2017 Volvo XC60 review

• Published On: 5 June 2017
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The new XC60 is Volvo’s attempt at wrestling the mid-size luxury SUV title away from the Germans.

The New XC60 will go up against Audi’s Q5, BMW’s X3 and Mercedes’ GLC. The first-gen XC60 has been on sale for nine years and, in India, it currently makes up makes up a third of Volvo’s sales. Like the larger XC90 and S90, this car is built on Volvo’s flexible SPA platform, which is designed to accommodate full electric powertrains as well. The car is currently available with a range of 2.0-litre, four-cylinder petrol and diesel units.

On the outside
This new Volvo is longer, wider and lower than the earlier car. The design is unquestionably new-age Volvo and looks elegant. The headlights feature a slight variation from the ‘Thor’s hammer’ LED signature lights on the XC90. The XC60 comes with uniquely shaped L-shaped tail-lights as well. The top-spec Inscription trim XC60 will make its way here and it comes with lots of chrome detailing on the grille, bumpers and skirts, and 19-inch alloy wheels will be standard.

On the inside
The XC60’s cabin design is similar to the XC90 and S90 – which is no bad thing because it is one of the finest cabins you could find yourself in. The insides are trimmed in nappa leather and fine wood, and adorned with knurled dials. At the centre of the smart dashboard is the 9.0-inch portrait-oriented touchscreen that works as smoothly as an iPad. It does take some time to load initially owing but works smoothly once started. The layout of the interface has more colour and has also been tweaked to minimise distractions. You may miss having physical buttons for the climate control system since the screen controls aren’t the easiest to use while you’re driving.

You sit decently high and overall visibility is good; the sculpted front seats are exceptionally comfortable as well. Front, side and lumbar bolstering are adjustable. The seats also come with massage and ventilation functions. Rear seat occupants, however, don’t get as many goodies but there is ample leg- and headroom, and the large windows add to the overall ambience. The rear seat itself feels a bit upright and the squab could have been more supportive though.

This car will feature LED headlights, air suspension, a panoramic sunroof, brilliant 19-speaker Bowers & Wilkins sound system, four-zone climate control and nappa leather seats. There’s only manual adjust for the steering wheel though.

From behind the wheel
Volvo could bring this car here with a 190hp, 2.0 turbo-diesel (D4), a 320hp, 2.0 supercharged turbo-petrol (T6), and a 407hp petrol-electric plug-in hybrid (T8) options when it launches. What we know for certain is that Volvo will bring a diesel D5 all-wheel-drive version. This version's 235hp makes it more powerful than other 2.0 diesel competitors. This engine features Volvo's 'Power Pulse' tech – as system used to avoid turbo lag. The XC60 picks up pace cleanly from low revs and power delivery is linear throughout the rev band, you rarely notice any lag at all. This engine is quiet and is quick, but the cabin is so well insulated that you only get a sense of the speed you’re on if you look at the speedometer.

This car features various drive modes that you can alter based on your needs. Steering weight increases as you shuffle from Eco to Comfort to Dynamic, and we found it to be light and fairly precise. There is a bit of roll around corners, but this isn’t a car for you’ll want to drive fast. It’s goal is to be easy to drive in the city and to stay composed on the highway – the Volvo delivers exactly that.

As is the case with Volvo cars, this one comes with a whole range of active safety equipment that will use camera, sensor and radar-based technology. Its Pilot Assist feature steers the car between lane markings and also maintains a distance from the vehicle ahead.
Is it worth the money?
If you are looking for a mid-size luxury SUV, we’d recommend waiting for this car. It’s an extremely comfortable SUV and it comes loaded with features. It’s even quick for when you’re in the mood. The XC60 is expected to be priced at ₹55 lakh and, at that price, Volvo is offering all the luxury you need from a mid-size SUV.