The new Volvo XC60 exudes Volvo’s desire to make the car as comfortable and easy to drive as possible for everyday commuters. The design is based on simplicity and the execution is Scandinavian in design and quality.

The cabin is very spacious, made even more so by the test car’s completely light interior and its almost entirely glass roof. A certain Scandinavian minimalism has been successfully avoided, and comfort of use has been prioritised.

The exterior visibility is good and the interior feels larger than the exterior.
The interior materials feel of a very high quality. The leather on the leather seats is thick and soft.

Comfort in the controls

A few carefully considered essential buttons, such as the start and volume buttons, have been very carefully finished. If a material looks like wood or metal, it feels like it.

In practice, the buttons in the cockpit have been almost completely eliminated in line with current trends. For the most part, all controls are operated from a large touchscreen.

For some reason, not all car manufacturers have yet achieved a commendable level of comfort with large touchscreens. However, Volvo has no problems with the usability of the large touchscreen.

Volvo calls its own system Sensus. The software runs smoothly and the touchscreen is really easy to use. As with mobile devices, you can download various applications such as Spotify, traffic information and weather services.

A parking payment app is also available, which allows you to pay for parking. The app sniffs out and suggests nearby parking spaces to the driver, and also provides parking price information.

A big plus for Volvo’s touchscreen in Finland’s cold weather is that it can also be used with winter gloves on.

A road sign for safety

Volvo has been a pioneer in many safety-related areas for years. New innovative systems have also been loaded into the new XC60.

The XC60 offers an updated City Safety system as standard. In practice, the system brakes the car to a standstill and, if necessary, steers the car to avoid a collision with a person, animal or other obstacle ahead.

Automatic Steering Assist is activated in situations where automatic braking alone cannot avoid a collision. It operates at speeds between 50 and 100 km/h.

The new XC60 can also detect and take evasive action if necessary in situations where a potential collision with an oncoming vehicle is possible.

City Safety warns if the driver is about to drift into the oncoming lane and provides automatic steering assistance back into the lane.

Volvo was one of the first brands to offer a system that warns of a car in a blind spot. This system, called BLIS by Volvo, now includes a pre-tightening seatbelt feature in case of danger and a steering assistance system that tries to prevent the driver from steering the car into the side of the vehicle next to him.

More than 400 horsepower from the T8 model

The test car was powered by the familiar D5 engine, a four-cylinder diesel producing 235 horsepower and a maximum torque of 480 Nm. Mated to an eight-speed automatic transmission, the engine propels the car forward with a strong grip.

A smaller 190 hp D4 diesel engine is also available. Petrol engines are available in three sizes, T5, T6 and T8. All engines in the XC60 range are four-cylinder. Regardless of the engine, the car is always four-wheel drive.

What makes the situation interesting is the T8 model, which offers the XC60 quite respectable performance figures. It is a hybrid model that combines a four-cylinder petrol engine with an electric motor. The petrol engine has 320 horsepower and the electric motor provides a further 87 horsepower.

This brings the total number of horsepower to 407, zero to 60 km/h is achieved in 5.3 seconds and the combined fuel consumption of 2.1 l/100km gives emissions of just 49 grams. With a starting price of just under €70,000 for the T8, comparable figures are not immediately apparent

The car’s mass is felt in a positive way when driving

The XC60 is not a very light car. Depending on the model, the XC60 weighs between 1926 and 217 kg. The mass is very noticeable on the driver’s seat.

Drivability has clearly moved in the same comfort-oriented direction as the cabin. The XC60 doesn’t try to be sporty. The emphasis is on the comfort and quietness that weight brings to the ride.

At the same time, however, the chassis and steering work very well despite the large mass. The ride is very responsive and the tyre movement and road contours are accurately transmitted to the driver.

As in other areas, Volvo has succeeded in handling the car very well indeed. With this new model at the latest, the XC60 rises to the level of other premium brands, and in many areas it passes the competition with a bang.

Volvo has also managed to retain a certain personality of its own, which is slipping through the fingers of many other brands. The XC60 is another fine example of a personal and well-balanced package, and the quality of the car makes it stand out from the crowd.

Pros:
– Quality
– Comfort combined with practicality
– Drivability
– Mass and a sense of security

Volvo XC60 D5 AWD Business Inscription aut.

Engine: 2.0-litre 4-cyl.
Max power: 235 hp.
Maximum torque: 480 Nm.
Acceleration 0-100km/h: 7.2 seconds.
Starting price (XC60 D4 AWD Momentum): €55,337
Starting price (test drive): €69,758
Price for test drive: 91 00