As my name indicates, I'm a big fan of Volvos.
They are very similar to first-tier German models in one important respect - they are not inexpensive to keep. If you can barely afford to purchase a used one, move on.
There are few vehicles engineered to be as durable as a Volvo. I'm not talking just about the finer electromechanical components, but very fundamental items such as body integrity and major powertrain hard mechanicals. If you put the effort into maintenance, they can last forever, even the newer ones. Our '97 855 is right at 200k, and still runs and rides like a new vehicle.
Volvo does not historically make radical platform changes, and as another poster alluded to, the design strategy is one of continuing refinement of a core design across several model generations. By the later iterations, the vehicle is very refined and typically generally dependable.
They do have the very best seats in the industry, bar none. At cross country distances, few cars are more comfortable and refreshing for a high speed trek than a Volvo. And despite the recent parity of many competitors in testing, they are still the gold standard for safety in many little details. I've walked away from a major accident involving a Volvo where the car's crash features really did save me.
But durability and reliability are two entirely different things. Just like an Audi or BMW, they have their soft spots. The trick to being a long-term owner of a Volvo is to identify where those areas are, and deal with them proactively. The community of owners is good about keeping itself informed, and there is a large subculture of DIY owners. That philosophy, and regular fluid changes, are the keys to getting the multi-hundred thousand mile lives out of them.
But comparing one to a VW or Subaru is just plain ludicrous. I've owned and own both VWs and Volvos. And speaking to the VW in this political season: "you're no Volvo". The Jetta is a refreshing change, but many other VWs can be servicing disasters (and I've owned both types). Nor are they built with the same materials quality as a Volvo.
Almost $29k for a near 30k mile XC70 is too high. If you shop around, you can do much better. A better choice still, and perhaps even a better deal used, is a V70R. Avoid the early generation XC70s, which were prone to transfer case issues.
If you look at a turbo, the service records become more important. Volvo turbo engines are generally pretty reliable and have long lives when maintained.
But again, be prepared to pay to play. Even the venerable old 240s can be expensive to fix. If you are struggling with the purchase price, perhaps this brand is not for you.
