2011 Volvo XC70 FWD: MPG and fuel economy
The 2011 Volvo XC70 FWD is rated by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency at 21 combined MPG, with 18 MPG in the city and 25 MPG on the highway. That is right around the average car in the Sport Utility Vehicle - 2WD class for the same model year.
This page collects every fuel-economy figure the EPA publishes for the 2011 Volvo XC70 FWD. Below you will find the headline combined, city, and highway MPG, the estimated annual fuel cost at three different driving levels, the tailpipe CO₂ emissions, and a full breakdown of the engine and drivetrain. If you want to know whether this generation got more or less efficient over the years, the year-over-year table further down covers every model year the EPA has rated.
Key takeaways
- The most efficient car in the Sport Utility Vehicle - 2WD class for the 2011 model year is the Ford Escape Hybrid FWD at 32 MPG.
- The Volvo XC70 FWD has gained 5 MPG since its first rated model year, the 2011 Volvo XC70 FWD at 21 MPG.
- EPA estimates this car costs around $3,500 more in fuel over five years than an average new vehicle of the same model year.
Fuel economy at a glance
These are the EPA's official ratings for the 2011 Volvo XC70 FWD. The numbers come from a standardised laboratory test cycle and are the same figures that appear on the window sticker of every new car. Real-world mileage varies with driving style, weather, fuel quality, and how heavily loaded the car is.
Combined MPG is a 55/45 weighted blend of the city and highway test cycles. The EPA uses it as the single number you can compare across the entire dataset, including hybrids and EVs (which use the equivalent MPGe figure).
| Combined MPG | 21 MPG |
| City MPG | 18 MPG |
| Highway MPG | 25 MPG |
| Annual fuel cost | $2,850 |
| Tailpipe CO₂ | 423 g/mi |
| Fuel type | Regular |
How the 2011 Volvo XC70 FWD compares
The 2011 Volvo XC70 FWD returns 21 combined MPG. Cars in the Sport Utility Vehicle - 2WD class for the same model year average 20.4 MPG, which puts this car ahead of the class average by about 3%.
The most efficient car in the Sport Utility Vehicle - 2WD class for the 2011 model year is the Ford Escape Hybrid FWD at 32 MPG. The bar chart below puts the Volvo XC70 FWD alongside the class best and the class average so you can see the full picture.
For broader context, the average new car of the 2011 model year (across all classes) returns 20.8 MPG. Larger vehicles pull the all-cars average down, so do not use that figure on its own to judge a small car or a hybrid. The full list of the most efficient cars of the 2011 model year is on its own page.
Annual fuel cost across driving patterns
The headline annual fuel cost the EPA publishes assumes 15,000 miles of driving per year and a fuel mix of 55% city and 45% highway. The dollar figure is calculated using the EPA's current reference price for regular gasoline, which is $3.99/gallon. EPA updates that reference periodically rather than tracking live pump prices, so treat it as a window-sticker estimate rather than today's pump number.
The table below scales the EPA's number to three common driving patterns. The combined MPG and the reference fuel price stay constant, only the annual mileage changes. To get a current-prices estimate, take your local gas price and multiply by 714.3 gallons (the car's annual consumption at the rated MPG).
| Driving pattern | Estimated annual fuel cost |
|---|---|
| Light driver, 7,500 miles per year | $1,425 |
| Average driver, 15,000 miles per year | $2,850 |
| Heavy driver, 25,000 miles per year | $4,750 |
Year-over-year MPG for the Volvo XC70 FWD
The EPA has rated the Volvo XC70 FWD across 6 model years, from 2011 Volvo XC70 FWD through 2016 Volvo XC70 FWD. The numbers below are the best combined MPG figure the EPA published for each year, which lets you see when the car was at its most efficient and how recent generations stack up.
The 2011 Volvo XC70 FWD returned 21 MPG. The most recent 2016 Volvo XC70 FWD returns 26 MPG. That is an improvement of 5 MPG over 5 model years, the kind of gain that usually comes from smaller engines, hybrid systems, or aerodynamic redesigns.
| Year | Combined MPG | Open year page |
|---|---|---|
| 2016 | 26 MPG | 2016 Volvo XC70 FWD |
| 2015 | 27 MPG | 2015 Volvo XC70 FWD |
| 2014 | 21 MPG | 2014 Volvo XC70 FWD |
| 2013 | 21 MPG | 2013 Volvo XC70 FWD |
| 2012 | 21 MPG | 2012 Volvo XC70 FWD |
| 2011 | 21 MPG | this page |
Compare against other Sport Utility Vehicle - 2WD for 2011
If you are cross-shopping the 2011 Volvo XC70 FWD, the most useful comparison is against the other cars in the Sport Utility Vehicle - 2WD class for the same model year. The list below shows the highest-MPG peers, ranked from most to least efficient. Click any of them to open its full page.
The Ford Escape Hybrid FWD leads this group at 32 MPG, 11 MPG ahead of the 2011 Volvo XC70 FWD.
Specifications
The 2011 Volvo XC70 FWD runs a 3.2-liter 6-cylinder engine paired with a automatic (s6), sending power through front-wheel drive.
Engine, transmission, and drivetrain together drive most of the variation in fuel economy across trims. A larger engine moves the car with less effort but burns more fuel. A turbo lets a small engine punch above its weight, often without much MPG penalty. All-wheel drive adds traction and weight, and usually costs a couple of MPG compared with two-wheel drive of the same engine.
- Vehicle class
- Sport Utility Vehicle - 2WD
- Engine
- 3.2L 6-cylinder
- Transmission
- Automatic (S6)
- Drivetrain
- Front-Wheel Drive
- Fuel type
- Regular
- Annual petroleum use
- 14.2 barrels per year
Common questions about the 2011 Volvo XC70 FWD
Quick answers to the questions people most often search for when looking up the 2011 Volvo XC70 FWD.
-
Is the 2011 Volvo XC70 FWD fuel efficient?
It is in line with the rest of the class. The 2011 Volvo XC70 FWD returns 21 combined MPG, and the average car in the Sport Utility Vehicle - 2WD class for the same model year sits at 20.4 MPG. -
What MPG does the 2011 Volvo XC70 FWD get?
The EPA rates the 2011 Volvo XC70 FWD at 21 combined MPG, 18 MPG in city driving, and 25 MPG on the highway. Real-world numbers depend on your driving style, the weather, and how loaded the car is. -
How much does it cost to fuel a 2011 Volvo XC70 FWD per year?
The EPA estimates an annual fuel cost of $2,850 for the 2011 Volvo XC70 FWD. That figure assumes 15,000 miles of driving per year, a 55% city and 45% highway split, and the EPA's published average fuel price for the rated fuel grade. -
What fuel does the 2011 Volvo XC70 FWD use?
The EPA lists the 2011 Volvo XC70 FWD as running on regular gasoline. Using a different grade than the manufacturer specifies can affect fuel economy and engine longevity. -
Has the Volvo XC70 FWD become more fuel efficient over time?
Yes. The first EPA-rated Volvo XC70 FWD, the 2011 Volvo XC70 FWD, returned 21 combined MPG. The most recent 2016 Volvo XC70 FWD returns 26 MPG, an improvement of 5 MPG over the run. -
How much CO₂ does the 2011 Volvo XC70 FWD emit?
Tailpipe CO₂ emissions are 423 g/mi. Multiplied across a typical year of driving (15,000 miles) that works out to about 6,348 kilograms of CO₂. -
What is the difference between the city and highway MPG of the 2011 Volvo XC70 FWD?
City driving returns 18 MPG and highway driving returns 25 MPG, a gap of 7 MPG. A spread that wide is typical of cars with conventional automatic or manual transmissions, where stop-start city traffic eats more fuel than a steady highway cruise. -
What engine is in the 2011 Volvo XC70 FWD?
The 2011 Volvo XC70 FWD has a 3.2-liter 6-cylinder engine. -
What transmission and drivetrain does the 2011 Volvo XC70 FWD have?
The 2011 Volvo XC70 FWD comes with a automatic (s6) transmission and front-wheel drive. -
How does the 2011 Volvo XC70 FWD compare to the best car in its class?
The most efficient car in the Sport Utility Vehicle - 2WD class for the 2011 model year is the Ford Escape Hybrid FWD at 32 combined MPG. The Volvo XC70 FWD returns 21 MPG, a gap of 11 MPG. If you are comparing on fuel economy alone, the class leader is worth a look.
Source: U.S. EPA fuel economy dataset. Annual fuel cost figures assume 15,000 miles of driving per year and a 55% city, 45% highway split. Real-world mileage varies with driving conditions, vehicle maintenance, fuel quality, and driver behaviour.