8 Best And Worst Years For The Volvo XC70

Released as a crossover version for the Volvo V70, the Volvo XC70 made its debut in the spring of 2000, just for years after the initial release of the Volvo V70.

The variant’s release was done alongside the start of the second generation of the Volvo V70 and remained a part of the lineup till 2016 until the production of the Volvo V70 would cease in April.

The Volvo XC70 would go on for one more month before dealing with the same fate.

Regardless of how it ended, the Volvo XC70 provided users with 16 years of models, most of them being superb overall; however, some of them would not be as formidable and have a few issues that need to be discussed.

This is why I will be talking about the best and worst years for Volvo XC70. I will also rank these models in two separate lists and give my reasoning for their placements.

Best Years for Volvo XC70:

1. 2014
2. 2013
3. 2012
4. 2011
5. 2009
6. 2016
7. 2005
8. 2000

Worst Years for Volvo XC70:

1. 2003
2. 2004
3. 2001
4. 2002
5. 2008
6. 2007
7. 2010
8. 2015

The lineup has also faced various common issues, which I will also talk about and address some common questions regarding it.

List Of The Best Years For The Volvo XC70: What Years To Buy

The Volvo XC70 Has had many different models over its 16 years of production.

I will rank and talk to you about them here:

#1 Best Year: 2014 Volvo XC70

The 2014 Volvo XC70 is placed in on the first number because this year faced no issues when it came to the vehicle experience, aside from the standard drawbacks of having a wagon body type, being a flawless car overall providing great performance and handling.

The 2014 Volvo XC70 was available in 7 different trims, all of which featured rugged styling, sleek cabin design, and amazing utility.

Featuring a 300 hp turbocharged 3 Liter engine with 325 pounds of torque, this model provided a lot of power and speed to the user, which made it amazing to drive.

#2 Best Year: 2013 Volvo XC70

Setting up the trend for the 2014 model and following the established trend set by the 2012 model, the 2013 Volvo XC70 was also available in 7 different trims.

I am placing this model in 2nd place because this model had taken the already set features and performance of the previous model and improved upon them, making it get a leg over its predecessor.

It also allowed the same to happen for the 2014 model, which also got a lot of new features, which is why it ranks below that one.

#3 Best Year: 2012 Volvo XC70

The model which allowed both of the previous ones to flourish was the 2012 Volvo XC70, which takes 3rd place due to its innovation to be the first model in the lineup to feature a staggering amount of trims as the previous year’s only had 1 to 2 trims which offered little customizability and options for customers.

The model brought a lot of new active safety features and many different comfort features into the mix, which would be further improved upon in later years.

#4 Best Year: 2011 Volvo XC70

Despite having significantly less number of trims than the models above, the 2011 Volvo XC70 takes the 4th best spot on this list.

The reason why I have placed it here and not lower is that the model itself is a leader in vehicle safety, and that remains so with the 2011 model, along with the reason that the model had great performance and stability, which earned it the praise of a lot of its owners and the community in general.

#5 Best Year: 2009 Volvo XC70

Going a couple of years, the next model on this list is the 2009 Volvo XC70, which gets this spot because of the introduction of the T6 trim along with significant additions and changes.

While these improvements don’t stack up against the models above, they were enough to wow fans of the lineup and helped secure this model’s position on this list.

The amount of safety and luxury the model provides is outstanding, and many owners of the model simply love this car.

#6 Best Year: 2016Volvo XC70

The 2016 Volvo XC70 was the last lineup model before its eventual discontinuation in the same year.

This model gets 6th place because it was affected by two different recalls, and owners had reported bar brakes in this particular year.

The 2016 Volvo XC70 was a great vehicle that was available in 6 different trims. All of these trims displayed great gas mileage a lot of significant features.

If the model did not have the problems stated, it would have been a great end to the lineup.

#7 Best Year: 2005 Volvo XC70

The 2005 Volvo XC70 is at 7th place is that despite being an older model, this particular model is quite dependable, which says a lot considering that Volvo as a company is not known for its dependability.

However, that does not apply with the 2005 model, whose owners have reported to be driving as late as 2020 which means 15 years of service packaged with a turbocharged 208 hp engine that screams speed and power.

#8 Best Year: 2000 Volvo XC70

The spot as the last place on this list is the 2000 Volvo XC70, which I am placing here because despite being the first model of this variant lineup, it was pretty good and had different issues.

While it had a different name at the time, the 2000 Volvo XC70 does exist but not without any issues as the car suffered from right angle drive failure, and the driveshaft to rear wheels would wear out quite often.

List Of The Worst Years For The Volvo XC70: What Years To Avoid

While the lineup is pretty good overall, a few models have slight issues, and I will be covering those here.

#1 Worst Year: 2003 Volvo XC70

The 2003 Volvo XC70 is number one because this particular model had the most complaints in the entire lineup, so naturally, it would wind up at the top spot.

The second generation of the Volvo V70 generally had transmission issues, and they translated to the XC70 lineup, which would get the new name in the same year.

This year had the worst transmission problems and five recalls, which was not a hot start for the Volvo XC, considering they just went through a name change and had to sell the product under a different banner.

The model would get complaints against the fuel system, steering, and drivetrain.

#2 Worst Year: 2004 Volvo XC70

The next year would not be so different either as the 2004 Volvo XC70 was following in the footsteps of the 2003 model but now had engine issues such as but not limited to jerking, shaking, lurching, and no power, which was not ideal.

The NHSTA had a lot to say regarding the vehicle’s suspension, and the transmission was still facing some issues, which are sad to see.

The year reduced the number of recalls but only bought one.

#3 Worst Year: 2001 Volvo XC70

Known as the Volvo V70 XC, when it came out, the 2001 Volvo XC70 was the 2nd variant model in the lineup and suffered from the same number of recalls as the 2003 model but had a lot of complaints related to the engine and the transmission, both via owners and the NHTSA which is why I placed it at 3rd place.

Aside from rough shifting, clunkiness, transmission failure, and a lunging engine, the model had various issues and complaints sprinkled around, which did no good.

#4 Worst Year: 2002 Volvo XC70

Moving forward a year, the 2002 Volvo XC70 was also a difficult model to talk about, considering the air conditioning system would not work and the drivetrain would wobble from the axle.

The NHTSA criticized the engine for its cooling issues and speed control while the alternator would stop working.

Fuel pump leaks, airbag problems, and improper Isofix guide installation would result in recalls that would affect many vehicles.

#5 Worst Year: 2008 Volvo XC70

2008 was the start of a new generation for the lineup, so a lot was riding on the 2008 Volvo XC70.

Unfortunately, it fell short on a few fronts, which is why I am placing the model in 5th place.

The 2008 Volvo XC70 was the victim of 8 different recalls and many braking problems.

Various NHTSA complaints were also filed against the model, with the fuel system being the most prominent and the engine following suit.

#6 Worst Year: 2007 Volvo XC70

Going a year back, I am placing the 2007 Volvo XC70 lower than the 2008 model because it was in a much more stable condition than the 2008 model as it was the last model of its generation, which are usually more stable.

However, this did not save it from a few electrical issues, air conditioning problems, and two recalls, which hurt the integrity of the model and brought it down to the 6th spot on this list.

#7 Worst Year: 2010 Volvo XC70

Going further into the 3rd generation of the lineup, the 2010 Volvo XC70 had a bad case of having its drivetrain produce a humming noise from the car’s rear, which was quite distracting and annoying.

The interior was not as soundproof and even had its issues as the radio and Bluetooth had minds of their own that would turn on and off without warning, which would deteriorate the experience of the ride.

#8 Worst Year: 2015 Volvo XC70

Taking the last place spot on this list is the 2015 Volvo XC70.

This was the 2nd last model of the lineup, and for all intents and purposes, the model was mostly good; however, it ended up on this spot because of two main issues.

The first issue was the steering, which would lose power and make driving difficult.

The second was poor radio reception, which, while not the end of the world, was disappointing to see in a model that was doing so well.

What Are The Most Common Problems With The Volvo XC70?

1. Transmission Problems

Many models of the Volvo XC70 have had different issues related to transmission.

The 2012 model has a particular problem of not having its transmission not work properly where it would take too long to shift gears.

This would impede driving and cause transmission slipping, which is very dangerous.

Bad Valve bodes, software, or faulty solenoids also led to various issues where shifting would become difficult to control.

2. Noises From The Control Arm Bushings

The bushings are designed to protect the model’s control arms from friction and heat, which could damage the suspension parts.

Still, various owners reported that the front of the control arm bushing would get worn out, resulting in squeaking and knocking sounds.

The issue could also worsen as the worn bushing could through the wheels out of alignment and cause uneven wear.

3. ABS Control Module Failure

The antilock brakes make it possible for vehicles to retain control while on most slippery surfaces but without it can be a risk to drive on certain roads.

Naturally, if the ABS control module fails, the brakes would stop working, which could pose a risk to drivers who tend to drive on slippery roads more often.

This issue was common in the models from 2003 to 2006.

4. Engine Issues

Among the various engine issues of the Volvo XC70, the most common was the one that affected the 2008 model, which caused the engine mounts to give off excessive noise and vibration while driving.

This would result due to the engine mount getting worn out easily. Various other issues have been called out among the models of the lineup.

Many of them were brought up by the NHTSA.

5. Airbag Issues

The issue of airbags was related due to a manufacturing fault by ZF, which allowed the airbags to explode due to elevated humidity and moisture levels, which would cause propellant leaks.

This explosion would cause metal fragments to be launched at the passengers inside, and the issue is known to have killed a man.

This issue affected the Volvo XC70 and other lineups under the company.

Frequently Asked Questions

Q1. How Many Miles Can A Volvo XC70 Last?

Assuming an average yearly mileage of 15,000 miles, A Volvo XC70 should last you around 200,000 miles, which is very impressive for a wagon.

This, however, does not include maintenance and servicing of the vehicle.

Responsible drivers who take care of their vehicles can see their Volvo XC70 last longer when given the proper maintenance and if the car is driven within its limits.

Q2. Are Volvo XC70 Expensive To Fix?

The Volvo XC70 is not known for its reliability, so you may experience a frequent need to repair and fix issues rising in your vehicle over time.

The average amount you will need to fix or maintain the vehicle may be more than others considering you are doing them more often.

While the fix itself may be relatively cheap, the number of times you do it can easily add up and cost a lot.

Q3. How Much Does A Volvo XC70 Cost?

The retail price of the last Volvo XC70 model was around $38,000, which is a reasonable price for a wagon but considering the last Volvo XC70 was produced in 2016, it may be difficult to get yourself a completely new one meaning you will most likely be purchasing a used model.

This should cost anything below $30,000 if you go for the last few models and even lower if you get an older one.

Q4. Is Volvo XC70 All-Wheel Drive?

AWD is a feature present in the Volvo XC70 and is needed by the vehicle as it is a wagon and needs all the stability and traction it can get when driving through snowy surfaces.

Luckily since the feature is present, you should have no issues driving on snowy roads. This is also aided with the vehicle’s ground clearance, which prevents further issues.

Q5. Where Is The Volvo XC70 Made?

The variant lineup was manufactured between 2000 to 2016, and between that time, the majority of models would be made in Torslanda (Sweden), Ghent (Belgium), and Halifax (Canada).

These assembly lines would produce the models of the first two generations, but there would be a change for the 3rd generation, which only produced the model in Sweden.

Conclusion

While there was no actual need to know the best and worst years for Volvo XC70, considering the lineup is full of wonderful cars that are mostly problem-free, there are a few select models which are not up to the standard set by the lineup itself.

The 2008 model pales in comparison to the 2014 model due to its range of dependability and lack of issues, and the same comparison can be made for various models in this list which shouldn’t be needed as you know which years are not worth the trouble and which ones are the ones you should aim for.