Volvo XC70 Aftab Khodro: How Luxurious Is It?

The Volvo XC70 offers a distinct take on modern luxury, with minimalist design, a luxurious cabin, advanced technology, high safety, and a plug-in hybrid powertrain. Before discussing how luxurious the Volvo XC70 is, an important point needs clarifying. The new XC70, in terms of architecture and…

Volvo XC70 offers a different experience of modern luxury with its minimal design, luxury cabin, advanced technologies, high safety and plug-in hybrid powertrain.

according to the last car; Before we talk about how luxurious the Volvo XC70 is, we need to clarify one important point. In terms of architecture and technical structure, the new XC70 is not directly related to the old XC70 generations, which were once known as a crossover-like station wagon. Volvo has actually revived a well-known name, but has sent a completely modern product to the market with it.

The new XC70 is a mid-sized plug-in hybrid crossover, which is placed in the Volvo product portfolio, between the XC60 and XC90, and is developed based on the new SMA architecture; A platform that Volvo has designed for plug-in hybrid vehicles with a high electric range. This car was initially introduced with a special focus on the Chinese market, and Volvo refers to it as its first plug-in hybrid with a long range.

The version considered by Aftab Khodro for the Iranian market is an AWD or four-wheel drive type and offers a set of comfort and safety equipment along with advanced powertrains. So, if we're going to judge the XC70 from a luxury perspective, we shouldn't just look at the car's looks or the large cabin display. This car should be appreciated at all levels of the ownership experience.

One of the interesting points in the design of the XC70 is that Volvo did not go for exaggerated patterns to make the car look luxurious. There are no oversized grilles, excessive chrome trim, or overly complex body lines. The car design language is still completely Scandinavian; Simple, accurate and purposeful.

On the front, LED lights with the famous "Thor's Hammer" signature are placed, but this element in the new XC70 is more modern than the previous generations of Volvo products. The closed grille is also inspired by Volvo's all-electric products, and along with the active grille vent, in addition to creating a modern appearance, it helps to improve aerodynamics and manage the temperature of the driving forces.

In the side view, the relatively elongated form of the body, the roof with a gentle slope and prominent shoulders have made the XC70 convey the feeling of a family crossover and a premium product at the same time. This is the point where you can see the difference between being luxurious and attracting attention. The XC70 isn't going to scream that it's an expensive car at first glance, but rather suggests it with body proportions and design details.

In the rear part, the vertical C-shaped lights that are placed along the rear window are one of the most prominent elements of the car's design. The combination of the lights with the simple form of the trunk lid and the clean lines of the body has pushed the appearance of the XC70 towards a minimal but expensive design. Volvo has also emphasized that the new XC70 design is a modern take on the brand's Scandinavian design heritage.

Therefore, if we consider luxury as luxury, XC70 may not seem as much as some Asian competitors at first glance; But if we consider luxury to mean mature design, fit and identity, XC70 gets a very high score.

The fact is that the main answer to the question "How luxurious is the Volvo XC70?" must be found inside the cabin. In recent years, Volvo has followed a special style of luxury that is based on comfort, material quality, minimal design and user experience rather than focusing on the number of buttons and decorations.

The XC70 dashboard has a very quiet design and most of the car's functions are managed through the central display. A 12.3-inch screen is placed in front of the driver to display information, and a large 15.4-inch screen can be seen in the center of the dashboard. The important thing about the central display is its horizontal form, which provides a suitable space for displaying the map and various information.

But the display alone does not make the cabin luxurious. The strength of the XC70 is the combination of digital displays with simple interior design and high-quality materials. For this car, Volvo has focused on the quality of the surfaces, the comfort of the seats and the creation of a calm atmosphere for the passengers. Even the sound system and listening experience are adjusted according to the acoustics of the cabin so that the quality of the experience inside the car is not limited only to the image and display.

The cabin space is also designed for family use due to the car's position in the class of medium premium crossovers. Comfortable seats, decent storage space, and a focus on passenger comfort make the XC70 seem more like a car for long trips than just a technological car.

In the imported version of Aftab Khodro, items such as panoramic roof, interior lighting, heated front and rear seats, two-zone automatic ventilation, PM2.5 filter, electric trunk, keyless start and 360-degree camera can be seen in the list of equipment. An important difference should be noted here: the XC70's luxury is more experience-oriented than option-oriented. That is, Volvo has tried to provide facilities for the comfort and convenience of passengers, rather than just providing a long list of equipment in the catalog.

In Volvo cars, you can't talk about luxury without talking about safety. The reason is simple: safety is one of the main parts of this brand's identity, and the XC70 is no exception.

The imported version of Aftab Khodro is equipped with a set of driver assistance and safety systems. 9 airbags, stability control system, traction control, lane departure warning, front and rear collision warning, 360 degree camera, parking sensors and a set of radars and ultrasonic sensors are part of this collection. The driver's facial recognition system and fatigue warning also show that Volvo has not limited its view of safety to passive equipment.

This part may not be directly related to luxury at first glance, but it is very important for a premium car. A luxury car customer doesn't just want leather seats and a big screen. He expects the car to be able to protect passengers' lives in different conditions and take some of the driving pressure off the driver's shoulder.

One of the most attractive features of the XC70 is its plug-in hybrid powertrain. In this car, a four-cylinder 1.5-liter turbocharged GDi engine is placed next to the electric motors. The gasoline engine alone produces about 156 horsepower and 255 Nm of torque, but the important part of the story becomes clear when the electric motors enter the circuit.

In the AWD version, the total power of the system is about 460 horsepower and the torque of the system reaches about 710 Nm. Power transmission is done through a three-speed DHT gearbox. This combination makes the XC70 even better in terms of acceleration than we expect from a premium family crossover. Acceleration from zero to 100 km/h is announced in 5.3 seconds.

But more importantly, the high performance in the XC70 is not going to come at the cost of sacrificing comfort. The car's plug-in hybrid architecture allows a significant part of the driving to be done by relying on electric power in everyday routes. Volvo has announced an all-electric range of more than 200 kilometers for the XC70 based on China's CLTC cycle; A number that is very significant for a plug-in hybrid car.

The imported version of Aftab Khodro is also equipped with a battery of about 39.6 kWh, and according to the information published for this version, the possibility of an all-electric travel of more than 200 km and a combined range of more than 1200 km has been proposed. Fast charging of the battery can also reduce the time the car stops for charging. In fact, the XC70 is one of the interesting examples of modern luxury; A car that uses hybrid technology to provide power, silence and productivity at the same time, instead of a bulky and high-consumption engine.

The short answer is yes. But again, there is a difference between technology and luxury. The XC70 is equipped with a smart infotainment system, voice assistant based on artificial intelligence and the ability to control some car functions through the Volvo app. The possibility of remote control of some functions, including cabin pre-conditioning, makes the car ownership experience go beyond the cabin.

In the version introduced by Aftab Khodro for Iran, things like Apple CarPlay, voice assistant, driver's face recognition and various driver assistance systems are considered. On the other hand, the 15.4-inch screen and digital driver display are only part of the story. What puts the XC70 at the level of premium products is the integration of these technologies with the overall design of the car. In a good luxury car, technology shouldn't feel like an accessory, but rather a natural part of the driving experience.

If we want to judge fairly, Volvo XC70 should be placed in the category of premium cars; It means a car that offers quality, technology, safety, comfort and design at a high level, but its definition of luxury is different from cars that only focus on luxury and display of wealth.

The XC70 isn't going to be luxurious with a cabin full of shiny trims or tons of screens. Its luxury is more evident in the comfortable seat, quiet design of the cabin, material quality, insulation, technology, sound system, amenities, safety and advanced driving forces.

Even the exterior design follows the same philosophy. The car looks special and expensive enough, but it doesn't indulge in ostentatiousness. This is exactly the approach that many European brands have followed in recent years in their premium products.

The entry of the XC70 by Aftab Khodro is important because the Iranian market is again exposed to a product from a reputable European brand; It is a product that, unlike many imported cars, is not just looking to present an attractive appearance and has also invested in powertrain and safety technology.

On the other hand, XC70 is considered a choice between XC60 and XC90 in terms of dimensions and product position, and this issue can be attractive for Iranian customers. A customer who doesn't find the XC60 to be large enough in terms of size or features, and who finds the XC90 too big or too expensive for their needs, can consider the XC70 as an intermediate option.

Of course, the import of this car from China should not be considered as a sign that the Volvo brand is Chinese. The XC70 is part of Volvo's new strategy to develop products tailored to the Chinese market, and the company itself has introduced it based on the SMA architecture and with its own design language and technologies.

The Volvo XC70 is luxury for someone who expects more from a car than flashy looks. Someone who wants ride quality, cabin comfort, comfortable seats, modern technology, high safety, minimal design and powerful performance together, will probably find the XC70's definition of luxury appealing.

On the one hand, this car is a quiet and practical family crossover, and on the other hand, with more than 450 horsepower, an acceleration of about 5.3 seconds and a four-wheel drive system, it has the ability to provide a completely sporty performance. On the other hand, the all-electric range of more than 200 km and the plug-in hybrid architecture have made efficiency a part of the car's personality.

Therefore, if we summarize the criteria of luxury only in leather, chrome and the number of options, the XC70 may not look more glamorous than some eastern competitors; But if we consider luxury to mean the quality of experience, comfort, technology, safety, engineering and brand credibility, XC70 will be one of the most complete new import options in the Iranian market.

In the end, perhaps the best description for the XC70 is this: Volvo hasn't tried to make a car that just looks luxurious, it's made a car that feels luxurious the way you use it.

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