Volvo XC60 2017 Review - International

Despite its retina-rupturing rectangular design, the best-selling Volvo of all time is the 200 Series from the mid-1970s. It clocked up almost three million sales. Today, the new XC60 is the top-seller and the all-new model couldn't be more different. It casually grinds the old "pipe and slippers" stereotype into the ground with a striking new design, improved luxury and refinement and of course oodles of safety features. Smart, sexy and safe? Oh ja!

Coming to Australia in October 2017 priced from around $60,000, the new Volvo XC60 is going to impress like a B-grade celebrity turning up to your family BBQ out of the blue.

If cars were operas, the latest XC60 would be a post-modernist romance centred on our rapidly changing society. The story would be about leveraging technology, insisting on safety while doing things a little differently… not just blithely copying the Germans.

Indeed, the composer for this magnum opus wouldn't be Wagner or Beethoven… it would be some bloke called Caspar, an eternal optimist who sees conformism as a flaw.

The XC60 will transport friends and family around in remarkable comfort. It might even stop you running into another car – or possibly a goat – thanks to its advanced sensors and ultimately it's honest about its intentions.

My favourite thing about the car? Probably the primo interior, followed by the fact the Swedish luxo-barge doesn't pretend to be something it's not. The new XC60 isn't trying to be a sports car or an off-road warrior like some of its rivals.

The fact that Volvo has focussed on luxury, refinement and ride comfort work in the vehicle's favour. It's comfortable, safe and relaxing to drive. It's got loads of tech that works without you knowing half the time and it's not overly complex to operate.

Drives like a dream
The first thing that whacks you in the face like a hessian sack full of overripe blueberries when plopping into the driver's seat for the first time is just how luxurious the Volvo is.

The seats are nicely contoured, upholstered with soft leather, and the open-pore timber accents on the dash look and feel great too… but more on that later.

How does it drive? Smoothly. Like a pleasure cruiser gliding over a glassy lake. Honestly, that's no exaggeration. OK, so both cars on this test (D5, T6) were equipped with optional air suspension but even on big 20-inch alloy wheels the cars' supple ride and smooth character stand out.

The way the suspension settles quickly after speed bumps is almost unmatched in this segment and it soaks up pot holes and gaps in the road with blithe competence.

It's not going to challenge the likes of the BMW X3 in the dynamic department but it doesn't need to. The XC60 is about refinement and comfort, not chasing apexes.

That said, the Volvo exhibits good body control when you slot into a corner; body roll is a non-issue. It tracks confidently through corners but its mass is felt.

The SUVs on test weigh almost 2000kg (the lightest model is around 1840kg – still chubby!) and this bulk plays against the car in a dynamic sense. While honking along, it lacks confidence when changing direction.

That's no big deal because these cars work brilliantly as comfy cruisers, but it irked me that cars without the optional air suspension were not available to test. With active air cylinders that can change the ride height and adaptive shock absorbers, the car's clever brain helps provide a magic carpet ride.

But how do the regular models fare without the fancy suspension? We'll have to wait until the local launch of the new Volvo in October.

Volvo Australia has not announced pricing or specification for the XC60 here, but I reckon the air suspension will be part of a comfort pack that'll potentially add another $5000 to the price.

The car has light steering that suits urban driving and make tight turns and parking a cinch. The turning circle is 11.4 metres, which isn't too bad for an SUV of this size, plus it's got front and rear parking sensors and a reversing camera as standard.

The 360-degree parking cameras are awesome -- some of the best we've tested – and help make parking the car a hassle-free experience.

Power, trained
Smooth and refined are the two words that best describe the new XC60 and while cabin quietness and ride comfort are significant in this respect, the powertrains also contribute.

The eight-speed automatic transmission from Aisin – standard on all models along with all-wheel drive – offers quick, unobtrusive shifts and most drivers will never have the need to engage the manual override mode. Our only quibble was in dynamic drive mode: it was too eager to drop gears.

Both models we tested — the 2.0-litre turbo-petrol T6 (235kW/400Nm) and 2.0-litre turbo-diesel D5 (173kW/480Nm) — have enough mumbo to move their bulk with little effort. They're both relatively efficient, with claimed fuel consumption figures of 7.7 and 5.5L/100km for the T6 and D5 respectively.

Our pick is the D5 diesel, which is interesting considering this is the last diesel engine Volvo will ever build, after deciding to axe diesel engines.

Curiously, the diesel is quieter and creamier in operation and will be more affordable than the T6 petrol, which is slightly louder but arcs up with more gusto.

The T6 petrol has a supercharger for low-end boost and a turbocharger for mid- and high-rev grunt, providing a big spread of a useable power. But the diesel has its own party trick, called the power pulse. A small air compressor pre-charges a blast of high pressure (13 to 19 bar) into the turbocharger, for a 50 millisecond blast.

Though short in duration – far less than Audi's electric turbo set-up of around six seconds – the effect is noticeable, making turbo lag almost imperceptible. In other words, it accelerates very promptly from standstill.

A third engine option will be offered in Australia, a plug-in hybrid model based on the turbo/supercharged petrol version, dubbed the T8. It claims to use consume fuel at a super-low rate (2.1L/100km) while delivering mega power (300kW/640Nm). It also has 45km electric-only range thanks lithium-ion battery but this engine was not available to test.

More tech, luxury and interior space
The Scando SUV motivates with more vigour than before but the cabin is well insulated against engine, tyre and wind noise. Ensconced within the Volvo's leather-lined cabin, it was remarkably quiet on all surfaces we drove it on – even gravel.

The XC60 can perform plenty of new party tricks now, including autonomous braking and lane-keeping, and it'll attempt swerve around other cars even if the driver does nothing.

Indeed, Volvo is serious about its vision to see zero serious injuries and fatalities in its cars by 2020 and this one can now recognise and react to a much wider range of trouble. Trouble means other cars as well as pedestrians, cyclists and even animals.

Semi-automated driving is also part of the package Volvo calls "pilot assist". Take your hands off the wheel and it'll still accelerate, brake and steer for you for short periods.

It's only really effective on the freeway and can't deal with anything more than gentle curves but it's a taste of things to come. It's not as resolved as the Mercedes-Benz E-Class or Tesla Model S in an autonomous sense, but it's still impressive.

Perhaps more importantly for many customers, the XC60 offers more interior space. It’s longer, wider and lower than before, you can throw loads of gear in the back (the boot has a 505-litre capacity) and the powered tailgate with optional motion sensor (kick to open) is always a welcome addition, as are the almost flat-folding rear seats that can be triggered via boot-accessible buttons.

If you option air suspension there's even a button in the back of the SUV to lower the rear for easier loading. Neat.

There's a perceptibly roomier feel in the cabin and more width across the back seat will appeal to family buyers. It's got a 14mm lower roofline which gives the car a sportier profile but it also has more ground clearance now.

Magic? Not quite, you lose a bit of headroom but my noggin never got anywhere near the roof, front or back seat.

Family-friendly
New storage cubbies under the rear seats for everything from iPads and tablets to wallets and slim books are a nice touch, but the popular in-built Volvo booster seats in the back are missing. One of the Volvo product bosses said the pop-up booster seats are on the drawing board later in 2018. "Some things take longer than others," was the explanation.

Categorised a mid-size SUV, the XC60 competes against the likes of the Mercedes-Benz GLC, Audi Q5, BMW X3, Lexus NX and market-leading Land Rover Discovery Sport. Where the first-generation XC60 might have struggled to offer a true premium car experience, this new second-gen model nails it.

A very large 12.3-inch digital instrument cluster means the driver gets crystal-clear, high-definition – and customisable – information and vehicle data such as road speed, engine revs and sat-nav directions.

Run your finger along the dashboard and the metallic and timber flourishes elevate this Volvo from luxury aspirant to genuine player.

It's a beautifully designed cabin and a refreshing alternative to current German trends. It's elegant, spacious and just a little bit different, with simple shapes that are enhanced with subtle use of natural materials.

Measuring 4690mm from bumper to bumper, Volvo’s newest SUV is 62mm longer than before and, crucially, the wheelbase has increased which means more usable space for occupants.

The view from the front seat isn't as commanding as the bigger brother XC90, but it still provides a better line of sight than any wagon or hatchback you're likely to drive, allowing you an above-average view around traffic.

There's an airy feeling to the cabin that can be heightened by options such as a panoramic glass roof and a range of seat colours such as white.

It has a more resolved exterior design too, with handsome proportions and a unique attention to detail. Take the 'Thor's hammer' LED daytime running lights that also double as indicators. Anything that combines appealing design and Norse mythology is cool in my book.

Three model types will be offered: entry-level Momentum, sporty R-Design and top-shelf Inscription. You can inject a dose of athleticism with the mid-spec R-Design, which brings a sporty body kit and massive 22-inch alloy wheels if you don't mind ticking the options box.

All the controls, buttons and dials are pretty slick, and there's not too many of them which keeps things simple. Considering the amount of technology available on the car this is an impressive feat. For the techno-geeks there are many menus to deep dive, and the usual Apple CarPlay and Android Auto phone mirroring gizmos are included.

The Volvo of yesteryear is gone and the new Volvo, epitomised by the likes of the slinky new S90 sedan and whiz-bang XC90 seven-seat SUV – both of which rate highly with our team of experts – are here to stay.

You can add the XC60 to that list now. It's more impressive than its bigger siblings in many ways too. The S90 is priced from $80K and the XC90 from almost $100,000, so at an expected starting price of around $60,000 will put the XC60 in a real sweet spot in terms of price and size.

Like an operatic performance nearing its zenith, the orchestra erupting in a crescendo of splendour, this new Volvo is almost certain to get a standing ovation.

Unlike most opera, the tone rarely turns melancholy either… although it could be argued that there's a redemptive element to proceedings here, considering just how pretty this car is compared to the ugly Volvo 200 series.

Simply put, the new Volvo XC60 is an impressive SUV and it will be fascinating to see how it fares against its German rivals in a fresh mid-size luxury SUV comparison when it gets to Australia.

2016 Volvo XC60 pricing and specifications:
Price: From $60,000 (estimated)
On sale: October
Engine: 2.0-litre four-cylinder turbo-diesel
Output: 173kW/480Nm
Transmission: Eight-speed automatic
Fuel: 5.5L/100km (ADR Combined)
CO2: 144g/km (ADR Combined)
Safety rating: TBA