Volvo XC60 | Test Drive | Auto Class Magazine

Volvo XC60 | Test Drive

VOLVO XC60

Words Marco Rallo / Photos Gian Romero

Browsing through the many alternatives in terms of SUVs, that of the Swedish brand is undoubtedly one of the most valid options. Absolute standard-bearer in terms of safety, on board comfort and reliability, the Scandinavian brand has cemented its image over the years managing to carve out a place of its own that, despite fashions and come and go trends, has not affected the robustness of a mechanics applied under a minimalist design, exactly as you would expect when dealing with something that makes concreteness and substance an irreplaceable mantra.

Halfway between the smaller XC40 and the gargantuan XC90 we have the XC60, which enjoys the advantages offered by the base lent by the top of the range model (the XC90), declining the package in a car body perfectly suited to a daily coexistence and to any type of customer. The style remains unmistakably Volvo, with the front grille that accentuates the massive look of the car that with increasingly tapered headlights but without renouncing to the famous “Thor’s hammer” signature. Power is transmitted to the sides and then to the rear, where the tail of the XC60 is kept light thanks to a clever use of lines that characterize each model in the list, making the intermediate step we are dealing with immediately recognizable.

Contemporary Volvos are also perfectly capable of representing the luxury offered by refined details that make the clean lines and compactness of a design devoted to the essential. Sitting on 21-inch wheels, the image of the XC60 is impressive, despite being a medium-sized SUV that remains in the order of 471 cm in length, 190 in width and 166 in height. It is probably due to a look more than anything else highlighted by a belt line which, however does not give up glass surfaces that make the passenger compartment one of the brightest in the category, also thanks to the huge panoramic glass roof.

Once on board, the sense of refinement and minimalism continues thanks to a cabin that is confirmed as one of the best around, with unique solutions such as the ignition knob and adjustment wheels that are beautiful to see and touch. Comfortably sunk on the soft leather armchairs that proudly recall their Swedish origins thanks to the flags sewn on the sides, everything is at hand reach thanks to a multifunction steering wheel and two digital displays, a touch one with an updated system that uses Google maps and the one that includes the entire instrumentation in front of the driver’s eyes and which can call up full screen the satellite navigator, or integrate the functions of the same infotainment system.

Once you have ascertained how much the XC60 is a total package from the aesthetic and practical point of view, all that remains is to turn on the engine that maybe no one would expect to find. In fact, in the extensive Volvo list we have 253, 303 and 317 horsepower petrol engines, while the diesel variants have two power steps: 150 and 190 horses. As for the hybrids, we have both petrol and diesel options, including our 235 horsepower B5D. Obviously, all engines are 2-liter 4-cylinder, as Volvo has predicted for some years now. With an attack price at around € 58,000, the model of our test is positioned in the middle of the XC60 price list, but what it offers in terms of usability and savings at the pump is truly remarkable. 6.6 l per approximately 100 km is the overall value at the end of our weeks of testing, all enjoying the incredible elasticity of a mild-hybrid engine equipped with a maximum torque of 480 Nm delivered at just 1,750 rpm. The strong point of diesel unit is precisely this, a substantially immediate power curve that contributes to make the 2 tons of the XC60 agile between curves, despite the fact that it is an SUV for relaxing cruises, this above all because of a soft set-up and a steering that combined with the optional air suspension offer a level of on board quietness that is really difficult to match.

Among the numerous driving aid systems, we limit ourselves to praising the excellent adaptive cruise control system and the Pilot Assist (as optional), while it seems superfluous to underline that the habitability is excellent for five people on board and their luggage, even if the most annoying ones will object that in terms of load capacity the 483 liters are not at the top of the segment. As far as we are concerned, with such a solid look and excellent interior finishes, the XC60 B5D has proven to be able to perform well on the road too, offering that sense of safety common in every Volvo and accompanying us along some of the most relaxing kilometers ever. The navigation system is impeccable, the Bowers & Wilkins audio system seems able to put yourself in the front row at your private concert, forgiving the noise of the 2-liter diesel, a little intrusive when firing the engine or when standing still. Everything else – and I mean everything – about the XC60 confirms how difficult is to find better with these features in mind.