Volvo XC60 review

What is it? The Volvo XC60 is the second generation of the brand’s mid-sized SUV. Key features New design from larger XC90, new engines, more technology. Our view The new Volvo XC60 draws heavily on its larger XC90 sister to produce a car which, while not the most fun in the class, is impressive as a complete package. More Volvo news, reviews, features and offers It is a good time to be associated with Volvo. The Swedish brand has flourished under its ownership by Chinese giant Geely – in 2017 alone sales in the UK are up 8% this year, on top of a 7.5% increase last year. Most of this growth this has been fuelled by the new 90-series line-up (S90, V90 and XC90), which has been much praised by, among others, The Car Expert. Read more Volvo news, reviews and features at The Car Expert The 90 models are range toppers, however. Can such success transfer to Volvo’s bigger-volume cars? We are here to find out with the launch of the second-generation Volvo XC60 – the SUV that is the brand’s biggest seller of all. Not surprisingly, Volvo appears to have applied a simple formula in designing the replacement for the original XC60 launched in 2008 – shrink wrap the XC90. Happily adopting the larger model’s design language, this car could have been built for those who have tried an XC90, loved it but who just can’t justify such a big, upmarket SUV. Next page: Design Exterior and Interior. The XC60 is the first of Volvo’s mid-sized models to be built onto the brand’s highly flexible SPA (Scaleable Project Architecture) platform. It has been created from the start to accommodate technologies that haven’t arrived yet – connectivity, safety and electrification. Volvo has recently announced that every car it builds from 2019 will have an electric motor. The new XC60 is a big car, longer and wider than its predecessor, but also lower, which makes it look more purposeful than the outgoing model. This is despite a higher ground clearance which adds to its off-road ability, particularly as every version is all-wheel drive. Volvo’s current design themes are retained here, but with extras. The T-shaped daytime running lights run around the flanks to the wheel arches, while the clean, smooth upper panels contrast with some more muscular sculpting to the lower doors. All of which gives the car a distinctive look compared to its big sister. Volvo XC60 Step inside and the surroundings are familiar to anyone who has tried out a 90 series car. And that is no bad thing, as those interiors are some of the best on the market. The fit and finish is excellent, as good as any acknowledged premium manufacturer. The dash design is as stylish as it is thoroughly practical – long gone is the confusion of centre console buttons that used to be a Volvo staple, everything now based around a central touchscreen mounted in a much more practical portrait format. There is plenty of room, front or back. The boot is reasonable though not enormous, and not as capacious as many rivals. Note, too that if one chooses the T8 plug-in hybrid model, its powertrain takes 37 litres from the boot. Next page: Powertrains and drive experience Powertrains. With the new platform, Volvo’s latest Drive-E powertrain range translates to the XC60. All four of the engines are four cylinder 2.0-litre units. Buyers who prefer ‘normal’ can choose from diesels with 190 or 235hp or a 254hp petrol plant, all matched to an eight-speed auto transmission. Range-topper, however, is the T8 Twin Engine plug-in hybrid. It has a supercharged and turbocharged petrol engine powering the front wheels and an electric motor between the rears. Combined they produce 407hp, but official CO2 emissions of just 49g/km. Officially Volvo expects 12 per cent of XC60 sales to be T8 models, but they thought that about the XC90 and the actual figure has been quite a lot higher. And with the company’s plans to ramp up hybrid and electric sales over the next decade, we would expect the figure to eventually be a lot more. Sadly the T8 was not available at the UK launch event. Instead, The Car Expert drove the D4-engined car, which is predicted to account for more than half of all XC60 sales in the UK, and the D5. This is an impressive engine, thanks greatly to the clever PowerPulse system that injects compressed air into the turbo to spin it up at slow speeds and remove any lag. However, one can understand why the D4 will be the big seller. On paper, it doesn’t quite have the pace of rivals such as the equivalent Audi Q5. But it feels enthusiastic, while impeccably refined. The combination of an 8.4-second 0-62mph time, 55mpg fuel economy and emissions of 133g/km is a reasonable compromise, particularly at prices that are £3,500 less than the D5. Read more Volvo news, reviews and features at The Car Expert On the road. The new XC60 comes with a double wishbone front suspension, and a rear layout that uses a combination of links and a leaf spring across the rear axle. This might seem very old technology, but it offers better grip and less body roll. The latter is still notable, however, if not uncomfortable. Both of the cars tested on the launch were to R-Design specification, sitting above the entry-level Momentum and described as the ‘dynamic’ trim. This means 30 per cent stiffer springs, thicker anti-roll bars and dampers that react faster. What all this translates to is a polished, confident performance through twisty corners. It’s not what one would call exciting, but that is not really what the XC60 is about. This is a car that is refined and relaxing to drive, and to be driven in – one could imagine racking up a great many miles without fatigue setting in. Electronic drive modes help one set the car to suit the environment or the driver’s inclinations. Five modes are available, setting the response of the throttle, gearbox, steering, brakes and stability control. Choose the optional air suspension and that can be set too. The T8 hybrid, meanwhile, has its own six settings, Hybrid, Pure, Power, AWD, Off Road and Individual. Next page: Equipment, summary and specifications Equipment. The new XC60 models are significantly more expensive than their predecessors, starting from £32,205, for the D4 in entry-level Momentum trim. However they are also generally well equipped, and of course, safety is a priority. Two new technologies introduced with the model are included even with Momentum versions. Steer Assist, part of the City Safety package, will automatically steer the car to try and avoid a collision. Oncoming Lane Mitigation will ease the car back into its lane if it detects it drifting across the white line. Steer Assist also forms part of the Blind Spot Information system, bringing the XC60 back into its lane if it senses it drifting towards another car. Then there is Pilot Assist, the closest thing available to autonomous driving, and a great way to scare fellow travellers by pointing out the steering wheel as it moves by itself. It even steers around curves on the motorway. Momentum models also include satnav, voice control, two-zone climate control, a power tailgate, heated part-leather front seats – basically a lot of car for the money. The R-Design models we drove on the launch cost £2,500 more than their equivalent Momentums. The central screen grows from nine to 12 inches, the wheels from 18 to 19 inches, more leather arrives on the seats and steering wheel, and a number of styling touches are added. One can go further – top of the range is the luxury-pitched Inscription trim, with nappa leather, powered seats, wood inlays and chrome styling additions. It also gets the bigger touchscreen and wheels but not the chassis changes of the R-Design. Cost is £4,000 more than Momentum, and the T8 is only available in Inscription form. Summary. Volvo hit upon a winning formula with the XC90 and has now applied it to the car’s little sister, which also happens to be the brand’s biggest seller. There are more dynamic, more fun-to-drive alternatives to the Volvo XC60. But as a complete package, combining performance, quality and equipment, this car is difficult to ignore. Volvo XC60 – key specifications. Models tested: Volvo XC60 D4 AWD R-Design, D5 PowerPulse AWD R-Design On Sale: August 2017 Range price: £37,205 – £57,950 Insurance groups: TBA Engines: Diesel 1969cc x 2. Petrol 1969cc. Hybrid 1969cc Power (hp): 190/235. 254. 320. Torque (Nm): 400/480. 350. 400. 0-62mph (sec): 8.4/7.2. 6.8. 5.3. Top speed (mph): 127/137. 137. 140. Fuel economy (combined, mpg): 55.4/51.4. 39.2. 134.5. CO2 emissions (g/km): 133/144. 164. 49. Key rivals: Audi Q5, BMW X3, Jaguar F-Pace Test Date: July 2017 Best performance, economy and emissions stated. Read more Volvo news, reviews and features at The Car Expert

Design 9.0
Performance 8.0
Handling 7.0
Economy 7.0
Value 8.0

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