2018 Volvo XC60 Review
Car Tested: 2018 Volvo XC60; Road Test No. 888
Price OTR Mumbai: Rs. 70,53,400/-
The Volvo XC60 is one SUV which is hard to ignore because it is this close to perfect!
As I was veering down the East Coast Road from Chennai to Mahabalipuram, the steering turned a few degrees on its own to bring the car back in its lane and that was the Lane Keeping Aid at work. As a public transport bus non-chalantly overtook me from the left, a bright orange warning light lit up on the left side ORVM to warn me of a possible blindspot. As I came near city roads, the Head-Up Display started showing that the top speed on these roads is 40 km/hr. Damn, cars these days come with so much technology and it is overwhelming to see how things are evolving at such a rapid pace. Today, I am talking about a car which made its global debut at the Geneva Motor Show just a few months back, and it has already arrived in India, the new Volvo XC60.
Motor Quest: Volvo cars are very finely built and come with special attention to detail which is what gives them an edge over rivals. While the older generation cars were good too, the company has been churning out very good products which are based on the newer Scalable Product Architecture platform and they have already launched the XC90, S90 and V90 Cross Country based on this platform in India.
[flickr size=”center” float=”medium”]http://www.flickr.com/photos/motorbeam/38939123291/[/flickr]
I am a fan of Volvo’s designs which look quite special
Exteriors – A first look at the exterior of the SUV reminds you of its elder sibling, the XC90. In fact, the XC60 looks very similar to the larger SUV from most angles, especially at the front. The Thor LED headlamps lend an angry look to the car and the sleek chrome grille adds a lot of class. The side profile looks very proportionate with no unnecessary bulk while the rear gets the trademark upswept Volvo tail lamps. There are some good dashes of chrome on the body, but the design is just too beautiful and nothing feels overdone. Honestly!
[flickr size=”center” float=”medium”]http://www.flickr.com/photos/motorbeam/38902945062/[/flickr]
The boot is very practical with a capacity of 505-litres
Interiors – I usually get into the driver’s seat first, of any new car, but this time around, things were different. As our car waited in the hotel lobby, I went towards the boot with my bag and simply opened it by moving my foot below the tail gate. Neat feature, no? As the large 505-litres boot gulped down my small bag, I couldn’t help but lift up the spare wheel cover to check out how things are arranged. The space saver spare tyre can be used for speeds up to 80 km/hr but what I found interesting was the placement of two air cylinders on either side of the spare wheel, neat!
[flickr size=”center” float=”medium”]http://www.flickr.com/photos/motorbeam/24074101247/[/flickr]
Volvo cars have seats designed by orthopaedic surgeons
The interior of the XC60 is just brilliant, similar levels of kit as the XC90
I now jumped into the rear seat which is so nicely designed and well-sculpted, it is almost art! Support for the back and thighs is brilliant and the seats are placed at just the right height, allowing you a good view out of the window. While head room and shoulder space are good, knee room is quite limited and tall passengers will hardly have any space between their knees and the front seat unless the front seat is pushed far ahead. Other than that, no disappointments. While you do get the conventional AC vents at the rear, Volvo has also fitted additional vents on the B-pillars.
[flickr size=”center” float=”medium”]http://www.flickr.com/photos/motorbeam/38902941152/[/flickr]
The XC90-inspired interiors are super awesome
The front seats are again super, good in size, excellent in comfort and support. You also get a good view out from the driver’s seat. The dashboard carries the same styling as the XC90 which isn’t a bad thing. Volvo has used very premium materials for the interior upholstery and it shows. The centre console houses a long storage space next to the diamond-cut engine start-stop button. The doors also get bottle holders and enough space to keep small things and the overall practicality in the cabin is good.
[flickr size=”center” float=”medium”]http://www.flickr.com/photos/motorbeam/24074101757/[/flickr]
The kind of technology that luxury cars offer these days is unfathomable
Talking about the features, I’ll start off with the audio system because, well, this is a Volvo and the Swede automaker has been providing top class acoustics in its cars. The Bowers & Wilkins music system sounds crisp with a variety of settings which help you find just the right balance for your personal choice. As for me, I always select the Gothenburg Hall setting which matches my liking and it sounds extremely good. You also get other features like Ambient Lighting, massage function for the seats, 360-degree view camera, Park Assist, etc. In India, the Volvo XC60 will be offered in only the Inscription D5 trim which means you get all the bells and whistles.
