2018 Volvo XC60 review, road test

Luxuriously appointed, smart-looking and relaxing to drive, the new XC60 is a serious contender in its segment.

Published on Mar 15, 2018 02:43:00 PM

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It isn’t the last word in refinement but the engine delivers its power in an effortless and fuss-free manner.

Air-sprung suspension delivers good high-speed stability.

The XC60 may have a bit of its own style and identity on the outside, but the insides are shared with the XC90 and S90 sedan. Given where Volvo has taken cabin design and quality with these cars, this isn’t a complaint. The XC60 interiors will simply bowl you over; open the door and you’ll probably feel the seats are sculpted by an artist, thanks to orthopedically designed contours and high-quality Nappa leather. Premium is pretty much the theme across the rest of the cabin too. Knurled knobs, unlacquered wood, chrome and piano black finish are all used to good effect, and every place you lay your eyes or hands on exudes quality.

The unlacquered drift wood with its ash finish may not be to everyone’s liking – especially if you like the warmth that traditional brown offers. However, it serves up a nice contrast against the tan leather interiors. Wood isn’t used as liberally as on the XC90, but the plastic trim used instead is of high quality.

As mentioned earlier, the interiors of the previous-gen XC60 was button haven, but on the new car, Volvo has done away with almost all of them by using its Sensus touchscreen system. Given the carmaker’s obsession with safety, this does stand out as odd because, despite the screen being large (9.0-inch), you still have to take your eyes off the road to operate it. As a system, though, it’s brilliantly designed.

The sculpted front seats will live up to your expectations. They are extremely comfortable and the only complaint – if you can call it that – is that they are a bit too broad for skinny frames and could do with more lateral support. The front seats have all the expected power adjustments, as well as an extra cushion that extends to offer more underthigh support. The seats also offer heating and cooling function, although at speeds of 2 and 3, the cooling fan is quite audible. You also get a massage function here. Getting into the rear, you will notice that the doors do not open very wide; this can be quite an inconvenience for elderly people. But once you’re inside, you’ll find the seats to be very comfortable, with the right amount of support all round. If, however, you get used to extending the cushion for extra thigh support in the front, then the rear bench may seem a little short. Legroom and headroom is more than sufficient and it’s easy to spend long hours here.

Storage spaces aren’t in abundance but they suffice. The door pockets can hold large water bottles, and the centre console and storage box have enough slots for various knick-knacks. However, if you have a slightly large phone, like an iPhone Plus, there isn’t a convenient place to lay it flat, unless you close the centre console and use the top sliding shutter – but this will mean you can’t use the cupholder.

The boot lid is powered and boot capacity stands at 505 litres; it’s quite spacious and, if required, you can increase the capacity by folding the backrest using the convenient sidewall buttons. Another handy trick is to use the air suspension to lower the rear of the car for easy loading. There is also a 12V power outlet and a space-saver spare wheel located under the floor.