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Nadine Armstrong24 Mar 2014
REVIEW

Volvo XC60 2014 Review

The XC60 pays homage to the over-achiever with impeccable road manners and luxurious finish

Volvo XC60 D5 Luxury
Road Test

The Volvo XC60 presents like the star-student in a prestigious private school: Impeccable manners, extensive credentials and a sensible, trustworthy character. Put to the test by many a family buyer, the XC60 is sure to score top marks with its turbocharged engine, ample gadgetry and luxurious finish. On sale now, the 2014 Volvo XC60 range is priced from $56,990 (plus on-road costs).

Volvo ticks all the boxes on the practical SUV checklist, and then some. It brings a level of luxury, safety and comfort that delivers near flawless credentials for a premium SUV.

The baby of Volvo’s XC line-up, the XC60 is far from inexperienced or short on features.

Our D5 Luxury model features a 2.4-litre, five-cylinder turbocharged diesel engine. With this at hand, it conjures 158kW at 4000rpm and 440Nm early in the piece, from 1500rpm. Volvo says it will move from 0-100km/h in 8.3 seconds and has a top speed of 205km/h. It’s matched to Volvo’s six-speed Adaptive Geartronic (automatic) transmission, and for a dash of on-road fun features steering wheel-mounted paddle-shifts.

The D5 is offered in the mid-spec Luxury or range-topping R-Design spec, overlooking an entry-level offering.

And it boasts a generous level of kit as standard, including leather electric seats, power tailgate, electric parking brake, electric wing mirrors and windows, cruise control, a leather-clad three-spoke steering wheel, illuminated leather gearshift, LED daytime running lights, bi-xenon active bending headlights, roof rails, chrome side sills and dual integrated exhaust outlets.

Dimensionally, the XC60 strikes a balance that is very appealing – a high ride position and generous space, without the unwieldy SUV proportions.

Inside, it’s spot on. There’s an understated sense of accomplishment within the cabin – it’s restrained design in perfect proportions. With a focus on beautiful fit and finish and insane levels of gadgetry, the XC60 nails the balance of form and function – it’s beautiful and usable.

Simply getting in the XC60 is a pleasure – it offers a perfect entry height to slip into the seat, and getting children in and out of car seats is easy – no awkward bending or lifting amidst a flurry of struggling arms and legs.

Lusting over the beautifully soft leather and thankful for the brilliant ergonomics, the cabin leaves very little to be desired. From in cabin storage to driver-assistance technology, the XC60 lays it on thick.

The electric driver’s seat offers great adjustability and superb comfort, while cup holders, open and closed storage compartments and indoor storage offer space for everything.

And second row finish is of an equally good standard– a high seating position, combined with excellent space. Storage is also good, with storage in seat back pockets, in-door and in the centre armrest. Two inbuilt booster seats are a thoughtful inclusion for the family buyer while directional air vents located in the B-pillars provide optimal airflow for the XC60’s large cabin.

Fit for purpose, the 40/20/40 split-fold second-row seat provides for a variety of load configurations – even if you have two passengers seated in the second row. Sadly you have to manually engage the fold-flat pews, but that’s where the labour ends in the XC60.

With the touch of a button, the tailgate rises for access to some 495 litres of load space. There are multiple cargo anchor points, a 12-volt outlet and durable cargo cover which easily fits in the cavity boot when you’re not using it.

In-cabin technology and conveniences are teeming, including reversing camera, rear parking sensors, cruise control, power tailgate, auto-dim rear view with compass, an electric park brake with drive-away release, seven-inch colour screen with eight speakers, Bluetooth for handsfree telephony and audio streaming, USB, 3.5mm auxiliary audio and iPod connectivity, a multifunction steering wheel and navigation system with voice control.

If there’s ever a downside to driver assistance and safety technology, it’s only that it can be a little overwhelming – and the kit in XC60 has the potential to stupefy even the most tech-savvy driver. It’s time well spent to get familiar with all the onboard gadgetry before you set off.

On the road the XC60 displays all-wheel-drive poise and road confidence that is perfectly in line with its refined character. The 2.4-litre turbocharged diesel engine feels like a good match and power delivery is predictable. There’s obvious turbo-lag from standstill, but otherwise the mill is capable and brilliantly responsive under power.

And feel at the wheel the handling is commendable for a vehicle weighing in at 1819kg. There’s a nice weight to the wheel that lets you know where you stand, but never so much that it feels arduous. It was perfect for suburban life and challenging parking – further aided by the rear camera and parking sensors which compensated for rearward visibility concerns.

Around town, the XC60 was akin to the teacher’s pet – quiet and obedient. And at highway speeds it held firm and the cabin maintained a perfectly quiet and polite ambience, with minimal noise intrusion.

The XC60 showed-off its impressive cornering ability too, holding tight through corners, with a rigid body resulting in minimal body roll. It feels glued to the road at all times. A credit to the suspension of the XC60, no matter what the road conditions, comfort was uncompromised.

While the automatic transmission does a great job shifting through the gears in a timely manner – seemingly at odds with this cars elegant personality – it was using the paddleshifts where I discovered my happy place.

The XC60 takes on a sassy demeanour when driven manually. It’s eager to rev, but quick to take control as you nudge towards 5000rpm. The paddles delivered fast changes to unleash a more commanding feel behind the wheel. It turned out not a bad way to handle the mid-size SUV, particularly if you like a little more involvement in your drive.

Volvo claims a combined fuel consumption figure of 6.9L/100km, whereas our average, which favoured urban driving, saw a figure of 10.0L/100km.

The XC60 brings a level of safety that is synonymous with Volvo cars. Intelligent and abundant in its features list, the XC60 gains a five-star safety rating.

Standard inclusions are anti-lock brakes, electronic brake-force distribution, emergency brake assist, emergency brake light activation, stability and traction control, roll stability control, trailer stability assist, dual-stage front, side and curtain airbags, whiplash protection system, three-point seatbelts with pretensions and seatbelt reminders for all five occupant placings.

On top of the standard array, our test vehicle is optioned with the Driver Support Pack ($5000) which includes a blind-spot information system and cross traffic alert, driver alert system, adaptive cruise control with collision warning and full autobrake with cyclist and pedestrian detection, front and rear parking sensors, and electrochromatic rear-view and wing mirrors.

The overload of visual and audible warning systems can make for a busy and noisy cabin at times, but all in the name of safety.

So while in the school yard, the conservative over-achiever may be a less desirable trait, on the road, it’s a much coveted title that the XC60 embodies, ever so stylishly.

Volvo XC60 D5 Luxury 2014 pricing and specifications:
Price: $69,990 (plus on-road costs)
Engine: 2.4-litre five-cylinder turbo-diesel
Output: 158kW/440Nm
Transmission: Six-speed automatic
Fuel: 6.9L/100km (ADR Combined)
CO2: 183g/km (ADR Combined)
Safety Rating: Five-star ANCAP

What we liked: Not so much:
>> Excellent ergonomics >> Pricey options
>> Spacious/versatile cabin >> Initial turbo lag
>> Good on-road dynamics >> Outward visibility
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