The New Volvo XC60

10 months ago 30th Dec 10:25

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.