The Geartronic autobox kicks down quickly to make the most of the engine's powerband. From idle to redline, the polished mill remains smooth as it supplies propulsion to the front wheels in an even and linear manner.

The engine is mated to a six-speed automatic transmission.

If there's any criticism to be levied, it's auditory in nature. I found the engine to be just a tad noisier than I would prefer in an otherwise extremely quiet vehicle; still, others may find the exhaust note to be just fine.

On the road
I can't put my finger on it but some vehicles seem to impart a greater sense of relaxation and contentment than do others- the V70 is such a vehicle. It starts with the butter-soft leather covering exceptionally comfortable front seats and builds from there with attributes that engender immediate familiarity and friendliness.

The V70 is in many ways a luxury car. Select the "comfort" setting and the suspension soaks up road harshness in a Lexus-like manner. Maybe it's an age thing but this was my most desired setting. I combined it with a "low" steering effort setting and felt like I was passing the miles in a pillow-soft luxo-cruiser.

Of course all the plush could be easily eradicated by simply resetting the steering effort and suspension calibration to match one's mood and driving style. Irrespective of such diversity in driving dynamics, the V70 is a competent handler that imparts reassurance in the corners despite fairly noticeable body lean when the "comfort" setting is active.

Notwithstanding the sophistication of the underpinnings, which feature "comfort," "sport" and "advanced" settings, I detected a disappointing level of suspension noise generated by minor road irregularity. This irritation is somewhat petty but I'm nit picky over the subject, as regular readers will undoubtedly attest to. Unnecessary suspension noise may not be an issue to the silent majority but it is to me, so when I hear it I call it.

Richly-hued wood inlays add elegance to the vehicle's plush environs.