Got a 2001 Volvo 70 back in February. Used, with 18,595 on it. It now is just shy of 23,000 (I don't drive to work). It is a replacement for a '93 Mazda Protege.

I dig the combination of cargo space and plush comfort. With the seat down, it has only one cubic foot less cargo space than a Jeep Cherokee, but with significantly better gas milage (To whoever listed as a plus "not an SUV": Wordy McWord!). I can fit a bike inside without dismantling it; two with taking off the front wheels.

It is a very comfortable car to drive in. Oh to have a Volvo seat as my desk chair! The cockpit is well laid out, making it very easy to drive. I dig the handling and power--utill I try to parrallel park it on a hill, it doesn't drive nearly as big as it is (performing more like my wife's 626 (with a V6)). A lot of the environmentals ("his and hers" climate, heated seats, super AC) have made it very comfortable. All in all, a drive from Cincinnati to Chicago can be done without feeling too worn out.

It is also simly a nice car. Not to sound snobby, but I do feel more "grown up" in it than in my Mazda.

It definitely seems very well thought out. My wife has fallen in love with all the "secret compartments" it has, including the rear panel that pops up with places for groceries and what-not. I appreciate things like cargo tie-down hooks. The sunroof has a "comfort position" to prevent a "thumping' noise when full open--I've heard of this in other wagons (a VW Passat, for instance), but they lack a defined setting for it.

My gripes would be first that the gas milage is OK, but not as good as I would have hoped. Part of that could be that I am more anal about tracking it then with the Mazda, and living in a hilly area impacts it. I've gotten 23 mpg, which has been mix of mostly city (in a hillyish area) and highway. In pure highway, 30-31 mpg happens quite readily.

The other gripe is it, at times, is too nice! I couldn't imagine carrying, say, a bunch of plants in it directly. I've taken to carrying a tarp in it for hauling duties, and this mitigates most of that.

All in all, if you want some of the benefits of an SUV--cargo space and safety for occupents--without the detriments of an SUV--milage, emmisions, danger to others on the rode--plus having something nice, the V70 is a great blend. I personally love mine, and can't think of going back now. Hopefully it will live up to some of the longevity I've read about on other Volvos.