What would you call a luxury crossover that offered more room than its closest competitors, plus safety technology that none of them offered, wrapped in Scandinavian design that makes other vehicles look like last year’s news? Volvo calls it the XC60.
The Volvo XC60 caused a bit of a sensation when it arrived earlier this year. Its sensuously curved lines suddenly made other new luxury crossovers look old before their time. Influenced by Scandinavian sensibilities that value timelessness over trendiness, the rakish XC60 will still look fresh long after you’ve made the final payment. And its luxurious interior – including the standard leather seating that Mercedes-Benz GLK and BMW X3 charge extra for – echoes the Scandinavian design sensibility that blends function with beautiful form.
The XC60 just might be the most intelligently packaged luxury crossover in its segment – a claim made based on the roominess, standard features, choice of powertrains and accessible pricing starting at an MSRP of $32,395. That starts you with the XC60 3.2 model with front-wheel drive and Dynamic Stability and Traction Control (DSTC).
Its 3.2-liter inline six-cylinder engine issues an energetic 235 hp and 236 lb/ft of torque to give the XC60 3.2 quick, fluid acceleration. And, you can add Volvo’s advanced all-wheel drive with Instant Traction™ and Hill Descent Control. It comes standard on the turbocharged XC60 T5 AWD model, which will be discussed in a moment.
Maybe the most surprising number attached to the XC60 3.2 is “27.” That’s the EPA-rated highway fuel economy. That’s the same as a 2009 Honda CR-V front-wheel drive, which has a four-cylinder engine with 70 less horsepower. And, the XC60 uses Regular grade fuel, compared to other luxury brand models that call for more expensive Premium.
The Volvo XC60 not only gives you room for five to ride in comfort, but its carrying space handily beats competitors. For example, with the rear seats folded down, the XC60 provides 67.4 cubic feet of space vs. 54.7 cubic feet for the Mercedes-Benz GLK.
Volvo, of course, has been synonymous with safety since it arrived in the U.S. in the mid-1950s. This is, after all, the company that invented the three-point safety belt – the single most effective passive safety feature in any vehicle – 50 years ago. The safety innovations that followed even helped the U.S. Department of Transportation set safety standards for all cars.
The XC60 introduced the latest Volvo safety feature. Called City Safety, this world-first monitors the path ahead and, working at urban speeds (below 19 mph), can automatically apply the brakes and bring the vehicle to a stop if it senses a frontal collision is imminent. Nobody else has that.
Naturally, the XC60 has the latest in airbag technology including side-curtain airbags. Volvo vehicles have long been the first choice of safety-conscious parents, and another first from Volvo confirms why: The available dual, two-stage integrated booster seats with adaptive seatbelts adjust to two heights to accommodate children of different sizes. You can adjust seat height as your children grow.
If you need more power, the Volvo XC60 T6 AWD model trumps the Audi Q5 and Mercedes GLK350 – still on Regular grade gas. Drawing on Volvo’s nearly three decades of producing some of the most responsive turbocharged engines, the XC60 delivers its peak torque at a very low engine speed – just 1,750 rpm. So, you get the benefit of its power even at city speeds, along with superior acceleration and passing performance.
The XC60 offers the most impressive list of standard features in its class, along with sensibly priced, useful option packages. The Multimedia Package, for example, gives you the Premium Sound System with Dynaudio, the Volvo Navigation System with Real Time Traffic and a Park Assist Camera.
Volvo designed the XC60 for the way most luxury crossovers are used every day – and on weekends. It has 9.1 inches of ground clearance to tackle snow and treks off the beaten path. Yet, the Volvo still offers a comfortably low step-in height and sharp on-road handling.
Finally, the XC60 has you covered – literally. The Volvo Safe + Sound Best-in-Class Coverage Plan gives you a five-year/60,000-mile warranty, plus five years factory scheduled maintenance, plus five years wear and tear coverage, plus five years Volvo On-Call Roadside Assistance.
That’s a lot of pluses. Best of all, they come in the XC60.
