Fast Freighters: 1998 Audi A4 Avant Quattro vs. Volvo V70 AWD

Audi's schnellwagen meets Olaf the Conqueror. View PhotosJim Caiozzo|Car and DriverFrom the December 1997 issue of Car and Driver. It's no secret that the station wagon has fallen from favor in the U.S., a decline of the species that began with the advent of the minivan and was later accelerated by the boom in sport-utility vehicles. From Connecticut to California, soccer moms are cramming kids and groceries into large and unsporty implements like Dodge Caravans and Ford Explorers. In fact, even minivans have lost sales steam to America's continuing obsession with trucks. But even as station wagons disappear from the American scene—Chrysler, for example, doesn't offer a single one—our friends in Europe, where wagons still sell well, continue to offer stimulating updates on this theme, reinforcing the fact that sport and wagon are not mutually exclusive words. Quite the contrary. At a glance, this two-wagon face-off may look like a bit of a mismatch. One is powered by a 20-valve turbocharged inline five-cylinder engine with a four-speed automatic, and the other packs a 30-valve V-6 with a five-speed manual. Base prices are nearly $6000 apart. The Volvo V70 is bigger and will accept a good many more cases of beer (or crates of pickled herring) than the Audi A4 Avant. The forthcoming A6 Avant Quattro wagon will be much closer in size and price to the V70, but it doesn't arrive until 1999. Anyway, cargo space isn't the story here. And when you squint a little harder at the mouse type in our test results, you'll notice surprising similarities in the things that matter to discerning drivers. See all results for Volvo V70 for sale near 049481 Wagons account for a high proportion of Volvo sales—about 32 percent—so it's not surprising that the company has stuck with the same basic design that's been around for almost three decades, up through and including the transition to a front-wheel-drive system in the 850 model, introduced for 1994. This year, it's the V70 (the V is for "versatility"). See all results for Volvo V70 for sale near 049481 But if the brick shape is familiar, there's definitely new stuff going on at ground level, specifically, the addition of an all-wheel-drive option. Like many AWD systems, the Volvo setup employs a viscous coupling that reapportions torque whenever slippage occurs at the front axle. Normally, the front wheels gobble up 95 percent of the torque, but the proportion can vary—and quickly—to as much as 95-percent rear drive when needed. Owing to its relatively high curb weight (it's 366 pounds heavier than the standard V70, no wraith itself), the AWD version wasn't particularly impressive on the skidpad, generating just 0.75 g (the Audi managed 0.80). But on winding back roads here in Michigan, it matched the much lighter Audi stride for stride, with considerably less audible accompaniment from its 205/55VR-16 Michelin XGT V4 tires. Another gratifying element in the V70 AWD performance story is the sheer grunt of Volvo's light-pressure turbo. Although the Volvo was 362 pounds heavier than the Audi, and the Audi had the additional advantage of a manual transmission—not available with this particular V70 package—the stolid Swede could run almost heads-up with its smaller rival. This Volvo engine definitely has some root to it, folks, with never a hint of turbo lag. In some ways, the 190-hp low-pressure turbo is preferable to the peakier performance of the 236-horse high-pressure version in the S70 T5 sedan and V70 AWD R. The four-speed automatic is beautifully matched to the engine's performance characteristics, and it also offers three modes—economy, sport, and winter/wet—to suit your mood or the weather conditions. What's not to like? There was no doubt among the test crew that the stylish Audi shape makes the Volvo look positively dowdy. The Volvo's weird vertical taillights, parcel-shelf rear wing, and daytime running lights provoked a number of rude remarks. There were also complaints about brake fade while running hard, although that may be attributable to the anti-lock brake system, something we've observed in some ABS-equipped cars in racing. Beyond that, the white-on-gray instrumentation drew pans, as did the gator graining of the upper dashboard. The knobby little wheels that adjust the dashboard vents also inspired some criticism. The Volvo has the larger interior of the two cars, and it was hard to fault its leather-lined comfort, although most of the test drivers preferred the firmer feel and higher-quality look of the Audi's excellent sporty buckets. With shoulder belts and head rests for all and side airbags up front, the Volvo took top honors for safety. HIGHS: Right-now throttle response, surprising agility, room with zoom.LOWS: Too-familiar styling, lost-in-space taillights, middling grip.VERDICT: Still dowdy, but hard to beat for stealthy high-speed cargo missions in any weather. As for all-around quality, the V70 seemed to be bolted together better t

Fast Freighters: 1998 Audi A4 Avant Quattro vs. Volvo V70 AWD

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