The idea of the famously vast Volvo V70 equipped with a 1.6-litre turbodiesel engine may amaze some, but Volvo's push to offer an eco version of as much of its product range as is possible is paying dividends.
The company has had a good 2009, or as good as can be expected, thanks to diversifying its models for smaller niches.
As a result sales of the large XC90 SUV have grown this year thanks to new trim levels that offer seven seats in a large 4x4 for under £30K.
New low-CO2 DRIVe models have also helped, and now Volvo is the first manufacturer to offer a large exec and a large estate that slot in under 130g/km of CO2.
The low-CO2 DRIVe versions of the famous load-lugger, and of the S80 DRIVe, return up to 57.6mpg combined and emit 129g/km.
They will be gunning for fleet and business users with their mix of practicality, running costs, safety and sheer size.
For the record both the V70 DRIVe and S80 DRIVe with a manual five-speed are in Band D for VED. All Volvo diesels are equipped with a particulate filter.
The engine comes from Peugeot-Citroen and BMW and is also seen in a number os superminis and C-segment hatches across the ranges of both. But a big exec or estate car?
The figures seem to stack up. There's a decent chunk of torque, if not power, from the four-cylinder diesel engine and Volvo says the V70 DRIVe will accelerate to 62mph in 12.4 and 12.8 seconds in S80 and V70 respectively, which certainly isn't fast but is acceptable given the engine and weight of the cars.
Those 108 horses and 177lb-ft of torque are designed to balance performance with economy, and while the power is low there's a stack of revisions to the car to make it count.
V70 DRIVe
A stack of revisions to the V70, similar to those seen in the ECOnetics and BlueMotions of this world, have been introduced to slash consumption and emissions.
Low rolling resistance tyres, aerodynamic tweaks, new injectors, remapped ECUs, longer gearing and a lowered suspension help to drive down fuel consumption, but unlike some eco models there's no accompanying hair shirt.
DRIVe models are available in SE trim as standard, with an SE Premium specification also available. In the V70 prices are £23,245 and £25,245 OTR respectively. S80 models knock off a grand from each price.
A full leather interior and factory satnav are standard on SE Premium models, as is a host of gadgetry including cruise control, DAB radio and Volvo's trademark safety technology for a tad over £25K.
That's a lot of car and a lot of bells and whistles for not a lot of cash. Knock off two grand for the entry-level model that drops leather and satnav and it's very cheap.
DRIVe Driving
As for driving dynamics, it seems unfair to criticise the V70 DrivE on this score, but the ride is distinctly firmer and the engine grumps along at low revs.
However, the interior is a comfortable and roomy place to be when the V70 DRIVe is in its element in cruise mode. Electronic memory seats help, though a foot rest would help to stretch out longer legs.
Around town the V70 DRIVe feels planted and calm and there's a lot of active and passive driving aids as back-up.
Exactly how the V70 DRIVe performs when laden with the contents of a student's bedroom or shop's inventory with this engine is another matter. 800 litres of boot space extends to a massive 1600 to the roofline with the rear seats down, while the rear bench splits and folds in a 40-20-40 configuration.
That's a lot of weight in addition to the 1600kg plus that the V70 is already packing.
And will user-choosers really be willing to schlep down the motorway at a steady 67mph? Perhaps, perhaps not.
This is a potential problem as, like other eco versions of cars or even hybrids such as the Prius, the V70 DRIVe doesn't stack up if it's not driven sympthetically.
There's a fairly narrow torque band in which the DRIVe will cruise economically, but go too far either side of it and the engine will struggle or gulp fuel thirstily.
Peak torque is 177lb-ft at 1750rpm, and the dynamics of the 1.6D in the V70 DRIVe mean that you need to remain within a very tight envelope to get the best out of the car. Cruise control is your friend.
The longer gearing stretches fuel economy, but it also makes the engine work hard to get the revs back up if they're lost.
Driving the V70 DRIVe in stop-start traffic, and balancing revs accordingly, may become irritating and tiring after a while - though the five-speed gearbox is smooth and easy.
There is no stop-start technology on the V70, or on the S80, as there is no further cost or economy saving in introducing it to these models according to Volvo, though the engine can easily be turned on and off via a dash-mounted button if required.
Keeping at a steady 2000rpm feels about right on the motorway, but if the revs fall off you'll have to work the engine back up through the gears to get them back. Go anywhere north of 2300rpm and you may as well kiss goodbye to your promised mileage.
Joining a motorway with insufficient engine speed can be an eye-opener with regard to the V70 DRIVe's lack of grunt too.
In a mix of motorway and urban driving that was heavily weighted towards straight, flat and empty French roads, the V70 returned somewhere in the high 50s when driven conservatively, and mainly without aircon.
I think the quoted combined fuel consumption of 57.7mpg is ambitious for real-world driving, especially considering the fact that owners of a V70 are more likely to have a laden car.
The V70 DRIVe's towing weight is down to 1,300kg too, which may make it unsuitable for some big estate owners.
Higher figures will be achievable if you're willing to test the patience of fellow drivers and motorway rozzers, but a steady 68mph got me from Marlow in Bucks to Milan with 200 miles to spare.
That's impressive stuff for such a big car, and the economics of making it the best part of 1,000 miles on less than £80 worth of diesel should focus the mind of anyone who racks up the motorway miles.
So, who will buy this car? It makes less sense for private buyers when limitations of speed, handling, loading and towing are ticked off. But fleet managers and user-choosers should be interested.
Crucially, the Volvo V70 DRIVe and S80 DRIVe emit 129g/km, meaning that government fleets can opt to use either currently the only big cars in their respective categories that beat the 130g/km cut-off.
Big, cheap, comfortable and safe, the V70 DRIVe confounds a lot of traditional motoring sensibilities but in a post climate-change, post-£1-per-litre world it has to be viewed in context. This is a car for a niche, but it's bang on for anyone in that niche.
Volvo V70 DRIVe Milestones
Volvo V70 1.6D DRIVe
Price: £22,745-£24,745 OTR (£24,745 as tested)
CO2 emissions: 129g/km
Performance: 0-60mph 12.8 seconds, maximum speed 118mph
Consumption: 57.7mpg (combined), Extra-urban 65.7mpg, Urban 47.9mpg
VED: Band D
Load volume: 815 litres (1600 with rear seats down)
