2013 Volvo XC60 safer than ever

Volvo Car Australia has released an MY13 XC60 crossover featuring a new entry-level front-wheel drive diesel variant and extra safety equipment.

Joining the petrol-powered T5 models, the new XC60 D4 is the second front-drive variant in the range, and will rival popular entry-level diesel iterations of the BMW X3 and Audi Q5.

Priced from $58,490 plus on-road costs, the XC60 D4 model commands a $3000 premium over the other front-wheel drive XC60 in the range, the 2.0-litre petrol-powered T5 model ($55,490), but is $4000 cheaper than the previous entry-level D5 AWD diesel.

Motive force for the new D4 model is provided by a frugal 2.0-litre four-cylinder turbodiesel engine that consumes fuel at a rate of 6.9L/100km and emits 182g/km of CO2.
 
Power output for the 2.0-litre oiler is not class-leading at 120kW, but offers a healthy 400Nm of peak torque and gives the Swedish brand a new avenue with which to attract luxury SUV diesel buyers.

MY13 XC60 models feature a new illuminated gearshift indicator as standard, new model badging, a shopping bag holder and a new colour scheme – Rebel Blue – while large new 20-inch 'AVIOR' alloy wheels are now an option.

Volvo has made available a handful of new optional safety features for 2013 XC60 models, including Active High Beam automatic headlights.

As part of the optional Driver Alert System, it uses an in-built camera to detect the head and tail-lights of other road users, allowing the car to automatically activate and deactivate its high-beam lamps.

Another safety update is Road Sign Information (RSI), which is again an extra-cost option only included when buyers tick the Driver Alert System box. This system also uses a forward facing camera to record road signage, such as the speed limit, no overtaking stipulations and other road rules.

A similar sign-reading system was dropped by BMW Australia because the lack of uniformity in local road signs saw it display erroneous information, including speed limits up to 40km/h over the advisory legal limit.

Automatic windscreen wipers and headlights – with tunnel detection function – are also available as an option on the MY13 XC60 range.

Cementing its reputation as the maker of some of the world’s safest vehicles, Volvo has also improved the City Safety collision avoidance system that is standard on all XC60 models, so that it now operates at speeds of up to 50km/h.

Simply put, if the car's camera and sensor suite detects pedestrians, vehicles or obstacles within striking distance, it automatically applies the brakes to avoid hitting them. The City Safety system is recognised by several insurance companies, including the NRMA, and can reduce premiums by around 20 per cent for Volvo XC60 owners.

So confident is Volvo of its new safety technologies that it claims drivers are 50 per cent less likely to be injured in one of its new cars, compared to a Volvo built in the year 2000.

“Our own, extensive accident database shows that the risk of being injured in one of our latest car models has been reduced by around 50 per cent since the year 2000,” stated Thomas Broberg, Senior Safety Advisor at Volvo Car Corporation.

The XC60 is a strong seller for Volvo but is still not as popular as the BMW X3 or Audi Q5 in the $60,000-plus medium SUV category, with 1331 sales so far this year. The best-seller in this category thus far in 2012 is the Range Rover Evoque with 1635 sales.

MY13 XC60 pricing (plus on road costs):
XC60 T5 auto - $55,490
XC60 3.2 auto - $59,990
XC60 D4 auto - $58,490
XC60 D5 auto - $62,490
XC60 T6 auto - $68,490
XC60 T6 R-Design auto - $78,490

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