Volvo, a manufacturer synonymous with extraordinary safety, have just launched their first ever crossover vehicle the XC60. Claiming to be the most safest and stylish Volvo yet, this unique car combines the sportiness of a coupe with the practicality and ability of an SUV or in Volvo’s case, XC that stands for ‘cross country’.
Despite the Scandinavian genes, a British designer, Steve Mattin, whose brief was to combine all the Volvos attributes into one, has designed the XC60 from scratch. The result is a truly stunning looking car packed to the brim with safety features, lashings of storage spaces, high levels of standard equipment and great driving dynamics.
Keeping in line with the existing Volvo range, three trims are available S, SE and SE LUX mated to either one petrol engine or two diesels. Prices start from £24,750 rising up to just under £34,000 that may see some potential buyers groan under the current economic strain, but wait till you see what you get for your money.
The exterior styling will certainly woo customers away from the main competitors such as the BMW X5 or VW Tiguan. For while the front of the XC60 is unmistakably a Volvo with the long bonnet, wide air intakes and flanked by the large yet sleeker looking light clusters, the rear is totally unique. The light clusters cascade down from the tall tailgate and large rear window to the main body then bulge outwards almost like a women’s body. To profile and the sleekness really comes to light with gorgeous lines rolling across the top into the roof spoiler, body coloured door handles, 18 inch alloy wheels, privacy glass and colour coded electrically adjustable, heated and folding door mirrors with integrated indicators.
Take a large side step up into the interior and a host of equipment greets the driver in a stylish finish of Nordic Light Oak Trim. I was concentrating on the 2.4 litre diesel with the top of the range trim SE LUX that comes with full leather upholstery in a different yet pleasing two-tone colour. The seats are heated, electrically adjustable with memory settings and very comfortable. The leather steering wheel is also adjustable and home to the remote audio controls plus adaptive cruise control. The central console has that suspended feel with the controls near to the driver for ease of use including electronic climate control air conditioning and an information centre.
The cabin is packed with numerous storage solutions every busy family needs with the added benefit of the rear seats folding flush with the floor line by simply lifting a tab and can be operated using one finger. The large luggage space has a secret compartment underneath for personal effects and cannot be accessed unless the boot is open thereby deterring any thieves. There is also a lift up partition that we eventually found out was for hooking up shopping bags and if not needed folds flush with the boot floor.
The five-cylinder turbodiesel 2.4-litre engine at the heart of the XC60 is one of the cleanest and most advanced diesel engines in the world. Easily exceeding Euro4 emissions performance has not been hindered with a top speed of 121 mph and racing from 0-62 in just 12.5 seconds. Fuel consumption is equally impressive achieving 37.7 mpg on a combined cycle with CO2 emissions just 199g/km thus falling into VED band F.
All variants come with an advanced electronically controlled All-Wheel Drive with Instant Traction as standard that enhances on-road handling and keeps the XC60 firmly on track even through tight country lanes and bends. The Instant Traction further boosts grip when starting on slippery or loose surfaces so no excuse not to get to work because of the ‘wrong type of leaves’.
With the coupe genes, the handling of this XC60 is one of the sportiest in the Volvo range and is further helped by a wide track, firmly tuned suspension and fantastic steering feel along with electronic chassis controls that reduces roll and skids thankfully. The XC60 was then given a new fully independent suspension coupled with an exceptionally stiff body in order for drivers to get the best fun out of driving. Of course some drivers so not want to go off piste so on-road ride comfort was a great consideration for the design team. Thereby the XC60 was also given a supple suspension making it a very quiet car to be in with very little road noise or vibration ricocheting into the cabin.
A six speed manual transmission is standard or customers can opt for Geartronic transmission whereby it can be used as either a full automatic or as a clutch less manual. By using the Sports button allows higher revs before each gear change and sharpens kickdown. The speed dependent power steering provides extra assistance at low speeds thus perfect when needed for manourvers yet tightens up beautifully for the open road.
The XC60 comes with ABS that includes, Hydraulic Brake Assist that is an updated version of EBD, and Emergency Brake Assist which helps drivers stop in the shortest possible distance under emergency situations. Then comes Optimised Hydraulic Brakes to boost braking effect, Ready Alert Brakes that deploys if the accelerator is released or adaptive cruise control is registered and again aids braking response time and braking distances. Finally is Fading Brake Support used for long mountainous descents.
However, that is just the top of the iceberg for the safety features adorning the new XC60 are simply incredible. Volvo actually has an ambitious plan that by 2012, no one will be killed whist in a Volvo car. Making its world debut is City Safety standard across the range. With most common accidents occurring below speeds of 19 mph, this device will effectively stop you colliding with the car in front by braking for you in case you are distracted. A laser sensor fitted behind the rear view mirror keeps an eye of the traffic that is either stationary or moving in the same direction, while you admire other motorist’s say at traffic lights. If the car in front does not pull off and you think it has and start to go, the City Safety will kick in and simply stop the car. This works at speeds less than 9 mph so if you are travelling above that speed but below 19 mph City Safety will not be able to stop the car but will substantially reduce the severity of the accident.
That is on top of the improved child safety two stage booster seats, WHIPS, SIPS, crumple zones, pedestrian protection, Active bending lights collapsible steering column, numerous other airbags, Blind Spot Information system, lane changing warning and distance alert to the car in front.
As Volvo quite rightly claims, this is the safest car they have ever made and one step closer to their ambitious plans of completely wiping out road casualties whilst travelling in a Volvo Car.
Jackie Violet – Female First
Volvo, a manufacturer synonymous with extraordinary safety, have just launched their first ever crossover vehicle the XC60. Claiming to be the most safest and stylish Volvo yet, this unique car combines the sportiness of a coupe with the practicality and ability of an SUV or in Volvo’s case, XC that stands for ‘cross country’.
Despite the Scandinavian genes, a British designer, Steve Mattin, whose brief was to combine all the Volvos attributes into one, has designed the XC60 from scratch. The result is a truly stunning looking car packed to the brim with safety features, lashings of storage spaces, high levels of standard equipment and great driving dynamics.
Keeping in line with the existing Volvo range, three trims are available S, SE and SE LUX mated to either one petrol engine or two diesels. Prices start from £24,750 rising up to just under £34,000 that may see some potential buyers groan under the current economic strain, but wait till you see what you get for your money.
The exterior styling will certainly woo customers away from the main competitors such as the BMW X5 or VW Tiguan. For while the front of the XC60 is unmistakably a Volvo with the long bonnet, wide air intakes and flanked by the large yet sleeker looking light clusters, the rear is totally unique. The light clusters cascade down from the tall tailgate and large rear window to the main body then bulge outwards almost like a women’s body. To profile and the sleekness really comes to light with gorgeous lines rolling across the top into the roof spoiler, body coloured door handles, 18 inch alloy wheels, privacy glass and colour coded electrically adjustable, heated and folding door mirrors with integrated indicators.
Take a large side step up into the interior and a host of equipment greets the driver in a stylish finish of Nordic Light Oak Trim. I was concentrating on the 2.4 litre diesel with the top of the range trim SE LUX that comes with full leather upholstery in a different yet pleasing two-tone colour. The seats are heated, electrically adjustable with memory settings and very comfortable. The leather steering wheel is also adjustable and home to the remote audio controls plus adaptive cruise control. The central console has that suspended feel with the controls near to the driver for ease of use including electronic climate control air conditioning and an information centre.
The cabin is packed with numerous storage solutions every busy family needs with the added benefit of the rear seats folding flush with the floor line by simply lifting a tab and can be operated using one finger. The large luggage space has a secret compartment underneath for personal effects and cannot be accessed unless the boot is open thereby deterring any thieves. There is also a lift up partition that we eventually found out was for hooking up shopping bags and if not needed folds flush with the boot floor.
The five-cylinder turbodiesel 2.4-litre engine at the heart of the XC60 is one of the cleanest and most advanced diesel engines in the world. Easily exceeding Euro4 emissions performance has not been hindered with a top speed of 121 mph and racing from 0-62 in just 12.5 seconds. Fuel consumption is equally impressive achieving 37.7 mpg on a combined cycle with CO2 emissions just 199g/km thus falling into VED band F.
All variants come with an advanced electronically controlled All-Wheel Drive with Instant Traction as standard that enhances on-road handling and keeps the XC60 firmly on track even through tight country lanes and bends. The Instant Traction further boosts grip when starting on slippery or loose surfaces so no excuse not to get to work because of the ‘wrong type of leaves’.
With the coupe genes, the handling of this XC60 is one of the sportiest in the Volvo range and is further helped by a wide track, firmly tuned suspension and fantastic steering feel along with electronic chassis controls that reduces roll and skids thankfully. The XC60 was then given a new fully independent suspension coupled with an exceptionally stiff body in order for drivers to get the best fun out of driving. Of course some drivers so not want to go off piste so on-road ride comfort was a great consideration for the design team. Thereby the XC60 was also given a supple suspension making it a very quiet car to be in with very little road noise or vibration ricocheting into the cabin.