Volvo’s new
midsize CUV expertly toes the line between luxury and laidback.
With its
most successful vehicles, Volvo has always offered somewhat of an antidote to
the standard set by German luxury cars. High design layered over breezy,
comfortably capable Volvo driving characteristics are often great counterpoints
to exacting BMWs and Audis.
I can’t
think of a better segment in which to deploy that aesthetic than the luxury
crossover world in which the all-new Volvo XC60 competes. Though the Germans
all make bloody fast versions with which to lure the well-heeled and the macho
– Volvo, too, has a massively quick T8-engined version of the XC60 that you’ll
read about soon – crossovers tend to feel successful by way of amenities, ride
quality, flexible function, and style. Based on those criteria, this revamped
CUV seems poised for commercial success.
Pros
Sit back
and luxuriate. When the more expensive XC90 launched a few years ago, it was
roundly lauded for its plush-yet-tasteful design and tremendous comfort. I was
therefore happily surprised that the smaller, less expensive XC60 seems to have
brought its bigger brother’s interior over, whole cloth. Granted, the XC60 I
drove wore the R Design specification meaning sporty, grippy, well-bolstered
seats, but the experience was anything but hardcore. I love the “ribbon” of
trim that runs along the dash, the look and feel of the perforated leather
steering wheel, and soft touch points nearly everywhere I lay my hand. Sure,
the Scandinavian vibe might be better achieved in Volvo’s lighter interior
colors, but even the dark version you see here feels design forward and cozy.
Quiet
cabin, cushy ride. Don’t let the big, 21-inch wheels fool you – the XC60 does a
fine job squiring its occupants down the road in comfort and silence. I drove
through downtown Denver, at 70 miles per hour and more on the highway, and out onto
mountain roads, and rarely experienced crashy or harsh behavior from the
underpinnings. Even without the optional air suspension, Volvo has done a fine
job tuning the chassis for great comfort, without sacrificing too much in terms
of handling fun. Road and wind noise are really controlled, too, which makes me
more inclined to recommend the pricey, optional Bang & Olufsen sound system
with its 15 speakers and 1,100 watts. Crank the volume at a 50-mph cruise and
you’ve basically got a rolling listening room.
BE PART OF
SOMETHING BIG
Elegant...
as expected. Volvo has been churning out some of my very favorite exterior
designs for some time now, and the revamped XC60 doesn’t break the streak. As I
found in the interior, elements of trim brighten a clean design, rather than
simply tarting up a typical crossover. The designers haven’t reinvented the
midsize crossover here, but the family elements of Volvo styling language –
“Thor’s Hammer” LED headlights, rich-looking metallic grille, big, classic
looking seven spoke wheels, etc. – evoke true luxury. Remember when Volvos used
to be cool because they were nerdy? That’s no longer the case.
Valuable
power. The most basic XC60 comes with the T5 engine – a turbocharged 2.0-liter
making 250 horsepower and 258 pound-feet of torque. That vehicle lines right up
with the power and pricing of the base versions of the Audi Q5, Mercedes-Benz
GLC, etc. But the XC60 T6 is more interesting, as its gutsy 316-hp, 295-lb-ft
engine (supercharged and turbocharged) puts it a power class above the 2.0T
competition, for around three thousand dollars more. Basically the T6 seems to
occupy a little niche between base versions of luxury CUVs, and fuller
performance versions, which is great for a shopper looking for occasional
thrills but without a $60,000 budget.
Cons
More
aesthete than athlete. The XC60 doesn’t exactly mind being hustled around those
previously referenced mountain roads, but it doesn’t love it, either. Even with
a set of big-bolstered seats, you move around quite a lot as the CUV rolls
through its suspension, at least when you’re pushing really hard. This won’t be
a problem for most people – my guess is that if you’re looking for a tall wagon
with hardcore handling chops you’re already leaning towards a Porsche Macan or
Jaguar F-Pace. But, at least in the R Design trim, there’s a certain amount of
sporty pretension not being backed up 100 percent on the road.
All-wheel
only. I know, I know – all-wheel-drive versions of cars like this are typically
more desirable, anyway. But the truth is I think there are a lot of people who
would love a base XC60 T5 with front-wheel drive, at a more affordable price
point. I expect that version of the vehicle to be coming at some point, but all
versions are AWD at launch.
Source:
Motor1.com
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