A shiny new Volvo XC60 2.0 Turbo Powershift sports utility vehicle (SUV) was delivered to me for a short weekend test drive and I was immediately smitten by what I saw.
I’ve seen a few XC60s on the road but I got up close and personal with this one. The sleek, curvaceous body of this mid-sized SUV implies speed and agility, a far cry from the mid-80s brick I used to drive around.
While the XC60 2.0T can be classified as an SUV, it does not come with an all-wheel drive system (AWD).
Instead, it runs on its front paws. It’s becoming quite a trend now to make SUVs with just front- or rear-wheel drive. Makes sense, since many people who buy SUVs will actually never see the dust or mud of a dirt track, therefore rendering the extra grip of a 4WD system unnecessary.
Plus the weight savings on the car sans AWD will also make it more efficient. Less weight to carry around means more power-to-weight ratio or lower fuel consumption.
Not having AWD isn’t a shortcoming at all for the XC60 as it still performs brilliantly.
The handling is as sharp if not better than most sedans. I was particularly impressed by the steering wheel response and feedback. It is speed sensitive and offers a choice of three settings between road feel and steering sensitivity.
As I only had a couple of days of testing, I couldn’t take the XC60 out for a jaunt in the countryside. But what I experienced in suburban and highway conditions was enough to convince me that it’ll probably do well on twisty country roads, too.
Under the bonnet is a four-cylinder 1,999cc turbocharged engine. Maximum power is 203bhp coming in at 6,000rpm, while peak torque of 300Nm comes in from 1,750rpm to 4,000rpm. That’s good enough to push this two tonne-plus SUV to a top speed of 205kph and hitting the century in just 8.9 seconds.
Combined fuel consumption is also an impressive 8.5 litres per 100km, better than some cars with smaller engines.
The six-speed PowerShift gearbox is a dual clutch type auto transmission with a manual shift option. Dual clutch automatic boxes are renowned for rapid gear changes and also fuel efficiency.
The more I delve into the XC60, the more I realise how family-oriented it is despite its sporty and sexy looks. Clearly targeted at young couples about to start a family or who already have children, the XC60’s key selling point is safety.
Seat belt symmetry is different for small children who may have outgrown their child seats, so they now ride on their own integrated child booster seats in the rear. The booster seats’ two-stage height adjustments also allow the car to “grow” with the children.
There are Isofix anchor points for after-market child seats and baby carriers, which means that there are literally hundreds of solutions for safely securing kids of all ages, from newborn to teenagers, in the backseat.
The chances of turning turtle in an SUV are small but the risk is always there, so Volvo came up with ROPS or Roll Over Protection System consisting of RSC or Roll Stability Control that reduces the chances of rollovers. Key to the system is a gyroscopic sensor that detects the vehicle’s lean angle and predicts the rollover risk.
If need be, the system will cut off engine power and apply braking to one or more of the wheels to reduce centrifugal force and prevent the rollover.
And if the XC60 does roll over, a reinforced passenger compartment will protect the occupants inside.
Pre-tensioner seat belts then tighten up and inflatable side curtains are also activated to further cushion any impacts.
Then there’s City Safety, a collision avoidance system that uses laser-based sensors to detect slow moving or stationary vehicles 6m to 8m in front.
If you don’t stop in time and the system predicts an imminent collision, it first gives audible and visual warnings to the driver.
The brake pads move closer to the disc for shorter braking times. If you still don’t stop in time then the computer takes over, it cuts engine power and activates emergency braking, which should stop the car.
I’ll take Volvo’s word for it that it works as I wasn’t about to test that theory with a car costing more than a quarter million ringgit, but I’ve seen enough demo videos – and with colleagues also attesting to that fact – to believe it works.
Standard in the XC60 is Adaptive Cruise Control that uses radar to automatically adjust the cruising speed when it approaches a slower vehicle in the same lane.
Like most premium vehicles, the XC60 comes with a start-stop keyless ignition. Nonetheless, you’re also supplied with a key fob that does more than just remotely lock and unlock doors. Volvo calls it the Personal Car Communicator (PCC).
Keep the PCC about your person and the car will detect its proximity, unlock the car automatically and allow you to start the car with a push of the button.
I wish I had a dollar for every time I walked away from a parked car only to have to walk back to see if I actually locked it or not. With the PCC you can check whether the doors have been locked from a distance, and even remotely from another city.
Coming back to the car, you can use the PCC to check on its security and alarm status, whether it has been broken into, or the windows smashed.
A heartbeat sensor will also alert you if there is an intruder lurking in the car.
Sounds like something James Bond would drive, with laser, radar and intruder sensors.
The XC60 encompasses all that is good in a modern and efficient SUV. It has security and safety features that make it one of the safest cars on the planet.
With innovative Swedish design that exudes sleek, urban sophistication, you don’t have to drive boxy SUVs that look like they belong in an Iraqi war zone.
It will appeal to both mums and dads as it has features to satisfy both. Likewise, the kids will feel special too as the XC60 also gives priority to child safety.
An XC60 accessories package has also been put together if you want more gadgets and enhancements. The standard XC60 2.0T goes for RM281,950 without insurance.