- Doors and Seats
5 doors, 5 seats
- Engine
2.0DTT, 4 cyl.
- Engine Power
173kW, 480Nm
- Fuel
Diesel 5.6L/100KM
- Manufacturer
4WD
- Transmission
Auto
- Warranty
3 Yr, Unltd KMs
- Ancap Safety
5/5 star (2017)
Volvo XC60 Sweet Spot Review
- Stylish design - inside and out
- Top-shelf safety
- Surprisingly fun to drive
- More comfortable on optional air suspension
- Significant premium for T8 plug-in hybrid
- Expensive servicing costs
What is it?
The Volvo XC60 is one of the smartest mid-sized family cars on-sale at the moment. As Drive's reigning Best Luxury SUV under $80,000 champion, the XC60 lives up to Volvo's long-held tradition of blending cutting-edge safety and Scandinavian style in a unique, yet practical, package that is also efficient, comfortable and surprisingly engaging to drive.
This is a car that somewhat banishes the 'Bloody Volvo Driver' perception.
How many models can I choose from?
There are seven variants in the XC60 line-up at the moment, split across three trim levels and stepping-up through various configurations of a 2.0-litre four-cylinder engine.
The entry-level Momentum and mid-grade Inscription are offered with either the base-spec 140kW/400Nm D4 turbo diesel or 187kW/350Nm T5 turbo petrol engines, while the flagship R-Design can be had with either an upgraded twin-turbo D5 turbo diesel that produces 173kW, a supercharged and turbocharged petrol engine that generates 235kW or the range-topping T8 plug-in hybrid that adds a 65kW/240Nm electric motor and makes it the quickest and most efficient model, with the capability of driving up to 43km on battery power alone.
All models feature an eight-speed automatic gearbox and all-wheel drive transmission, a leather-lined cabin and a comprehensive suite of standard safety systems, including seven airbags, automated emergency braking, lane keeping assistance, blind spot monitoring and more.
Even in base-level trim, the Momentum has keyless entry with push-button start, dual-zone climate control, a fully-digital instrument cluster and a portrait-style touch screen with sat nav, digital radio, Bluetooth and smartphone mirroring for Apple and Android devices.
Step-up to the Inscription and it brings larger 20-inch alloy wheels, four-zone climate control, a head-up display and adaptive cruise control, along with additional chrome exterior highlights and light wood interior details.
The R-Design matches its higher outputs with a sportier appearance that includes sports seats finished in higher-grade leather and fake suede, 21-inch alloys and unique body and cabin details.
What do they cost?
XC60 D4 Momentum $59,990
XC60 T5 Momentum $62,990
XC60 D4 Inscription $66,990
XC60 T5 Inscrpition $69,990
XC60 D5 R-Design $73,990
XC60 T6 R-Design $76,990
XC60 T8 R-Design $92,990
*All prices exclude on-road costs
Any options I need to know about?
There are plenty of boxes you can tick when buying an XC60, including more comfortable seats with heating and ventilation, heated rear seats for the kids, supple air suspension, the usual metallic paint and a booming Bowers & Wilkins audio system.
Volvo, however, also bundles a bunch of key goodies together into a series a discounted packages.
Is it expensive to own?
All XC60 variants are covered by Volvo's standard three-year warranty that includes roadside assistance for the same period.
The Swedish brand has recently introduced pre-paid servicing schemes called SmartCare and SmartCare Plus that are available for three, four or five-year periods, costing from $2225, with intervals set every 12 months or 15,000km.
Which is the most economical model?
That would be the T8 plug-in hybrid, which despite being the most powerful and quickest – with 300kW/640Nm and the ability to accelerate from 0-100km in just 5.3 seconds – has the lowest claimed average consumption figure of just 2.1L/100km.
That is a number which is difficult to achieve unless you drive almost exclusively on the battery power, but we've seen averages as low as 4L/100km in the real world when testing the XC60 T8.
Which is the safest model?
All XC60 models come with one of the most comprehensive suite of active driver aids in the business, including semi-autonomous functions like lane keeping assistance and automated emergency braking. It goes beyond others to prevent head-on collisions too by swerving the car back into clear space, and will do the same if it detects the vehicle is going off the edge of the road.
The base-level Momentum misses out on adaptive cruise control as standard, but it can be added as an option for $2500.
Which is the best model to drive?
The T8 R-Design is an intriguing machine that not only offers serious performance credentials but will appeal to eco-conscious folk as well – it's a car where you get to have your cake and eat it too.
Riding on 21-inch alloys and fitted with a Sports Chassis suspension set-up as standard, it is quite an engaging and enjoyable car to put along a twisty road, using the combination of supercharging and battery power for low-rev urgency and turbo charging for high-rev grunt.
However, the standard suspension can be a little brittle over rough roads and we'd recommend choosing the optional air suspension (for $2490) for a broader spread of comfort, compliance and handling.
Should I buy one now?
The XC60 is only just over a year old and there are no major updates on the horizon. Considering the super-competitive nature of the luxury SUV segment right now, there's probably room to haggle with dealers on showroom stock.
Where's the sweet spot?
The D5 R-Design is the model we'd pick – and awarded it as the Best Luxury SUV under $80,000 in 2017's Drive Car of the Year awards – as it is still affordable yet comes fully loaded and the twin-turbo diesel is a peach of an engine, nicely balancing efficiency with effortless grunt.