Volvo XC60 First Drive
The Basics
The XC60 range kicks off from $56,990, which is a $1500 increase over the starting price for the outgoing model. The new iteration gains a range of standard inclusions though, which more than offsets the slight price increase.
Volvo noted at launch the Audi Q5 (from $62,200), BMW X3 (from $59,000) and Lexus RX (from $69,045) as the XC60's main competition. New XC60 pricing is right on the mark then, and the extra standard features will definitely appeal to buyers in this competitive segment. The XC60 is important to Volvo Australia – it has been the brand's bestselling vehicle for the past five years.
An electric tailgate and extra safety kit are now standard, but the drivetrain choices remain the same. Buyers will still be able to choose between the four-cylinder petrol engine from the outgoing model, Volvo's exceptional five-cylinder turbo diesel, or (on higher specification models) an inline six-cylinder.
Safety inclusions form a catalogue of the best technology currently available. There's IntelliSafe, which features cyclist detection and full auto brake – another world first for Volvo. The system is active up to 80km/h and completely avoids collisions with a bicycle at 50km/h. Enhanced blind spot monitoring is now a radar based system and even more accurate. There's a lane change merge aid, a cross traffic alert, active high beam, active bending lights with cornering light, an upgraded city safety system and auto-dimming inner and outer rear-view mirrors.
Outside, a refreshed front fascia means the new XC60 looks a little wider than it used to. Up front, the headlights are new and the front bumper has been redesigned with a new centre grille and air intakes. The rear bumper features a new diffuser, extra colour coding and a new exhaust outlet.
The cabin has likewise been changed subtly rather than completely redesigned. The instrument display is now fitted with the adaptive digital system lifted from the V40. New colours and trim materials have also been specified. The positives from the outgoing model remain: a high and mighty seating position with excellent vision fore and aft, incredibly comfortable seating, and that feeling of insulation and quiet that Volvo has mastered over decades.
First Impressions
On the open road, the T4 with the four-cylinder petrol engine (a version of the Ford EcoBoost engine) can struggle when asked to lug the heft of the XC60. The six-speed automatic gearbox robs some of the power, but nonetheless it's a lot of SUV asking a small engine to do a lot of work. Around town, the smaller engine showed its true colours, more than capable of getting up to city speeds and doing it with a sense of smooth refinement.
Next in line is the turbo-diesel D4 engine (which is actually a five-cylinder – yes it is strange) and is the pick of the range for flexibility, fuel efficiency and daily driving. With an ADR fuel figure of 6.9L/100km, the D4 is the most fuel efficient in the XC60 range. The performance T6 isn't a fuel monster, though, using an ADR-claimed 10.5L/100km.
Buyers need to remember that the two entry level-variants are front-wheel drive, which might affect the purchasing decision. If you're primarily going to be running round the 'burbs, FWD is no issue. Both vehicles have been tuned to deliver a comfortable ride at the expense of outright handling, but we appreciated their ability to soak up bumps in comfort.
Higher up the food chain, there is the D5 (traditionally the best seller in the range), which gets a 2.4-litre turbocharged diesel engine (158kW and 440Nm). Those figures go some way to explaining the popularity of the D5, but it's the more capable R-Design chassis that makes all the difference. Handling is tighter and sharper and there's AWD on offer, too, making for an extremely capable cross-country tourer.
The T6 is the real powerhouse in the range, churning out 224kW and 440Nm from the 3.0-litre turbocharged petrol six-cylinder engine. While the T6 is no race car in a handling and grip sense, it is definitely the ‘driver's car' of the range. Priced under the 80 grand mark, the T6 is a real bargain when you consider it has every piece of standard kit in the XC60 range. It's comfortable too, and is tailor-made for a family weekend away.
The standard wheels for the T6 deliver the only negative for the XC60. The larger diameter and lower profile rubber mean the ride can be a little harsh and choppy. Around town, that issue will be less noticeable than it is out on back country B roads.
The XC60 range kicks off from $56,990, which is a $1500 increase over the starting price for the outgoing model. The new iteration gains a range of standard inclusions though, which more than offsets the slight price increase.
Volvo noted at launch the Audi Q5 (from $62,200), BMW X3 (from $59,000) and Lexus RX (from $69,045) as the XC60's main competition. New XC60 pricing is right on the mark then, and the extra standard features will definitely appeal to buyers in this competitive segment. The XC60 is important to Volvo Australia – it has been the brand's bestselling vehicle for the past five years.
An electric tailgate and extra safety kit are now standard, but the drivetrain choices remain the same. Buyers will still be able to choose between the four-cylinder petrol engine from the outgoing model, Volvo's exceptional five-cylinder turbo diesel, or (on higher specification models) an inline six-cylinder.
Safety inclusions form a catalogue of the best technology currently available. There's IntelliSafe, which features cyclist detection and full auto brake – another world first for Volvo. The system is active up to 80km/h and completely avoids collisions with a bicycle at 50km/h. Enhanced blind spot monitoring is now a radar based system and even more accurate. There's a lane change merge aid, a cross traffic alert, active high beam, active bending lights with cornering light, an upgraded city safety system and auto-dimming inner and outer rear-view mirrors.
Outside, a refreshed front fascia means the new XC60 looks a little wider than it used to. Up front, the headlights are new and the front bumper has been redesigned with a new centre grille and air intakes. The rear bumper features a new diffuser, extra colour coding and a new exhaust outlet.
The cabin has likewise been changed subtly rather than completely redesigned. The instrument display is now fitted with the adaptive digital system lifted from the V40. New colours and trim materials have also been specified. The positives from the outgoing model remain: a high and mighty seating position with excellent vision fore and aft, incredibly comfortable seating, and that feeling of insulation and quiet that Volvo has mastered over decades.
First Impressions
On the open road, the T4 with the four-cylinder petrol engine (a version of the Ford EcoBoost engine) can struggle when asked to lug the heft of the XC60. The six-speed automatic gearbox robs some of the power, but nonetheless it's a lot of SUV asking a small engine to do a lot of work. Around town, the smaller engine showed its true colours, more than capable of getting up to city speeds and doing it with a sense of smooth refinement.
Next in line is the turbo-diesel D4 engine (which is actually a five-cylinder – yes it is strange) and is the pick of the range for flexibility, fuel efficiency and daily driving. With an ADR fuel figure of 6.9L/100km, the D4 is the most fuel efficient in the XC60 range. The performance T6 isn't a fuel monster, though, using an ADR-claimed 10.5L/100km.
Buyers need to remember that the two entry level-variants are front-wheel drive, which might affect the purchasing decision. If you're primarily going to be running round the 'burbs, FWD is no issue. Both vehicles have been tuned to deliver a comfortable ride at the expense of outright handling, but we appreciated their ability to soak up bumps in comfort.
Higher up the food chain, there is the D5 (traditionally the best seller in the range), which gets a 2.4-litre turbocharged diesel engine (158kW and 440Nm). Those figures go some way to explaining the popularity of the D5, but it's the more capable R-Design chassis that makes all the difference. Handling is tighter and sharper and there's AWD on offer, too, making for an extremely capable cross-country tourer.
The T6 is the real powerhouse in the range, churning out 224kW and 440Nm from the 3.0-litre turbocharged petrol six-cylinder engine. While the T6 is no race car in a handling and grip sense, it is definitely the ‘driver's car' of the range. Priced under the 80 grand mark, the T6 is a real bargain when you consider it has every piece of standard kit in the XC60 range. It's comfortable too, and is tailor-made for a family weekend away.
The standard wheels for the T6 deliver the only negative for the XC60. The larger diameter and lower profile rubber mean the ride can be a little harsh and choppy. Around town, that issue will be less noticeable than it is out on back country B roads.
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