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OK, OK, you might not put the Volvo XC70 in an SUV class, but Volvo has gone to lengths to give the XC70 SUV cues and it pulls them off pretty well.  And, Volvo describes the XC70 as a “crossover”, so, QED.  The XC70 outpoints the second place Audi Q5 by over 50 rating points.

AutoPacific’s Ideal Vehicle Award (IVA) recognizes the vehicle that best hits the target its buyers demand.  To score well shows the product planning and design team understand the vehicle’s buyers very well and have executed the product to meet those standards.

Volvo XC70 Dominates Audi Q5 in IVA Win: The 2012 Volvo XC70 comes closest to the ideal of any Luxury Crossover SUV.  The XC70 outpoints the second place Luxury XSUV – the Audi Q5 – by 52 rating points.  In fact, eighty-percent or more of XC70’s owners would not change fourteen of fifteen major characteristics of their vehicle.

Any time over 90% of an owner group wants a characteristic to remain the same, the maker has hit its target dead center.  Ninety-percent-plus characteristics in the XC70 include:  exterior size, exterior styling, driver’s seat visibility, driver’s seat comfort, wheels, and safety features.

The only area lacking is interior storage compartments – 27% of XC70 owners want more interior storage.

You can find an Autobytel review of this IVA award winner at  http://www.autobytel.com/auto-news/awards/ideal-suvs-pickups-rated-by-owners-in-2012-iva-awards-112117/

For a complete summary of all AutoPacific 2012 Ideal Vehicle Award results contact karin.turner@vehiclevoice.com and title your email “IVA Results”.  A copy of the results will be emailed to you within 48-hours.