5
Interior Design: 5
Exterior Design: 4
Build Quality: 5
Reliability: 5
Comfort Rating: 5
Performance Rating: 5
Interior Rating: 5
Reliability Rating: 5
We had wanted to buy one of these for over a year, and I had done extensive research.
I initially wanted a V70, but wife wanted the AWD.
I thought the base XC70 3.2 was too slow and inefficient, and wanted to see what happened after Ford sold Volvo to the Chinese.
I'm glad I waited.
Not only were prices slashed, but quality and features improved.
I picked up an XC70 T6 cheaper than last year's base model.
Volvo hired a good CEO, and the workers in Gothenburg are happier than they were under Ford.
This combined with it being the 3rd production year should mean improved reliability, but we'll see.
I'll post a long term update after 10000 miles.
Consider the T6 if you're looking for an XC70
abmwfan on 12/19/2010
Performance: 5
Comfort: 5
Fuel Economy: 5
Fun To Drive: 3
Interior Design: 5
Exterior Design: 4
Build Quality: 5
Reliability: 5
Comfort Rating: 5
Performance Rating: 5
Interior Rating: 5
Reliability Rating: 5
I traded a 2009 XC70 3.2 AWD for a 2011 XC70 T6. The turbo engine significantly improves this vehicle: quieter, smoother, more than adequate acceleration and no noticeable reduction in mpg. The 3.2 is slow, buzzy/noisy and it gets lousy mpg (worst of all worlds).
You're always aware of the engine working at the limits of its capacity to move this heavy vehicle. And, while the T6's base price is $6k higher, it comes standard with AWD and premium/leather package which are nearly always added to the 3.2, so the "base" sticker price of the T6 and 3.2 are essentially the same before other options. Why not get the bigger engine?
More than expected
warren smith on 11/08/2010
Performance: 5
Comfort: 5
Fuel Economy: 5
Fun To Drive: 5
Interior Design: 5
Exterior Design: 5
Build Quality: 5
Reliability: 5
Comfort Rating: 5
Performance Rating: 5
Interior Rating: 5
Reliability Rating: 5
At 1,000 miles I am impressed with all aspects of my new XC70 T6. I am getting 21+ miles in suburban driving, the seats are very supportive and comfortable. I haul two boats and have had no problems with the ability to pull them. We use the more than ample space behind the front row seats to haul all our stuff home back from our summer place. The Bliss system works as promised but does do false readings in the rain. We have the ccomvenirnce group and climate group of add ons plus the personal communications feature and all work as promised. I find the control panel easy to use and the Bluetooth set up is easy to use.
The Real Swagger Wagon
jrod1790 on 10/05/2010
Performance: 4
Comfort: 5
Fuel Economy: 4
Fun To Drive: 5
Interior Design: 5
Exterior Design: 4
Build Quality: 5
Reliability: 5
Comfort Rating: 5
Performance Rating: 4
Interior Rating: 5
Reliability Rating: 5
I can't say enough good things about this car. Its fun to drive and has the most comfortable seats I've ever been in. I wasn't in love with the idea of getting a wagon/crossover but with an expanding family it was necessary. However, once I drove the car with the T6 engine all my apprehension went away. It really makes the car fun to drive as there is power on demand at all rev ranges! I test drove the 3.2 twice and the difference in performance was significant. Also like all Volvos, the XC70 is loaded with safety, convenience, and technology. I've driven about 1000 miles so far, close to 50/50 local and highway, and I'm averaging a touch over 22 MPG on 91 Octane.
VIN YV4940BZXB1096530 may have been
recalled. Check full report for more information
Vehicle specifications
