New Volvo points the way to a bright future
HE choice in mid-sized SUVS is astonishing and more and more sophisticated takes on this lucrative styling trend keep appearing. Some are better than others and one of the best has to be the Volvo XC60. The XC60 is Volvo’s second generation of premium mid SUV and is packed with the latest technology, ideas and, very importantly, connectivity. It is also the first of the company’s 60 series to showcase a new design language and is structured on the latest Scalable Product Architecture platform. Driven was the D4 AWD Inscription Pro model, the all singing all dancing flagship sector of the XC60 which tips the price scale at more than £43,000 with a bit more on top for some very tasty extras. Paying such a tidy sum means that a lot is expected from the chosen vehicle and this one certainly delivers. Although Volvo is Chinese owned the XC60 is Scandinavian through and through. Built on its home territory of Gothenburg, Sweden, it majors on premium, natural materials and skilled craftsmanship. It has a character all of its own and is no tribute act to anything else on the market. Much of the control and connectivity is centre on the Sensus control system which is virtually an ipad set into the dash. This handles some controls, entertainment, navigation plus connectivity and is very user friendly. This is in conjunction with a virtual display dashboard, heated front seats, two-zone climate control, electrically-adjustable seats, a power tilt and slide panoramic sunroof, smartphone connectivity via Applecarplay or Android Auto, and a wi-fi hotspot. It is powered by a 2.0-litre 190bhp diesel engine mated to an eight-speed automatic transmission enabling the car to reach 127mph and sprint to 62mph is 8.4 seconds. It features a combined fuel economy of 51.4mpg with carbon emissions of 133g/km. Effortless power and driving enjoyment apart, this model, like all Volvos is focused on safety. It is stacked with driver aid systems to help prevent accidents from happening or protect occupants and pedestrians alike should one occur. These systems include blind spot warning, cross traffic alert, adaptive cruise control, rear collision mitigation, city safety with steer assist which includes pedestrian, cyclist and large animal detection, oncoming lane mitigation, run-off road protection and pilot assist which can automatically steer the car up to speeds of 80mph accelerating and braking with the flow of traffic. All in all one of the most significant of all modern Volvos and one which points the way to a glittering future for the marque.