VOLVO REACHES HEIGHTS
Redesigned compact SUV ably combines comfort, performance
The redesigned 2018 Volvo XC60 stands out with comfort, safety and sophistication. Additional features ranging from semiautonomous driving technology to a backrest massage function places the luxury compact SUV near the top of the segment. The XC60 is based on the larger XC90 and is elegantly styled with a bold grille, rounded corners and sweeping lines.
Inside my $71G XC60 tester with the top-shelf Inscription trim level, I found heated and ventilated leather seating that was plush and supportive. The front seats were also equipped with forward seat extensions that increase upper leg support. The rear seats were heated with plenty of foot- and headroom.
The XC60’s compact dimensions became apparent as we loaded up for the three-day trip. First, the positive: the rear seats are split-folding which can greatly increase the Volvo’s cargo space. And a load-through hatch allowed us to keep our skis inside the SUV on a family trip up to the White Mountains during my weeklong evaluation. But our boot bags and lunch coolers quickly overwhelmed the rear cargo area. For this trip, the substantially larger XC90 would have better accommodated our space needs.
A T8 plug-in hybrid powertrain with more than 400 horsepower highlights Volvo’s engine offerings for the XC60. The combination supplied an im--
pressive amount of power, both off the line and up to highway speed. The XC60 is also available with a turbocharged five- or six-cylinder engine. The setup requires premium fuel and the SUV needs to be plugged in to charge the electronic motor’s battery. I averaged 26 miles per gallon in combined city and highway driving.
An eye-catching, solid crystal gearshift knob controlled the XC60’s 8-speed automatic transmission. Beside the jewelry-like shifter on the center console is an equally intriguing barrel drive mode selector finished in textured metal. The drive mode selector allows you to power the XC60 in Eco, Comfort, Off Road or Dynamic modes.
Regardless of mode, the XC60 blends agile handling with a compliant ride quality. I drove the XC60 over some of the same frost-heaved northern New England backroads that I took the Jaguar F-Pace on a year earlier, and the Volvo in the comfort mode did a much better job of smoothing out the bumps. While Volvo’s dynamic mode did ramp up performance, the Jaguar still holds the performance edge on the open road and highway ramps.
My tester’s safety package included Volvo’s Pilot Assist, a semiautonomous drive system that combines adaptive cruise control and a digital camera to register lane markings. The system gently steers the SUV while the advanced cruise control feature detects slower moving vehicles ahead and adjusts the XC60’s speed to maintain a safe distance. The autopilot technology works especially well on the highway, but if I kept my hands away from the steering wheel for more than a few seconds, the system cancels after haptic vibrations and an instrument panel warning.
A black dashboard and center console were highlighted by silver driftwood inlays which contrasted well against rich brown upholstery. The XC60’s leather-wrapped steering wheel had three heat settings. An integrated 9-inch touchscreen is vertical oriented into the center console and featured Volvo’s On Call smartphone integration and also included navigation. A 1400 watt Bowers & Wilkins sound system along with a panoramic moonroof combined to create an exhilarating experience for both the driver and passengers as trees and sky passed by with music cranking through 15 speakers distributed throughout the cabin.
A cup of coffee was in order after a day on the slopes as we cruised home with seat heaters cranked up and the backrest massage activated. While the driving enthusiast might be looking for a little more, I found that the wellrounded Volvo overachieves as an all-around luxury compact SUV with many useful available features. The XC60 starts at $41,500.