Nav screen rises from the dash only when in use or when reversing to show the camera view of what's behind, if the car is so equipped. It's operated via a remote control or by a small joystick on the backside of the right spoke of the steering wheel. This handsome matte-finished straight-grain walnut won't be sold in the U.S. We get shiny burled wood. At least it's all from real trees.
Vehicles equipped with radar-based adaptive cruise control get a collision-warning system that first sounds a tone and blinks a light on the dash that reflects in the windshield. Then when it senses a collision is imminent, it primes the brake system-adding just enough pressure to move the pads into contact with the rotors, so that if the driver does brake, the response will be instantaneous. Volvo has not yet completed enough development to institute active braking and ensure it will never brake when it doesn't need to.
Seeing that a child is properly positioned for the belts and airbags to function properly is vital, and Volvo's new two-position integrated booster seat does just that. Note that the larger child on the left and the smaller one on the right each has his head on the head restraint and well aligned to benefit from the protection of the new side-curtain airbag, which extends 2.4 inches lower than before. The seats are standard on V70, optional on XC70, and look less "dorky" than aftermarket booster seats, which should reduce cool kids' resistance to using them. The functionality of the seats is reportedly unaffected by ancient crushed Cheerios.
If your car alarm goes off, your key fob can tell you, via a small LED light, whether or not there's a heartbeat inside the car. If there is, you can "double-bolt" the locks (hit lock twice), and the would-be carjacker is contained until the authorities arrive. One future application for this technology: a warning tone that tells the driver a heartbeat is present upon locking and leaving the car, to warn against overheating children or pets.
The V70 and XC70 are structurally identical, except for this auxiliary bumper beam, which ensures crash compatibility of the higher-riding XC70 with standard passenger cars, like the Volvo C30 shown (or the V70).
Hill Descent Control is engaged by putting the transmission in manual-mode, first gear and depressing a switch on the center console. Then the car utilizes the anti-lock brakes and engine retardation to maintain a speed of 10 kph, or about 6 mph when descending steep inclines.