- What is it?
In its second generation now, the highest selling crossover from the Swedish automaker has a lot more to it than being a slightly shrunken version of the internationally acclaimed XC90 full-size crossover-SUV. For instance, the new XC60 offers a peek into the future of autonomous driving. With an entire infantry of electronic nannies that foresees every second of your drive, the new XC60 is actually one of the safest, no, wait, the safest car you can buy in the country today. And then there’s the highly capable 2.0-litre Diesel engine that outputs a maximum power of 235 bhp and a peak torque of 480 Nm. There’s more, you also get high levels of refinement and a comfortable cabin. Of course, the cookie cutter resemblance with the elder sibling helps garner more eyeballs. Our new Volvo XC60 Test Drive review here should give you a good idea about the latest generation of Volvo’s best-selling crossover.
Looks like the XC90, no?
Well, the new generation XC60 is all about clean and simple lines and plain surfaces.The latest iteration of the Volvo XC60 looks great from almost any angle. Yes, the muscular butch features the earlier generation held have been replaced by more conventional design aiding the aerodynamics. Afterall when was the last time you saw a box attempting to break the world speed record? The inscription grille with adequate chrome inserts looks premium. The Thor hammer-shaped DRL with LED lamps flank the rather in-your-face grille. The side appears longer and the ‘Inscription’ branding can be noticed on the running plate.
Hiding behind the body coloured door handles is the puddle light, illuminating the way for the passengers. The fog lamps stay neatly hidden under the front bumper spoiler. The roof rails come integrated and offer a hint of ruggedness. The customers get a choice of four exterior colors namely – Crystal White Pearl, Onyx Black Metallic, Maple Brown Metallic and Pine Grey Metallic. The 2018 Volvo XC60 rides on 19-inch diamond cut alloy wheels
On the inside, it’s all about a rich ambience and a luxurious decor. There’s enough Nappa leather to put some costlier cars to shame, while the wood inlays further emphasize the focus on opulence. The party trick, however, is the built-in lumbar massage and shoulder massage feature of the front seats. Overall, the cabin is well-equipped and fairly roomy with a huge boot. Taking centre-stage on the dashboard is the giant 9-inch touchscreen that allows you to control everything from the cabin’s temperature to the safety settings. There’s also an excellent 360-degree camera for the park assist and an amazing Bowers and Wilkins in-car entertainment system that offers an aural feast.
How is it to drive?
Internationally, the new-gen XC60 gets a range of new-age all-aluminium motors that benefit from latest fuel injection and turbocharging tech. These 2.0-litre, four-cylinder engines offer a good mix of performance and fuel efficiency. India gets the 235 hp and 480 Nm version that makes the latest XC60 among the most powerful in its segment. The engine comes mated to an Aisin-souced 8-speed automatic transmission that sends power to all four wheels through an AWD system. Even the engine has a neat trick up its sleeves. The XC60 comes with Volvo’s ‘PowerPulse’ feature. Basically, it’s a clever system that stores compressed air and uses it to power the turbochargers as soon as a throttle input is registered. Hence, turbo-lag is almost completely eliminated. Smart, no?
Like we said, the XC60 is among the most powerful vehicles in its segment. No surprise then, that, the new crossover is quick to build speed and offers a rather punchy performance. Power delivery is largely linear and it’s fairly effortless to cruise at triple digit speeds over a prolonged period. The gearshifts are seamless and the Aisin-sourced eight cog tranny offers steering-mounted peddle-shifters. The overall setup leaves little to complain about. Well, almost, unless you can’t ignore the slight reluctance to downshift during a sudden increase in throttle input. You can use the ‘Dynamic’ mode to sharpen the throttle response and dial some weight into the steering wheel.
You’ll never complain about a lack of power and the high efficiency is an icing on the cake. However, the XC60 is far from being the most involving and driver-oriented car in its segment. Don’t get us wrong here. You’ll be smitten by all the modern tech and great build quality right from the second you step into the cabin. However, it’s really not the most driver-focused tool you can buy for 55 lakh-odd rupees. Firstly, there’s little-to-no feedback from the steering wheel. The low-speed ride gets fidgety, too. There’s some body-roll while hard cornering, although there are enough electronics to ensure things never go out of hands. While we are impressed with the power output and high efficiency from a two-litre block, we are sad that this modern SUV is nowhere half as exciting to drive as some of the German rivals.
What’s the hoopla about Class-leading Safety Features?
Among the battery of electronic fortifications that are available on the new XC60 is the new “Steer Assist”. Basically, it is a technologically advanced safety aid that can automatically apply the steering or provide additional steering input in an emergency to help avoid a potential collision. The new generation XC60 becomes the first Volvo to benefit from this feature. Steer Assist acts alongside Volvo’s City Safety suite of safety aids. It uses radar and a forward-facing camera to detect and identify objects in the path of the car. It activates once the driver clearly starts to steer away from an object between 31 and 62 mph, and, if necessary, adds to the steering input and brakes individual wheels to maximise the car’s evasive potential while keeping the car stable.
The second technology is Oncoming Lane Mitigation. This operates between 37 and 87 mph, and is designed to prevent head-on collisions. If you move out of your lane into the path of an oncoming car, the system will warn you of the potential danger by automatically providing steering assistance to guide you safely back into your lane.
The third system is the optional Blind Spot Information System with Steer Assist. This also operates between 37 and 87 mph, and automatically applies the steering to bring the car back into its own lane and away from any vehicles in your blind spot.
Should I Buy One?
Well, the new XC60 is far from being the most involving car in its segment. On the same time, however, it scores really high on the refinement front. There’s really no other car in this class that offers such astonishingly low NVH levels. Of course, there’s also an entire gamut of comfort- and convenience-enhancing features to spoil the occupants silly with opulence. And then there’s the really great build quality that takes the entire experience a notch higher. The excellent 2.0-litre engine takes things even further with its clever PowerPulse feature. In a nutshell, there’s really a lot going for the latest iteration of Volvo’s global best-seller. On sale at Rs 55.9 lakh (ex-showroom), the XC60 is a lot of car for your money. Look no further if you’re in the market for a feature-laden, powerful, and a well-priced crossover-SUV that offers world-class safety.
New Volvo XC60 Test Drive Review – Safety Features
- SIPS Airbags
- Inflatable Curtains
- Whiplash Protection
- Lane Keeping Aid
- Blind Spot information System with Cross Traffic Alert
- Pyrotechnical Pretensioners for all five passengers
- Cut-off Switch for Passenger AirBag
- EBL, Flashing Brake Light and Hazard Warning
- Intelligent Driver Information System(IDIS)
- Adaptive Cruise Control
- Pilot Assist
- Collision Mitigation Support
- 360 Degree Camera
- Park Assist Pilot + Park Assist Front and Rear
- Hill Start Assist & Hill Descent Control
- LED with Active Bending Light
New Volvo XC60 Test Drive Review – Comfort and Convenience Features
- SIPS Airbags
- Inflatable Curtains
- Whiplash Protection
- Lane Keeping Aid
- Blind Spot information System with Cross Traffic Alert
- Pyrotechnical Pretensioners for all five passengers
- Cut-off Switch for Passenger AirBag
- EBL, Flashing Brake Light and Hazard Warning
- Intelligent Driver Information System(IDIS)
- Adaptive Cruise Control
- Pilot Assist
- Collision Mitigation Support
- 360 Degree Camera
- Park Assist Pilot + Park Assist Front and Rear
- Hill Start Assist & Hill Descent Control
- LED with Active Bending Light
New Volvo XC60 Test Drive Review – Images
So, what’s your take on the latest crossover from Volvo India? Share your views with us by penning them down below. Also, stay tuned to CarBlogIndia for more reviews like the new Volvo XC60 test drive review we have here.
