The XC60 is the smallest of 2 SUVs offered by Volvo (sitting below the XC90 which has recently been upgraded to the 2nd generation).
Let's start with Volvo's selling point. Safety. I quote: "Cars are driven by people, so the guiding principle behind everything we make at Volvo is - and must remain - safety." Its goal is that by 2020 no-one will be "seriously injured or killed" in a new Volvo. Quite ambitious, but from what we've seen, it's definitely feasible!
City Safety will apply the brakes at speeds of up to 31 mph if you're about to go into the back of someone, whereas the Blind Spot Information System (BLIS) helps you when there's a car travelling alongside you, particularly on a motorway. Cross Traffic Alert is a particularly useful feature that warns you of cars travelling behind you when you're reversing out of an awkward parking space and Pedestrian Detection applies the brakes if somebody walks into your path and you don't react quick enough.
As you'd expect, it scores 5 stars in the Euro NCAP testings. It achieved 94% for adult safety, 79% for child safety, 48% for pedestrians and 86% for the 'safety assist' category. Because Volvo tries to make its cars as safe as possible, I think it's important that I include a break-down of the Euro NCAP test.
You have two routes to take, SE or R-Design. SE models come with LED daytime running lights, electronic climate control, cruise control, DAB and Bluetooth®, 17-inch alloys, pear parking sensors, automatically folding door mirrors and even a power operated tailgate! R-Design is the sportier route which adds exactly what you'd expect: R-Design visual upgrades and logos, and a modified chassis.
Above each sits a Lux model. The XC60 SE Lux adds an 8-inch TFT driver's information display, an electrically adjustable driver's seat, 18-inch alloys and xenon headlights. The R-Design Lux does the same.
All the engines are turbodiesels and are surprisingly efficient.
First, we'll talk about the D4. When used in conjunction with a front-wheel-drive layout, the 2.0-litre 4-cylinder unit produces 190 bhp and 400 Nm. It can be paired with a 6-speed manual gearbox (62.8 mpg, 117 g/km) or an 8-speed Geartronic automatic transmission (60.1 mpg, 124 g/km).
If you choose the all-wheel-drive D4, it's completely different! This is why you shouldn't be fooled by them having the same name. The 2.4-litre 5-cylinder powerhouse produces 190 bhp and 420 Nm. You can have it with a 6-speed manual (54.3 mpg, 137 g/km) or a 6-speed Geartronic auto (49.6 mpg, 149 g/km).
Step up to the D5 and you're stuck with all-wheel-drive. The 2.4-litre 5-cylinder engine produces 220 bhp and either 440 Nm or 420 Nm of torque for Geartronic and manual transmissions respectively - bit odd. Power is driven through a 6-speed manual (54.3 mpg, 137 g/km) or a 6-speed Geartronic automatic (49.6 mpg, 149 g/km). The efficiency figures are the same as t he D4 AWD, but then so is the engine, more or less.
What about boot space? With 495/1,455 litres with the seats up/down, the XC60 sits somewhere towards the bottom of the list. Despite this, the wide-opening lid and flat load floor makes it very practical. It has more than the VW Tiguan (470/1,510) but less than the Audi Q5 (540/1,560), BMW X3 (550/1,600) and Range Rover Evoque (575/1445 for 5-soor, 550/1,350 for 3-door Coupé).
All models will tow 1,800 kg apart from the D5 AWD Geartronic which'll tow up to 2,000 kg. That's about average, and similar to the Tiguan (1,800-2,200 kg). It's better than the Evoque (1,500-1,800 kg) but not quite as good as the premium Germans (Q5 and X3), both managing 2,000-2,400 kg.
Starting at £31,660, its price suggests it's aiming to compete against the fancy Q5 (£31,720), X3 (£33,295) and Evoque (£30,200) as opposed to the cheaper Tiguan (£22,975).
Take a look here at how I'd spec my XC60.
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