Volvo Cardiff
Looking to buy a Volvo? Find out what's good, what's bad and what to watch out for from Honest John.
The front of the new C70 takes inspiration from the S60 Concept that was unveiled in early 2009, thereby making the C70 more closely aligned with the design of the larger cars in the Volvo range. The front wings have been redesigned to give the nose a more distinct wedge-shape. Read on and find more details about this car in Cardiff.
Have a crash in a new Volvo V70 and your chances of stepping out intact are better than in any other station wagon. There are now extra airbags in the seat squabs to protect your lower body in impacts from the side, while the front crumple zone is built from four different types of steel to absorb head-on impacts progressively, leaving the cabin intact.
The six-speed autobox is slurry with no paddles behind the wheel and a back-to-front 'Geartronic' function. The steering wheel is one of the nicest I've very held. It's the right size and right thickness, and rightly Volvo has restricted the number of buttons on it in Cardiff.
The car is four-wheel drive with a Haldex centre clutch, like an Audi Quattro. It has ABS with Emergency Brake Assist and Dynamic Stability Traction Control, like a Mercedes. But what makes it different from anything else is the way the systems are linked, are controlled and are also individually controllable.
The first is the option of the same 110PS 1.6 engine and 5 speed transmission as fitted to my Focus ECOnetic. I drove an S80 with the 2.0 136PS diesel last year and found it surprisingly okay. But is this quest to reduce CO2 to just 129g/km from a big car just a step too far? We’ll have to wait to find out, as no 1.6 DRIVe cars were available at the test.
Good: Tough, extremely durable and roomy. Built like a tank.
Bad: Drives like a tank. Horrible steering and handling. Lumpy looks.
Read Honest Johns full review of what's good, what's bad and what to watch out for below...
Good: Cheap home maintenance bangers.
Bad: They're old and they feel it. Rust. Passing MoT test can be a struggle.
Read Honest Johns full review of what's good, what's bad and what to watch out for below...
Good: Well liked by owners. Best bet is probably the 1.8 CVT auto.
Bad: Below-par ride quality. Can rust prematurely. It's no looker.
Read Honest Johns full review of what's good, what's bad and what to watch out for below...
Good: Owners rate them. Distinctive looks. Later ones are better built and very well equipped.
Bad: Cabin looks like it was designed by four people who never met each other. Poor build quality on earlier cars.
Read Honest Johns full review of what's good, what's bad and what to watch out for below...
Good: Estates are big, solid and practical. Capable of high mileage with sensible maintenance. Saloons much cheaper for same levels of protection.
Bad: Horrible handling, even before the suspension starts to sag. Saloon has a small boot and is hard to sell.
Read Honest Johns full review of what's good, what's bad and what to watch out for below...
Good: More fun to drive than any previous Volvo. T5s are very rapid, TDIs quick and frugal. Fantastic build quality.
Bad: Can be heavy on the front tyres. Engines all belt cam. Estates aren't as roomy as previous Volvo wagons.
Read Honest Johns full review of what's good, what's bad and what to watch out for below...
Good: Solid, capable load-carrying estate that will run and run if you look after it. Saloons offer tank-like protection for half the price
Bad: Dull drive and soggy handling.
Read Honest Johns full review of what's good, what's bad and what to watch out for below...
Good: 3.0 24v is astonishingly and unexpectedly quick.
Bad: Bling alloy wheels easily kerbed. Cracked cylinder heads on some 24v 960s.
Read Honest Johns full review of what's good, what's bad and what to watch out for below...
The C30 isn’t just a good looking car, it’s exquisite. A lot of people will buy it for the styling alone in Cardiff. With its simple glass rear hatch, it harks back to the 480ES of the 1980s, and the P1800ES before that.
Good: Really good looking coupe, on theme of 1800ES and 480. Best with 2.5 turbo engine and 17" wheels. Outstanding handling. 2.0D Powershift auto works wel
Bad: Not so good with D5 diesel and Geartronic autobox.
Read Honest Johns full review of what's good, what's bad and what to watch out for below....
Good: Smart-looking coupe and elegant convertible. Comfortable, well equipped and safe.
Bad: Tame, lacklustre handling. Convertible shakes and shudders over bumps. Door mirror housings can leak.
Read Honest Johns full review of what's good, what's bad and what to watch out for below...
Surprisingly, and this is a very subjective thing, the new C70 doesn’t look quite as good from all angles and in all circumstances as preview photos promised. Or maybe it just doesn’t suit red as well as silver or pale metallic blue.
Good: Genuine 4-seat coupe-convertible. Tidy handling and a comfortable long-distance cruiser. Stylish looks, especially roof down.
Bad: Expensive. Complex roof mechanism. Not as accomplished as the folding tin-top 3-Series.
Read Honest Johns full review of what's good, what's bad and what to watch out for below.
The front of the new C70 takes inspiration from the S60 Concept that was unveiled in early 2009, thereby making the C70 more closely aligned with the design of the larger cars in the Volvo range. The front wings have been redesigned to give the nose a more distinct wedge-shape. Read on and find more details about this car in Cardiff.
Good: Comfortable, safe and enjoyable. Good looks, backed up by a decnt drive.
Bad: Distracting reflections from dashboard and instruments. Floating dash panel doesn't suit everyone.
Read Honest Johns full review of what's good, what's bad and what to watch out for below...
The box is a five speeder with my pet bugbear of back-to-front Tiptronic style manual override and no steering wheel gearchange buttons. But they are my only complaints about the entire car.
Good: Practical, safe, roomy and well equipped. Turbo versions are very rapid, GDIs frugal. Impressive results for late models in Warranty Direct Survey.
Bad: Below standard handling, ride and steering. Build quality problems with earlier cars. 1996 - 2000 best avoided, especially 1.8GDIs. 2000 - 2004 okay.
Read Honest Johns full review of what's good, what's bad and what to watch out for below...
You just take the SIM card out of your own mobile and insert it into a little slot in the dash. Then receiving and even making calls on the move is a doddle because you don't have to take your eyes off the road for a nanosecond. In the following aritcle, you will learn more information about features of the car on the market in Cardiff.
Good: Impressively solid, smart-looking saloon with decent handling and plenty of equipment. Keen second-hand prices. Decent reliability.
Bad: Depreciation suffered by first owners. Very limited leg and headroom in the rear.
Read Honest Johns full review of what's good, what's bad and what to watch out for below...
S60 Concept also presents a safety innovation that can detect a pedestrian who steps out into the path of the car and the car's full braking power is automatically activated if the driver does not respond to the danger.
The car is four-wheel drive with a Haldex centre clutch, like an Audi Quattro. It has ABS with Emergency Brake Assist and Dynamic Stability Traction Control, like a Mercedes. But what makes it different from anything else is the way the systems are linked, are controlled and are also individually controllable.
The S60, V70 and XC70 have all been around for 5 years now, so Volvo thought it was time to refresh them. They all boast new, ‘softer’ fronts subtly different from each other, new interiors and the option of an innovative new system Volvo calls “BLIS”, for blind-spot information system.
Good: Solidly built saloon and estate with tidy handling. T5s are real flyers, TDIs strong and economical. Owners rate them.
Bad: Front tyre wear can be heavy. Estates are practical but don't have the load capacity of previous big Volvo load-carriers.
Read Honest Johns full review of what's good, what's bad and what to watch out for below....
Good: Distinctive good looks and a decent drive. A plush, refined, comfortable alternative to German executive cars.
Bad: Firm ride in some versions. Handling isn't as sharp or precise as a 5-Series or E-Class. Patchy build quality.
Read Honest Johns full review of what's good, what's bad and what to watch out for below...
Good: Alternative to Mercedes E-Class for big, prestigious 5-seater 'private hire' operators and owners simply wanting a big, safe, solid car. Much improved
Bad: Very close to E Class prices, except for sensible, entry level 2.0 litre models. Few will buy the 4WD I6 and V8.
Read Honest Johns full review of what's good, what's bad and what to watch out for below.
The first is the option of the same 110PS 1.6 engine and 5 speed transmission as fitted to my Focus ECOnetic. I drove an S80 with the 2.0 136PS diesel last year and found it surprisingly okay. But is this quest to reduce CO2 to just 129g/km from a big car just a step too far? We’ll have to wait to find out, as no 1.6 DRIVe cars were available at the test.
The six-speed autobox is slurry with no paddles behind the wheel and a back-to-front 'Geartronic' function. The steering wheel is one of the nicest I've very held. It's the right size and right thickness, and rightly Volvo has restricted the number of buttons on it in Cardiff.
There’s no doubt Volvo V50 is a gorgeous looking car. Like the Audi A4 B6 Avant which is its most direct competitor, the V50 has even more eye appeal than the saloon. It’s attractive from all angles; beautiful at the front, neat at the side and butch at the back.
Good: Classy-looking compact estate with very good ride comfort and tidy handling. A fine long-distance cruiser. The UK's most popular Volvo.
Bad: Not everyone gets on with the floating dashboard. Boy Racer packages like the expensive R pack not suited to Volvo clientele.
Read Honest Johns full review of what's good, what's bad and what to watch out for below...
Good: Big, solid, handsome estate car, bigger than previous V70.
Bad: Not as good looking as old V70. Average to drive.
Read Honest Johns full review of what's good, what's bad and what to watch out for below.
Have a crash in a new Volvo V70 and your chances of stepping out intact are better than in any other station wagon. There are now extra airbags in the seat squabs to protect your lower body in impacts from the side, while the front crumple zone is built from four different types of steel to absorb head-on impacts progressively, leaving the cabin intact.
Good: Good looking, practical and solid estate that's enjoyable to drive. High secondary safety rating. Comfortable seats.
Bad: Other wagons offer more rear legroom and greater luggage capacity. Fairly high incidence of problems and failures.
Read Honest Johns full review of what's good, what's bad and what to watch out for below...
Good: Good looking. Volvo virtues. Handles well for a tall vehicle. 2.4 163 diesel works fine.
Bad: Yet another SUV entering a very crowded market. D5 engine starting to feel dated. Not quite as polished as the Audi Q5, but still very good.
Read Honest Johns full review of what's good, what's bad and what to watch out for below...
It’s certainly a striking design. In the compact 4x4 market – a new place for Volvo to populate – it really stands out. An implausibly high waistline and a dramatically sculpted rear end shout for attention.
Good: Smart-looking estate with more off-road ability than the previous XC70. Comfortable, safe and practical.
Bad: Mediocre to drive and arguably not as good looking as its predecessor.
Read Honest Johns full review of what's good, what's bad and what to watch out for below.
Good: Handsome-looking, safe 7-seater brimming with kit and practical touches in its high-quality cabin. D5 is the one to go for.
Bad: A BMW X5 is a more accomplished drive on and off-road
Read Honest Johns full review of what's good, what's bad and what to watch out for below...
There is the Volvo XC90 available in Cardiff, which is essentially a jacked-up estate car manages to contain three rows of seats with more than half a metre of luggage space behind them and reasonable legroom for everyone. Read on to learn more information about the car.
Most important is the all-new I-6, a chain-cam 3.2 litre all-alloy short block straight six, also destined to find itself under the bonnets of the Jaguar XJ, the Jaguar S-Type and the new Land Rover Freelander. It’s being built for Volvo by Ford at Bridgend in Wales.
