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Sam Charlwood12 Jun 2019
REVIEW

Volvo XC60 2019 Review Long-term Test #2

The long-term XC60 hits the open road on a wine-seeking adventure
Review Type
Long-Term Test
Review Location
Update #2

Let’s be honest: there is a gaping chasm between the way we romanticise about the open road and the reality we are often presented with.

Visions of driving off into the sunset might appear all well and good when you’re planning an adventure from the comfort of your lounge room, but reality soon sets in once behind the wheel.

From the at-times questionable tactics of speed-obsessed police to the dodgy service station toilets, impatient passengers, fatigue and modern day time pressures, adventures by car can often be tedious and stressful.

But as travel companions go, the Volvo XC60 delights like a jumbo-sized packet of beef jerky.

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This particular adventure – one of many across our long-term tenure with Volvo’s popular mid-sizer – takes us from Sydney to Orange, the back way.

The faithful ‘Crystal White’ XC60 D5 R-Design has just had a wash, vacuum and its oil level, washer fluid and tyre pressures checked; and after quick game of Tetris, is loaded to the hilt with all the paraphernalia for two adults and a child for a weekend away.

City limits

Anyone native to Sydney or Melbourne would appreciate the delights of peak-hour traffic, especially on a Friday afternoon.

Nonetheless, we amble along the dreaded M5 at 2pm to make our way south toward Goulburn, before heading inland past Crookwell, Tuena, Barry and Blayney, completing the 400km trip at picturesque Orange.

A forced de-tour to Goulburn explains the unorthodox route ,which is otherwise a good excuse to tackle some backroads.

In stop-start traffic, there are few complaints from the D5 R-Design’s 2.0-litre turbo-diesel four-cylinder and matching eight-speed automatic.

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The torque converter transmission resists the binding, hesitating urgencies of rivalling dual-clutch ‘boxes, and the engine is linear and flexible for the most part – the exception being some initial hesitation upon pick-up that is brought about by turbo lag.

A signature diesel grumble permeates the cabin at low speed and whilst under hard acceleration, but fades to a faint background noise at middling speeds.

Elsewhere, the XC60’s 4.68-metre long, 1.9-metre wide proportions are easy to manoeuvre in stop-start conditions, with light, linear steering, excellent body control under braking and steering applications and decent bump suppression that tends to sit on the firmer side of the ledger.

Finding holes in the passing lane is partially restricted via relatively small wing mirrors and a bulky C-pillar imposed by the XC60’s rakish rear, however, the arsenal of safety aids (including blind spot monitoring) keenly keeps tabs on any potential slip-ups.

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Pricing and Features

Once up and moving, the full complement of the diesel’s 177kW and more appropriately 500Nm becomes available – the latter figure available on a bandwidth of revs between 1500rpm and 2500rpm.

The torque-laden engine zings the XC60’s two-tonne heft along with minimum fuss, again using the slick-shifting auto to transition smoothly into highway speeds once we approach Sydney’s ever-stretching outer limits (virtually Picton nowadays).

In the name of fuel economy, I switch the drive mode selector to economy to learn of a clever function where the Volvo essentially disengages the engine and gearbox when coasting – effectively the same way as the neutral gear would.

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On the occasional descent heading south, the car holds its speed (and occasionally increases it with cruise control turned off) down long declines to save fuel. After 120km of this, including stop-start traffic, the fuel tally reads 6.5L/100km combined – marginally above the claim.

At highway speeds, the engine ticks over under 2000rpm, road noise and wind noise are amply suppressed and the body feels planted and well controlled meandering down the Hume.

With a car-full of luggage and three occupants aboard, the diesel has no qualms with the added weight, and seamlessly meanders down the highway.

Similarly, the XC60’s active cruise control is effective yet benign with its applications, making small steering interventions where possible and maintaining good placement behind other cars on the road.

Wine country

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Half a packet of beef jerky into our weekend adventure, it’s time to venture through Goulburn before beginning the twisty, undulating drive towards Orange’s spectacular wine country.

Turning the drive mode dial to performance once out of town, there’s a telling spike in response, both from the steering, engine response and suspension.

The Polestar pack fitted to our test vehicle makes its intentions better known at this point, transferring more pitter-patter bumps through the cabin and reacting more positively to sharper bumps in the road.

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The ride is never neck-breaking and always regains control, but the trade-off elicits much more meaningful weighting from the steering and controls, engine and suspension.

The tauter underpinnings immediately lead to more urgency into and out of corners, the XC60 holding court with well-weighted steering and sitting flat through longer apexes, irrespective of mid-corner bumps.

Out of tighter, uphill corners, there is again a momentary hesitation from the engine brought about by turbo lag, but the gearbox is quick to chime in where necessary and pick up the slack, motoring the 2.0-litre diesel back into its hearty mid-range.

The diesel lacks the top-end oomph of rivalling Volvo petrol units – the T6 immediately springs to mind – but efficiency remains strong: rolling into the Orange, the fuel average now reads 7.4L/100km, a number we continually repeat throughout our long-term loan.

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If anything, one bugbear about range is the digital instrument cluster’s way of predicting the distance until empty. The calculation is predicated on the type of driving you are doing at that point in time rather than over an extended period, and as such, can quickly fluctuate depending on conditions. It’s not always accurate.

The XC60 ultimately lacks the dynamic nous of BMW’s X3, but it’s a lot of the way there even in this diesel form; the engine claims a 0-100km/h time of 7.1sec.

Elsewhere, the XC60 enamours with reassuring braking, smooth weight transfers and easy coverage of the b-grade surfaces underneath. The car’s high-riding status isn’t infallible, but from a touring capacity, it works extremely well while offering a raised outlook of the road.

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Pampered and plush

Arriving into Orange about 30 minutes later than planned (stemming back to the dreaded M5), night is upon us and the conversation has turned to the subject of dinner.

Specifically, good pub grub, of which there is plenty in these parts.

The Volvo’s fuel gauge sits above the halfway mark (71-litre tank) and its occupants are still strangely fresh and comfortable, owed in part to its cosseting interior and excellent ‘Thor of Hammer’ headlights, which cast a strong path of lighting ahead.

That we’ve arrived into Orange feeling so fresh says a lot about the XC60’s touring and general driving ability. It means the biggest decision for our weekend is which winery we’ll choose to visit first.

How much does the 2019 Volvo XC60 D5 R-Design cost?
Price: $75,990 (plus on-road costs)
Engine: 2.0-litre four-cylinder turbo-diesel
Output: 177kW/500Nm
Transmission: Eight-speed automatic
Fuel: 5.6L/100km (ADR Combined)
CO2: 148g/km (ADR Combined)
Safety Rating: Five-star ANCAP

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Our team of independent expert car reviewers and journalistsMeet the team
Pros
  • Design and technology
  • Ride and handling balance
  • Safety
Cons
  • Some engine lag
  • Limited boot space
  • Temporary spare tyre
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