Volvo XC60 D4 Teknik 2012 Review

Price Guide (recommended price before statutory & delivery charges): $63,490
Options fitted to test car (not included in above price): Heated Seats $325; Personal Car Communicator $1575
Crash rating: Five-star ANCAP
Fuel: Diesel
Claimed fuel economy (L/100km): 6.9
CO2 emissions (g/km): 182
Also consider: Audi Q5 (from $62,200); BMW X3 (from $59,200); Land Rover Freelander 2 (from $44,990); Lexus RX (from $69,400)

You haven’t aged a bit! It’s one of those compliments we love to hear. And in the case of Volvo’s XC60 it couldn’t be more accurate.

The XC60 first arrived on the Volvo portfolio in 2008 and despite some (very) minor cosmetic surgery along the way, is largely unchanged. And in our eyes, the Swedish brand’s compact SUV is still a very attractive vehicle.

New to the MY13 XC60 range, we find not only a punchy turbo-diesel engine, but a couple of updated features aimed at keeping the aging model competitive with rival newcomers. The new ‘D4’ model on test doubles XC60’s current front-wheel drive offerings to two, joining the petrol-powered T5.

The XC60 range now includes as standard an illuminated gearshift, an updated camera (as part of the optional Collision Warning system), revised badge graphics, a grocery-bag holder and City Safety -- Volvo’s collision avoidance and autonomous braking technology -- which now operates at speeds of up to 50km/h.

These features join satellite navigation, an audio system boasting Bluetooth streaming and telephony, power folding mirrors, power windows, dual-zone climate control, leather upholstery (with Volvo’s nifty built-in child booster seats up back), an electric park brake and cruise control.

Optionally, a combined rain-sensor and auto-headlamp function is also available, as are 20-inch Avior alloy wheels (not fitted), active high-beam self-dipping headlamps, and a road sign information system -- the latter pair incorporated in Volvo’s Driver Alert System which also includes adaptive cruise control and collision warning with auto-brake option.

The rest of the car is pretty much unchanged. But then why would you fix what isn’t broken? Since its inception, the XC60 has drawn favourable reviews from the motoring.com.au crew, and with this new engine proving not only strong but efficient, it’s a trend that looks set to continue.

The XC60 D4 on test is motivated by Volvo’s new all-aluminium five-cylinder turbo-diesel engine. The 2.0-litre unit outputs 120kW at 3500rpm and an effortless 400Nm at 2500-4600rpm. It is mated to a smooth-shifting six-speed Geartronic transmission to provide steady acceleration after what’s best described as just a moment’s turbo lag from standstill.

Once on the move, the purposeful-sounding engine revs freely to offer impressive acceleration. Overtaking is a cinch and with excellent stability at speed the SUV feels confident when cornering, too.

It’s not a dedicated corner carver like sports-specific R-Design models, leaving enough suspension compliance to feel comfortable. Over speed humps or crumbling back roads, the XC60 remains composed and impressively quiet.

There’s almost no road or wind noise. In fact the only sound to intrude on the cabin’s serene ambience was the tap of rain drops on the windscreen at highway speeds.

The XC60 is a joy to drive. The controls are communicative and well placed, adding to a comfortable driving position with a good view of the road ahead. The XC60’s sloping shoulder line means shorter drivers may have trouble seeing what’s behind them when backing up, so it’s just as well a high-res reversing camera is fitted as standard.

If we had to complain we’d say the instrument cluster’s polished metal dials can be hard to read when the sun’s over your shoulder. Oh, and the smaller buttons of the centre stack are fiddly to place when you’re on the move.

With excellent oddment storage, a generous cargo area and adequately proportioned seating front and rear, the XC60 is the ideal family car. Add to this an as-tested fuel-economy figure of 7.3L/100km and five-star safety and the package is pretty hard to look past.

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