2006 Volvo XC70

Kathy Renwald

It's hard to fathom the Ocean Race edition of the Volvo XC70. This special edition of the all-wheel drive wagon was launched as sort of a landlubbing stablemate to the seriously fast Volvo Ocean Race yachts that are to finish their seven-month round-the-world race today in Sweden.

The yachts (sailboats) are 21 metres long and can slice through the ocean at 60 knots. It sounds like terrifying fun.

The four-wheel version of the Ocean Race looks like it means business in its frothy ocean blue metallic paint; its aluminum inlays, treadplate, scuffplate; cool blue stitching on the seats; special door mouldings and stylish Ocean Race badge on the front doors.

The Ocean Race package on the car I drove added an extra $10,000 to the XC70's price, bringing the total to $57,495. Many of the package perks are cosmetic. I'd rather have the ability to sharpen up the ride, yet Volvo's active chassis option is not available on the Ocean Race.

It's a zesty-looking car (more popular with women than men in my informal poll) and I really liked the blue paint; it's the colour you see on sailboats you wished you owned or used to own.

And it's funny how some cars almost come with a lifestyle attached. I could see the Volvo XC70 Ocean Race spacious cargo area (with 1,641 litres capacity) stuffed with winch handles and jibs, spinnakers and matching blue main sheets.

But once I drove it away, how quickly the wind was let out of my sails. The special edition XC70 wagon (only 100 were released in Canada) is safe and capable but the ride had a curious jiggle to it. Over tar strips and bumps big and small, the car had a distinct motion, like tapioca pudding being thumped by a spoon. If you're easily distracted and generally numb to annoying action, you might not notice it. But it reminded me of sailing in lumpy seas.

With its raised suspension, the XC70 gives about 5 cm more ground clearance, and it features MacPherson struts, coil springs and stabilizer bar in the front and multi-link independent suspension in the rear.

I found helming the XC70 required dedicated concentration. To me, the wagon never seems to find a groove. On the highway, even on a gentle curve, I felt like I was in the Kentucky Derby, going wide into the clubhouse turn and trying to finesse it to keep the line.

And on a drive where I thought the Volvo would perform with outdoorsy grit, the reality was a tentative trip. It was a concession road from Mulmur to Mono; it had sand, gravel, mud, puddles, hills and curves. It had such potential and yet the hefty wagon (1,634 kg) couldn't get out of its own way. Think of a stout football lineman, unable to change direction quickly, being outdanced by an agile running back.

At least the cabin is a comfy place to be while having to concentrate on steering. The front seats were exceptional, and supportive as a big bear hug. The gauges are clear if not exciting, climate controls logical and endearing with a post-impressionist drawing of a figure showing you how to direct the airflow.

The Ocean Race touches in the cabin include blue stitching on the seats and sensuous blue aluminum inlays around the door handles and centre console. You can also rest your boat shoes on the floor mats with their sharp matching blue piping.

For a wagon with as much glass as a greenhouse, there are a few places where the view is blocked. Thick A pillars combined with the mount for the side mirrors make for a dead spot in the field of vision. It means you are often leaning forward or back watching for pedestrians when turning through intersections.

The head restraints on the front seats are in the right spot for crash protection, but they're big and, long with the B pillar, do a good job of blocking the view when checking over your right shoulder.

A nifty feature of the side mirrors, though, is a button on the dash that collapses the mirrors before you try to drive the car through a car wash or parking in tight spaces.

There's just enough room in the back seat for average-sized people — another myth buster for me, because it looks like this car has lots of sprawling room for passengers.

Cargo capacity in the trunk is good, and the rear seats fold down in clever configurations for stowing of sporty items.

But Volvo could improve the handles for pulling down the tailgate; there's nothing to wrap your fingers around.

The Bi-Xenon headlights were fantastic, casting a wide beam at night, very cozy in the country, where they expertly lit the roadside, illuminating potential darting animals.

There were several finicky episodes with the front passenger seatbelt — it locked at the slightest provocation, including going over speed bumps. Maybe it was just a wax buildup, but the wiper blades were noisy: when they reached their far left position, they made the oddest sound, like someone chewing on chicken gristle.

I haven't mentioned the power. The XC70 has a 2.5 litre turbo producing 208 hp. It's possible the Volvo Ocean Race sailboat could beat it under certain conditions. It has adequate power and not much more, and in many instances there's just a slight lag before the power kicks in. It's very hard to snug the car up to a stationary object (like a garage door) when parking. At ultra low speed, you just don't know when the power is going to engage.

Let me declare that I have nothing against wagons. We owned two Taurus wagons, and as a kid I remember an adventurous move from California to Pennsylvania in the back of a Chevy wagon. But this Ocean Race Volvo is too stoic for me. It looks much more interesting than it is to drive.

Parked out on a pier in Thorn-bury harbour nearing sunset, it seemed like a car packed with promise and potential.

But it was more like those Freedom 55 commercials where some guy with bad dentures threatens to drag his wife across the ocean in his dream boat.

Better grab the Gravol.

wheels@thestar.ca

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