Looking for a premium SUV? The Volvo XC60 could be your best choice

We’ll tell you, in six key points, why the Volvo XC60 is the best alternative to German cars among premium mid-size SUVs. And even more so now with the current offer, which lets you get an XC60 for less than 35,000 euros.

German cars are the benchmark in the mid-size premium SUV segment, where the Volvo XC60 competes. The Mercedes GLC, Audi Q5 and BMW X3 always appear on the list of possible candidates when people look for a crossover that serves both for everyday use and for travel, for leisure, or for a car that already offers a high level of status and a certain representative presence.

And in this competitive segment, the second generation of the Volvo XC60 has a lot to say. After all, more than one million units of the first generation were sold, which made the Volvo XC60 the best-selling SUV in its segment, where, besides the German crossovers, it competes with cars such as the Lexus NX, the Alfa Romeo Stelvio or the Land Rover Discovery Sport, for example. And this new generation of the Volvo XC60 was chosen World Car of the Year 2018 at the New York Auto Show.

As you can imagine, achieving such success is no coincidence. And to keep playing with confidence in the league of the biggest names, Volvo presented the second generation of the XC60 in 2017. A car that has everything you ask of a premium SUV… and something more. Here’s why you should consider the Volvo XC60 if you’re looking for a car in this category.

1. Design, exclusivity and quality

Design is very subjective, but it remains among the primary reasons for buying a new car, especially in this category. In the case of the XC60, we can say that if its look makes a good impression when you see it, when you drive it you confirm that it is not just appearance.

Materials used, the feel of the controls, presentation, finishes, customization options… The XC60 is a premium car in every sense. This is confirmed by the attention to detail, both in the way the different elements are finished and fitted and in the operation of the various controls. Soft-touch materials dominate, the wood trim is “real”, and the leather of the optional upholstery looks magnificent. Even the boot area is very carefully presented. Without a doubt, the XC60 is hot on the heels of the Audi Q5 in this respect, which we still consider the best-finished car in the segment.

To personalise the XC60 there are three trim variants: the sophisticated Momentum, the elegant Inscription and the sporty R-Design. The standard equipment, which is very generous even on the basic versions, changes, as do exterior and interior styling details. The XC60 can be fitted with wheels of up to 21 inches.

2. The best cabin for travelling

I confess I have a special fondness for Volvo when it comes to travelling, and the XC60 is no exception. The driving position is excellent, and the seats of the Volvo are among the most comfortable I know for covering many kilometres at the wheel every time I test a Swedish model.

But the passengers are also very well looked after. There is no lack of space in the rear seats, which also have something unusual: up to three air vents in different areas. Those travelling in these seats can individually adjust the temperature and airflow. In the front, heated, ventilated seats with a massage function are available.

The boot is not the largest among cars of its size. But the 505 litres of capacity it offers are more than enough for the usual use of a car in which four passengers will travel comfortably. There is no lack of all kinds of elements for organising and securing the load: nets, hooks… and even a practical net option that can be anchored to the roof to separate the load area from the cabin, ideal for travelling with pets, for example.

3. Engine range: diesel, petrol… and hybrid version

The variety of engine options in the XC60 range is very wide. The absence of engines with more than four cylinders is not a problem, given the good performance of all versions, since even the least powerful move the SUV with ease.

In diesel there are D3, D4 and D5 versions, with powers of 150, 190 and 235 CV respectively. In petrol, the XC60 T4 delivers 190 CV, the T5 offers 254 CV, and the T6 reaches 320 CV. You can choose all-wheel drive (be aware, this does not mean the XC60 is an SUV specially designed for going off-road), or an eight-speed automatic gearbox that operates very smoothly. Among our favourite versions are the D4 and the T4, for their balance of price, performance and consumption.

Practically from launch, Volvo offers the T8 Twin Engine version of the XC60, a plug-in hybrid that combines the T6’s 320 CV engine with an 88 CV electric motor on the rear axle, for a combined output of 408 CV. A car that combines high performance with refinement and smoothness, that can run in fully electric mode for 45 km (which earns it the ECO label from the DGT) and that has a homologated average consumption of just over 2 l/100 km.

4. Technology focused on comfort

In multimedia systems and connectivity the Volvo XC60 is also well served. The two top versions come as standard with a 12.3-inch digital instrument cluster and a 9-inch central screen that stands out for its “tablet”-style format, positioned vertically in the centre of the dashboard. The integration and operation of all functions via the screen and the steering wheel controls has been very well resolved, eliminating as many buttons as possible.

The audio equipment range includes the Premium sound system by Harman Kardon, or the top-tier Bowers & Wilkins option. And Volvo Sensus ensures connectivity, offering compatibility with Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, a wifi hotspot and a whole series of optional services via Volvo On Call.

Dynamically, the platform on which the Volvo XC60 is built (the same one used by the new XC40) guarantees safety, control and ease of driving. It is a recommended car for those seeking a comfortable SUV rather than a sporty one. In this respect, comfort is enhanced by the optional air suspension with adaptive damping.

5. Probably the safest crossover on the market

It is traditional to associate Volvo with safe cars. In the XC60, this is not marketing, it is reality. Beyond the proven behaviour of its structure and its passive safety systems in the event of impact, as shown by the EuroNCAP crash tests for the XC40, there is no modern driver-assistance system that is not present in the Swedish SUV, whether as standard or as an option.

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One of the keys is the City Safety system from Volvo, which is standard on all XC60 versions. What does this system do? It uses information from a series of cameras and sensors to assist the driver in all those traffic situations that can be dangerous. For example, the blind-spot warning system does not just warn with a light indication. If the driver does not notice this warning and starts an overtaking manoeuvre, City Safety intervenes in the steering, returning the vehicle to its lane.

The system, which works both by day and by night, can also assist in an evasive manoeuvre if we suddenly turn the steering wheel to avoid an accident. It even is able to steer autonomously to avoid an impact if, travelling between 60 and 140 km/h, we leave our lane due to some distraction (unlikely, since it also has an active lane-keeping assist) and a possible collision with an oncoming vehicle arises.

In addition to other vehicles, City Safety from Volvo also detects pedestrians, cyclists, animals… To avoid an accident, it can bring the vehicle to a complete stop (between 15 and 65 km/h) if the driver ignores the alert signals. And for more relaxed motorway driving, all City Safety functions can be complemented with Pilot Assist, a cruise control that, up to 130 km/h, is able not only to maintain the programmed distance from the vehicle ahead, but also to keep the car centred in its lane by intervening on the steering.

6. The price factor: a “cracking” offer

All this is very good, but you are surely already asking the key question: how much does the Volvo XC60 cost? Is it more expensive, cheaper, or is its price equivalent to other premium SUVs? Comparing equivalent versions, it can be concluded that the Volvo XC60 is in line with its most direct rivals. The range currently starts at €42,700 for the XC60 D3 Momentum.

But be aware, because Volvo offers a deal on the fully equipped XC60 Premium Edition version which, when financing the purchase through the brand, comes to €34,950. An offer we can call a “bargain” while it lasts, and if you are looking for a car of this type, you should not let it pass.

In addition, Volvo offers the car subscription service called Care by Volvo, which lets you drive an XC60 for a fixed monthly fee, with no deposit, no final payment and no additional costs. What makes Care by Volvo different is that you can enjoy a whole series of assistance services even when you are not driving. You can see everything Care by Volvo includes here.

Volvo XC60 image gallery

Technical specifications of this car

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