AWD+Tires = Good Traction
How is my 2004 V70 R in snow? Pretty damn good. With the new Continental ExtremeContact tires I have on her, she’s unstoppable. These Continentals’ tread bites into the hardpack snow pretty well, while the tires’ compound seems to be just soft enough to “grip” snow… and the Haldex AWD system seems to be putting the power down at the right wheel at the right time. It’s remarkable. Much better than my wife’s prior car, a 2004 Ford Escape 4WD (a small SUV). Plus the V70 R provides much more feedback about the road surface and available grip.
DSTC & Wheelspin
Acceleration and cornering on hardpack snow is perhaps half of dry, which is really something. I have to put my foot down to get the DSTC to cut in and slow one or two wheels, and breaking the back wheels out on slow corners takes 1/2 throttle or greater. DSTC brakes the wheel(s) on the side of the car that is sliding out to kick the car back into a straight line. I tried it several times tonight on empty streets and it’s quite predictable and effective. Turn the wheel and give her gas, the rear comes out, DSTC noticibly applies brake to the front and sometimes also rear wheels of the side that’s coming out, and she’s pointing straight again. I keep the 4C suspension setting on Comfort.
But… Low Ground Clearance
The only catch is that the chin spoiler acts as a… well… catch for snow. It will plow deep snow, and it will nick large chunky ice in the center of the lane. So deep backcountry road snow would be something you’d want to avoid in an R, even with studded tires or snow chains. I’d feel far more comfortable driving an XC in deep, unplowed snow.
Volvo Wagon Ground Clearance |
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| V70 | XC70 Cross Country | V70 R | |
| 1st Generation | 5.5 inches / 14 cm | 6.5 inches / 16.5 cm | ? |
| 2nd Generation | 5.3 inches / 13.5 cm | 8.2 inches / 20.8 cm | ? |
| 3rd Generation | 5.6 inches / 14.2 cm | 8.3 inches / 21.1 cm | n/a |
At press time, my 2004 V70 R is not at home, otherwise I could take the ground clearance measurement. I can’t find it online like I can the others. Please contact me if you know any of these.
Volvo Wagon Generations Explained |
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| Generation | Model Years & Notes |
| 1st | 1993-2000, includes 850/S70/V70/V70-XC models |
| 2nd | 2001-2006, “P2” platform cars |
| 3rd | 2007 to Present |
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