LEISURE DRIVE / Isuzu mu-X 3.0 4WD takes to the hills

luxury and trim of its bigger sibling. It has the same air of minimalism that is present throughout the current Volvo range with most of the car’s media and setup functions built into the vertical-oriented tablet and the interchangeable digital instrument cluster. Similarly, our test vehicle also boasted the surround-view camera system that made parking, even in the tightest spaces, a breeze. It must be said, though, that I didn’t find the sound presets to be as comprehensive as that of the XC90’s but that’s about the only tangible difference that I could pick out from the host of features and functions present.

While the upholstery was wrapped in a welldressed “blond-charcoal” colour, it did show some visible signs of overuse on some touchpoints, despite the SUV’s low odometer reading.

And then there’s the matter of space. Due to the smaller stature of the XC60, it doesn’t have the same seven-seat sensibility of the 90 – even if the third-row is hardly meant for anything more than seating children. Still, the boot is voluminous with more than enough space for a holiday’s worth of luggage.

LAST WORD

The Volvo XC60 D4 Inscription represents everything that made the mighty XC90 such a worthy contender in its segment, in a slightly smaller package. It has an extensive list of luxury and convenience features, the best (in my opinion) engine configuration that the Swedish marque has on offer, and while it can’t boast the added familyguy appeal of two extra seats, it has no shortage of space for a small family, with Volvo’s booklet-worth of safety add-ons to keep everyone safe.

In terms of price, the Volvo XC60 is a middleground kind of buy. Everywhere else, though, is without compromise and for that, I’d say this is easily one of the best Volvos I’ve ever had the pleasure of driving.