I still don't understand why so many people don't like wagons, these new one are ages ahead of the one of old. Plus with a wagon you get the ride and handling of a sedan with the cargo capacity of an SUV or Crossover. For me a wagon is the best of both worlds.
The reviewer is correct about the heavy driving feel of the XC70, but that statement is incomplete. Many have said the XC70 feels heavy, but nimble at the same time--like a very nimble tank. It is a classic Volvo driving feel, and it inspires a feeling of confidence and safety.
As to why different brands of cars depreciate faster than others---that's always been a mystery to me. But Volvo is famous for longevity. I drove a Volvo 850 to 235,000 miles, and my daughters both have high mileage (over 150,000 miles) XC70s, and they've been great cars. Repairs can be expensive for Volvos, so finding a good independent Volvo mechanic is as important as finding the right car. My mechanic is great--very competent, and much less expensive than a dealership.
Many reviewers have noted the heavy driving feel of the XC70, but they also note that it still corners extremely well, and is very nimble--like a nimble tank. I know two people who have owned both Outbacks and XC70s, and while they liked their Outbacks, they loved their XC70s. They both agreed the XC70 was far superior driving at high speeds.
Simply not true, the Outback has a lower centre of gravity due to the Boxer engine and leaves most marques for dust through the bends. Our family own both vehicles, this is not hearsay from 'friends' but real life experience first hand. Sheesh subaru should be paying me for this lol.
Thanks for posting this video, our local PBS channel WOSU seems to be raising money every time you turn around, and they ALWAYS, ALWAYS preempt Motorweek with a quilting, sewing or Dr. Drew show, so I miss lots of episodes.
Nice comparison of two proper rival, pity you didn't try them off road !!! Would have been a perfect review if you'd have included the Audi A6 Allroad too !!!
if you live in the rust belt, the Subaru will rust in half, before the Volvo gets a bubble in the paint, plus the turbo 5 stomps the subaru headgasket blower 4 all day.
I really don't want an SUV as I want to get a used wagon, so Iam deciding between these two brands. I have to admit, I am leaning towards the Volvo, which is just better-looking than the Subaru, as the newer ones also simply look increasingly overstyled. All the same, I will settle for something that won't cost me an arm and a leg in repairs
I don't think the new Outback isn't much to look at, but we had one for an overnight test drive and man...the ride quality and refinement are outstanding! It's like riding in a bank vault. The CVT transmission works very well, and there was never a shortage of power from the 2.5L our tester had. Plus its seriously comfortable and roomy. I dig it!
If you're buying new cars, a factor to consider in the pricing is that the xc70 has 50,000/5yr. basic warranty, while the outback has a 36,000/36mo. basic warranty. If you're considering used cars, I can't see that there is a significant difference between the two in price. (Just did a comparison on yahoo used cars in my area). Personally I'm hooked on volvo luxury--fantastic ride and comfortable seats that are almost orthopedic. But subarus are great cars too.
Disagree, wagons will always be around just maybe not in America. Subaru's wagon looks cheaply made and seems like it wouldn't last. I'd buy the Volvo, although I may be biased. If the Outback were just better looking, wasn't so cheaply made, and had a better engine turbo flat 4 or something, I'd actually consider it. Too bad.
The Volvo is the best of both worlds for those that can afford it. Providing both luxury and off road capabilities they are worth every penny. Don't get me wrong Outbacks are beautifully made vehicles to in the off road dept. However, besides that they lack the elegance of the styling. There is just something about the XC70 vertical tail lamps and well uniformed front grille that is very attractive to me.
+tomtalker2000 In this 2010 comparison, the best bang for your buck is obviously the Subaru OB. The OB is not meant to be elegant. Its meant to be rugged, off road/gravel dirt roads, trips, driving experience, etc. Its indeed for the outdoor individual on the go. The exterior body of the OB is broader and much more appealing. I would definitely go with the OB. Today, there is no contest and the OB will run away with its competition winning almost every category (safety, price, fuel consumption, looks, height clearance, etc).
+tomtalker2000 I don't personally find any Volvos to be that great looking. They don't really make ugly cars (unlike Subaru), but they never make anything good looking either. Subaru has always prioritized practicality over style. Volvo prioritizes safety and features. Volvo tends to appeal to Europeans, while Subaru appeals to Americans and Australians.
tomtalker2000 Subaru is far superior in traction and offroad capabilities, and the last years they are matching and even surpassing Volvo in safety. For instance, Volvo has nothing like Subaru's "Eye Sight", which is one of the best collision avoiding automatic systems. Further, the Subaru models, although the brand never prioritized design, are not as horrible as the Volvo models, which look like wheeled shoe boxes (see 0:38 in this video). None of them are stunning beauties, but the Subaru's look it is clearly preferable.
The 2013 is nicely updated thank god, and the new "appearance package" comes with a bunch of swag inside and out including brown saddle leather. Its hot.
We tried both in used condition with about the same miles, and we choose the Subaru 2.5i wagon over the V70. She wanted a smooth, comfortable ride with good viability. I wanted a very competent and stable vehicle for her. The Volvo, while offering more luxury, also exhibited a lot of torque steer, unlike the symmetric Outback system. The Volvo's transmission also shifted rougher. So overall in used condition, the Subaru holds up better - and we liked that.
How did the Subaru fare after a while? I know that generation was known for headgasket issues now. In comparison the 3.2L Volvo engine has really stood the test of time.
@@connorPiper0 We sold that one, but soon after bought an '05 OBXT (WRX engine) for more power. I still drive that daily with no issues and 225k miles on it. Solid vehicles overall. I'm not so sure I could say the same about the newer CVT models.
Both Subarus and Volvos are safe and reliable cars, but it is possible to get a lemon. Just look at the online user reviews--a lot of happy & mad owners. The odds are you'll get a good car whether you buy an Outback or an XC70. I like Volvos because of their incredibly comfortable seats, great ride, and just the feeling of luxury they have. Volvo did have a 'rough patch' in reliability after Ford bought them, but they recovered from about 2003 and later. (For an XC90 buy MY 2006 or later.)
@kavakava1234 i didnt say anything about the C or E class in particular i just said this test is the same as comparing a Mercedes C or E class regardless of theyre size just them separately to a japanese competitor , if your going to compare a car maker to mercedes u compare BMW , Jaguar etc , the same goes for Volvo , you dont compare a Volvo wit a subaru you compare it with a Jaguar , a BMW a Mercedes , etcc. Europeans vs Europeas , and same Price leages vs same price leages.
I owned a '84 240 and a '96 850. Great cars but, both suffered from catastrophic electrical problems and, now that Volvo is a Chinese company, I went full steam with a '17 Outback. I'm very happy.
now 15 years later you hardly see Volvo wagons of that era but there are boatloads of 2010-12 Outback running around, I know I have one 3.6R with 191K on it
Theres no comparison here in my opinion , two very different cars in different leages, both are great but obviously Volvo will be more expensive since its a premium car , you dont compare a Volvo with a Subaru its like comparing a Toyota Camry with a Mercedes Benz , C or E class who do you think is gona be cheaper.
I have them, 97 Subaru outback and 07 Volvo xc, like riding Volvo in city since it's fast and comfy but I wold go to the end of the world with my Subaru if I could just for fun of riding country.
@markhenderson123 Not meaning to dis Subaru's reliability. I thought this video from MW was the fairest comparison of the true cost of an outback and a xc70--you know, apples to apples & oranges to oranges. They just left out the warranty differences in the comparison. And the warranty does have some value. By the way, I've owned 4 Volvos and have had no significant problems. But I think Subarus are great cars too.
I've got a 99 Outback and an 04 S60R (sedan version of the V70). The Outback is great for hauling crap. It is not as functional as a wagon as my old 240 wagons were. That being said, it is all wheel drive and been very durable. Seats are HORRIBLE. Volvo has nailed seat comfort since at least the 240 days. My S60R has AMAZING seat comfort (granted sport seats not regular as shown there) but you can drive it all day and not wear out. The Subie beats you down after a couple hours.
Hmm not so sure about that, I drove over 2,200 kms in 26 hours in an Outback with no issues with the seat or my comfort. Having said that the passenger seat does not have lumbar support which is an oversight but my drivers seat was 100% fine.
@DualofChaos Exactly! I was disappointed in MW. They did not mention the Outback's new hideous - uh, I mean - radical styling. And to say the era of the "station wagon" is coming to and end is rather sloppy for this fine show. Station wagons have made somewhat of a comeback in recent years. Overseas, they are more popular than the SUV.
Both Subaru and Volvo are good cars, but if you buy a Volvo, you'll pay much more money for a non better car than Subaru. I really don't understand the complains about Subaru design, specially the complains about the 2010 Outback, I really like this crossover, it is roomier, more confortable and more agresive than previous models...it is no more a ladies wagon.
@kavakava1234 yeah i agree on that but on personal experience having Volvos and being previous owner of 2 Subarus . Forester and WRX i can tell you that both being great cars , Volvo does not compare with Subaru , Volvo is in another league of car so people considering to buy a Volvo are not looking to buy a Subaru as for people considering a Mercedes are not looking at Toyota , they are in different leagues , so obviously Volvo will be more expensive since its a premium car.Current S60R owner.
If you buy used, comparable Volvos & Subarus cost about the same. (Subarus hold their value better right? So that makes them cost the same used.) My daughter looked at buying a used Subaru Outback, but she began to notice that they cost as much as a used XC70, so she went for Volvo comfort and luxury instead. I bought my XC90 with 42,000 miles and paid half price. It's been a fantastic car--couldn't be happier. If used Volvos & used Subarus cost the same, the choice is a no-brainer--Volvo!
the outback is the best the only problem is with xm radio the screen doesnt show all of the letters when seeing the title and the artist. i prefer it over any crossover made today
I've owned four Volvos over the years and I really do like them. Indeed I bought my wife a volvo only 4 months ago, a sedan not a wagon. However I currently drive my first Subaru (Outback) and to be honest it leaves the Volvos in the shade. Much more drivable, stable and heaps better off road. One thing this video fails to do is compare the vehicles off road. The Subaru AWD is the most impressive between both. On a wet road I would take the Subaru every time.
I don't understand; He mentioned the other Volvo's available. However, he forgot to mention the XC90. I suppose next they'll be comparing the BMW X1 to the Kia Sorento? Seriously, they didn't show anything too extreme as far as in actual "off-road" testing.
are volvos as reliable? I mean, why would volvo not hold its value after a few years? Why does it depreciate? Is is reliability that is the issue? I am wondering. I am trying to decide on buying a family wagon. I want to tow a sail boat. A small 15 foot sail boat for the family. I want to take the family on boating trips, but I need a reliable wagon.
As the years have passed, this generation of Volvo ended up being their most reliable in a long time, and the Outback from these years were plagued with issues.
The Volvo XC 70 to me doesn't really compete with the Outback; I mean the Outback is around $7k less. The XC70 to me competes more towards the Mercedes M-Class, BMW X3, and Audi Q5. However, I feel Volvo as more of an upscale brand than a luxury brand like Buick is for the American brand. For the European autos, Volvo and perhaps Saab is a step down from the Germans Mercedes, Audi, and BMW.
Now look at the prices of these, 5 years later they both priced at about $13k, well they price em for that. Subaru unless it was abused, sell for more, whereas Volvos go for about $10k, retail.
Yes because ebay is the go to source for auto sales pricing.... How many vehicles have you purchased? and lets be honest how far off do the prices on auto trader tend to be off of value. maybe 1000-2000 at the most. Stop being ignorant for the sole purpose of trying to make yourself right
+Nathan Stice Auto Trader is very far off. You would be better off on Craigslist! EBay is accurate, it is the actual sold prices afterall. KBB/NADA are usually fairly accurate in my experience. I buy and sell anywhere from 2-10 cars every year.
FCFordLord like I told that guy, asking price doesn't matter. You could price your car at $200k. What matters is the current market selling prices. I see there was a 2010 Outback just sold for $14k and another one sold a month ago for $8000. The one for $14k had 50k miles the other one 120k miles. There is a 2010 XC70 that sold for $7k and there is a 2008 that sold for $9k ; If you want to buy a 2010 Outback today with lower miles, you expect to pay $9k-$10k ; Same for that Volvo
+Juan Jose Ramirez For 2010 review, hands down the Subaru OB. Best bang for your buck and wins almost every category. For 2015-2016, no contest and the OB definitely beats their competition!
Who the hell told you Volvo is made in China? Most of Volvo are made in Sweden, 100% of Volvo sent to America Continent come from there. Now record this in your brain: I never... "Never argue with stupid people, they will drag you down to their level and then beat you with experience." Mark Twain
+Juan Jose Ramirez you're right. though geely bought Volvo, the cars are still made in Sweden. (they have a three day "pick up your car off the line" program) though the XC plants are moving to Savannah Georgia!!! :D
+Matthew Epple i thought the new S80s were gonna be made in China? but i hope your right. god if Volvo moves it's production to China it'll never be the same .
Not saying its fake or not Subaru. I'm saying it's not the right product they are showing. Perhaps producers got it wrong. Go online and search for a 2010 Outback 3.5 for sale. Look at photos - hopefully one underhood will show the difference.
The outback now looks like a minivan Fu**ed a golf cart. I'm a giant (literally) and cannot sit in a Subaru without folding like a pretzel. Volvo on the other hand is very comfortable, and will design a drivers area just to fit me no extra charge. As for any ride discomfort? I can add or replace shocks/struts to customize my ride quality further.
Love the subaru we had a 03 model h6 3.0 vdc wagon now we have an overpriced rebadged Honda crv the Acura rdx. I cannot tell you how much miss the outback. Six was smooth and didn't even labor with five adults. Turbo four on the Acura revs higher just to get moving. Sad because I will have to drive the Acura in college I do not like the acuras power plant at all. Audio system is unbranded and no fake wood paneling come on that's on the camry xle.
Top tier in outback is the 3.6r not limited unless he meant 3.6r limited(there is a 2.5 limited). I have the 2011 outback 3.6r limited. Absolutely great car.
I"ve had a VW minibus, 2 Oldsmobile Cutlass Cruiser wagons, a Volvo V70 XC and a Toyota Avensis wagon. Volvo is far the best for the road, and quality materials. I've looked at the Subarus several times and every time I open a Subaru door I smell that cheap plastic smell I got disgusted. Than I look at the interior material and I say forget this cheap crap. However I give them kudos for off road driving, which I never really need since I have a bike with me for that. Volvo Rear Trunk Volume (Collapsed seats) 1600 l or 56.5 cubic feet Depth, Backseat Collapsed 1878 mm or 73.9 inches. I seriously doubt Subaru has that kind of depth.
@outrigger777 yes, but subarus hold their value SOOOOO much better than any volvo i've ever seen. and despite warranty subarus last just as long if not longer.
as soon as you drive that Volvo off the lot it will be worth a lot less than the Outback. . Pretty much loses 75% its value in 5 years. A 2007 XC70 is now selling for about 12k and a 2007 outback for about $15k Thats a uge difference considering the Outback was $10k less when you bought it.
I'm sorry, but if your not even going to take these vehicles off road and test their four wheel drive performance, there is no point in making this video.
Subaru is safer than Volvo. The 2017 Subaru Outback has better safety ratings than the 2017 Volvo XC60 (which is the substitute for the horrible XC70). See the IIHS website. For instance: Front crash prevention: Subaru 6/6 vs Volvo 5/6. Roof strenght Subaru 5.36 vs Volvo 5.26. High-speed autobrake: Subaru: "in the 25 mph IIHS test, this vehicle avoided a collision" vs Volvo: "in the 25 mph IIHS test, impact speed was reduced by 13 mph". High-beam illumination: Subaru: 540 ft (surpasses the "Optimal high-beam illumination") vs Volvo 475 ft ("doesn't reach the Optimal high-beam illumination"). Other stuff, matched.
God Subarus are so fucking ugly the whole lot even the WRX likes like a tonka toy seriously regardless of the tuned muffler and more hp its a tasteless design for hipsters. Go figure its the choice for tree huggers! Volvo looks classier not too mention more hp.
