2018 Volvo XC60 First Drive | Scando Style And Sensibility In A Premium Package
As Europe’s best selling medium SUV the Volvo XC60 has big shoes to fill in its second generation. Even with its advancing age the previous model continued to build sales year on year.
For the new generation XC60, Volvo has adopted the chassis that underpins the larger XC90, along with items like the seats, infotainment system, electrical architecture, and of course safety systems meaning a large car look and feel in a more compact package.
Volvo won’t go unchallenged though as the prestige medium SUV class is bombarded with new models like the recently introduced Audi Q5 and Range Rover Velar, and soon to arrive BMW X3 all making Volvo’s task of getting the XC60 message across more difficult.
Vehicle Style: Prestige medium SUV
Price: $59,990 - $92,990 plus on-road costs
Engine/trans: 140kW/400Nm or 173kW/480Nm 2.0-litre 4cyl turbo diesel, 187kW/350Nm or 235kW/400Nm 2.0-litre 4cyl turbo and supercharged petrol, 300kW/640Nm 2.0-litre 4cyl turbo and supercharged petrol plug-in hybrid | 8sp automatic
Fuel Economy Claimed: 2.1-8.0 l/100km
OVERVIEW
In Australia the XC60 range kicks off from a somewhat surprising $59,990 (plus on-road costs) for the entry level XC60 Momentum D4 and spans all the way to a not insubstantial $92,990 (plus on-roads) for the range-topping 300kW R-Design T8 plug-in hybrid that promises to be both fast and frugal.
In between there’s a T5 petrol, D5 diesel, and T6 petrol with all engines featuring four-cylinders and 2.0-litre capacity, despite their numerical designations. Specification starts with Momentum onto the more plush Inscription (both available with D4 and T5 engines) while the sporty R-Design can be had with more powerful D5, T6 and T8 engines (see On The Road for more info).