Volvo’s new V70 estate has received a welcome boost prior to its UK launch with news that it has the strongest residual values in the sector.

The new model, based on the S80 executive challenger, goes on sale in September and CAP predicts the likely best-seller, the D5 SE, will retain 49% of its cost new after three years/60,000 miles.

This compares with 44% for the BMW 525d SE Touring and 41% for Audi’s A6 Avant 2.7 TDI SE. Lex, the UK’s largest leasing firm, has also matched CAP’s prediction.

John Wallace, corporate sales and leasing manager for Volvo Car UK, said: “The residual value forecasts reflect the excellent used prices the current estates have achieved, together with an increase in value because of the significant step-up in style, driving dynamics, functionality and quality evident in the new V70.”

The V70 range will be priced from £26,495 to £38,280. The four-wheel drive version, the XC70, will cost from £31,035 to £36,200.

Volvo expects to sell 7,500 V70s and 2,500 XC70s in the UK per annum. These figures include new models which will join the range later this year – 2.0-litre diesel and petrol models plus a FlexiFuel bio-ethanol version.

Fleets will account for around 55% of V70 registrations, with SE trim being the biggest seller.

The diesel engines – the D5 and 2.4 D – will take 80% of sales, with the D5 engine accounting for virtually all sales in the XC70.

  • Volvo has introduced upgrades across its range for the 2008 model year. S40, V50 and S60 buyers can upgrade from S to SE specification for free, bi-Xenon headlights become standard on the C30, leather seats are a free upgrade on the C70 and the XC90 receives a complimentary Geartronic automatic transmission upgrade.