2010 Volvo XC60
Tuesday, August 10, 2010 at 06:24PM By Nick Yost
With the 2010 Volvo XC60, the Swedish automaker has entered the small luxury crossover category as a direct competitor to such vehicles as the BMW X3, Audi Q5 and Acura RDX.
It has two rows of seating that can accommodate up to five passengers and a generous amount of cargo. It drives more like a car than a traditional sport-utility vehicle. And, most importantly to most of its buyers, it is full of the latest safety features that have made Volvo an industry leader.
It is available in three levels of trim, starting at $32,395 for a front-wheel drive model with a 3.2-liter, 235-horsepower in-line six-cylinder engine, and rising to $41,550 for the sportiest and most luxurious, all-wheel-drive model powered by a 3-liter, turbocharged, 281-horsepower in-line six.
The tested car was the mid-range Volvo XC60 T6 AWD, which featured the turbo engine, all-wheel drive and a long list of convenience and safety features. Base price is $37,200.
On-road performance is competent, in large part because the platform is derived from the S80 sedan.
The peppy engine and transmission are capable of moving the 4,200-pound vehicle from a stop to 60 mph in about 7 seconds.
The independent suspension—struts and anti-roll bar up front and a multi-link setup at the rear—provides a comfortable highway ride and, along with the power-assisted rack-and-pinion steering, keeps the car tracking accurately when the road turns twisty. The XC60 does, however, show its crossover DNA with a significant amount of body roll.
At the same time, the XC60’s standard all-wheel drive and 9.1 inches of ground clearance give the vehicle a greater ability to venture off road than many of its competitors.
Heading to the home improvement store or off on a long trip? The XC60 offers nearly 31 cubic feet of cargo space behind the second row of seats and more than 67 cubic feet of space with the second row folded into the floor.
The bad news is that the XC60 is thirsty. The EPA rates fuel mileage at 16 miles per gallon in the city and 22 on the open road. My real-world experience pegged those figures at about 14 mpg around town and 20 on the highway.
Now, about those safety features.
Another standard feature is City Safety. It senses if vehicles ahead are moving slower or stopped. At speeds under 19 miles an hour, if it senses a rear-end collision is imminent, it will apply the brakes full force to avoid a crash or lessen the damage.
Also included in a $2,695 Climate, Child Seat and Technology package on the XC60 I drove were adaptive cruise control, which automatically adjusts the Volvo’s speed to the vehicle ahead, a lane-departure warning system and dual integrated outboard, two-stage child booster seats with adaptive seat belts and power child rear-door locks.
Other features in the package were heated front seats, interior air-quality system, rain-sensing windshield wipers and headlight washers.
Standard features include leather upholstery, driver and front-passenger power seats, dual-zone climate control, electric parking brake, push button start, Bluetooth hands-free cell phone interface and an eight-speaker sound system with HD and satellite radio and USB and auxiliary inputs.
In addition, a laminated panoramic sunroof with two panels and a power sunshade, valued at $1,200, was included in a no-charge introductory offer.
The Multimedia Package, for $2,700, adds a premium sound system, navigation with real-time traffic alerts, and a rear park-assist camera.
Add all of the options to the base price of the XC60 and the total comes to $44,240.
With its combination of features and better-than-average driving dynamics, the XC60 presents itself as a pretty compelling package. It may be considered small in the wide world of crossover vehicles, but it seems like just the right size for most average-size families who have an understandable concern for the safety of the passengers.
Other automotive reviews by Nick Yost can be found at http://www.examiner.com/x-2270-NY-Autos-Examiner