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Audi Allroad or Volvo Cross Country? Andrew Pearce and David Cousins decide
Despite the fact that Britain is hedged about with speed cameras and other manifestations of Big Brother, we - the great car-buying public - have never had it so good.
Not convinced? Then look at these two bruiser-class estates. secure and safe as a pair of bank vaults, thanks to all-wheel drive and enough airbags to float the Titanic. Able one minute to trundle down a farm track, the next to whisk you and a whole clamour of grandfather clocks to 130mph in warmth and serenity. And courtesy of diesel power, still capable of cracking 30mpg on a run. Scribble a cheque for £35,000 and either's yours. But which?
Set aside the small inconvenience of finding the money and take a look. One one hand, sober Swedish conservatism in the shape of Volvo's XC70. On the other, glittering German technology packed into Audi's A6 Allroad. Neither is serious about bog-frolicking, yet they still make good sense in the country.
At this price you expect high levels of kit and fine quality. The Allroad has both and in spades. Cabin: All stainless steel and pushbuttons. Materials: High on sophistication. Fit and finish: Almost flawless. Alongside the swish, faintly menacing German, the XC70 looks a little dowdy and not quite as convincingly put together. It's been around for several years where the Audi is spanking new. But probe a little deeper, and you'll find the Swede isn't in the old folks' home yet.
LOAD LUGGERS
These cars set out to blend load-carrying with performance, so the accommodation is a fair place to start. If your family's big then the Volvo's the one - it seats three in the back and can take two extra rear-facing chairs in lieu of cargo. The Audi's more about front seat travel, putting two rear passengers in sharply-angled seats and posting a luckless third across its wide...