With Volvo, it’s not a case of better late than never.
Volvo simply does “late” better than anything else. It arrived gloriously late to the SUV party years ago with the XC90, its first tall and lanky seven-seat, all-wheel-drive car. And the car was an absolute hit.
It’s the same case with design trends. While others have jumped headlong into flowing curves and voluptuous bulges, Volvo continued to draw its cars out of rulers and set squares.
It’s only with the XC60 that their design team found whatever tool it is you need to create curves on paper.
That “tool” is called Steve Mattin, Volvo’s design director. To him, the XC60 is proof of how it’s possible to be hip, curvy and square – all at the same time.
From the pronounced shoulders to the S-shape tail lamp clusters, the Volvo cues are obvious. But the themes have all been remixed, with elegant curves that bring a sense of volume to the compact SUV.
Scratch that last line. Volvo says that the XC60 is not an SUV, like its previous hit model, the XC90. It’s a crossover. The exact meaning of the term “crossover” is vague at best.
Volvo says the car is targeted at C30 owners looking to move up. (Or cross over, perhaps?) Given the C30’s niche positioning, this cannot be a particularly large pool.
Better to consider the XC60 in the light of others in the crossover bandwagon, which is currently populated by everything from the Nissan Qashqai to the Volkswagen Tiguan.
The party is getting more crowded, as everyone else, from Audi to Ford, is joining the fray.
Going by the XC60’s overall packaging, Volvo is obviously pitching it more against the upcoming Audi Q5 than the humbler Qashqai.
Packed behind that handsomely chiselled face of the XC60 is a plush cabin befitting a luxurious junior executive car.
The materials used are plush, with the floating centre instrument stack (standard since the current S40/V50) dressed up with a drizzle of matt silver and angled towards the driver.
Besides housing the climate control switches, the panel also carries the navigation screen, which is rather neat.
For the Abba-cool Scandinavian touch, the centre stack can be finished in matt wood that looks like fresh timber for NBA basketball courts.
(Not that Abba’s sparkly jumpsuits have anything to do with Mattin’s background; he’s English).
That the XC60 is compact is only relative to the commodious XC90. Apart from missing the third-row seating of the larger SUV, the XC60 is more than enough for a family of four.
The higher hip-point (so passengers sit more upright) frees up plenty of knee room. The boot is similarly commodious, with a useful tonneau cover to keep contents away from prying eyes.
Besides being a useful and good-looking shuttle, the XC60 certainly drives better than cars associated with the SUV moniker.
The driving position may be higher than the usual saloons like the Tiguan, but it’s much lower than the perch on the XC90.
Couple that with the firm suspension and the XC60 betrays surprisingly little body roll.
It handles the tight, winding roads leading up to the hilly bits of Valencia with absolute aplomb.
Volvo has incorporated the variable power steering assistance from the S80 onto the XC60.
Volvo XC60’s City Safety system in action.
As with the flagship sedan, altering the amount of effort needed to use the wheel doesn’t equate to any significant gains in feedback.
The 60 series tyre sidewall profile may have something to do with the steering keeping so mum.
The tall tyre profile may also have contributed towards the XC60’s ride characteristics, which has a cushier edge than the firm suspension would otherwise transmit.
Adaptive Cruise Control is available in the Volvo XC60.
Still, the lack of interaction from the steering – although not a big surprise from Volvos of this kind – dampens the driving experience because the chassis shows plenty of promise.
Even the all-wheel drive, which is the latest generation to feature a Haldex clutch, seems more responsive than the other AWD Volvos, as it takes less time to send drive to the back wheels than before.
The effect is a car that steers as a whole rather than be led by the nose.
Turbocharged inline-6 engine delivers 285hp and 400Nm, but lacks character.
Related to the depth of engineering that has gone into the chassis set-up, the XC60’s T6 engine feels less invigorating.
Sure, top-billing numbers like 285bhp and 400Nm of torque between 1500rpm and 4800rpm from the turbo inline-6 can’t be bad, even if the XC60 does weigh 1.9 tonnes.
In execution, the engine lacks charm. The 6-speed automatic gearbox is at least a willing accomplice to keep the revs up, but the car never quite has the stupendous pull during overtaking as one may expect from 400Nm of torque.
It may have been more in line with Volvo’s DNA to develop a strong five-cylinder engine, with a more eager top-end than what was experienced in the 3-litre here.
Then again, crossovers like the XC60 are more often bought for practical reasons, with a bit of vanity thrown in.
So, the dynamic ability that Volvo offers is already some kind of bonus.
And if it makes it here by January, as planned, it’ll at least get a head start over the other plush crossovers.
2008 Volvo XC60 T6 3.0 (A)
DRIVETRAIN
Type Inline-6, 24-valves, turbocharged
Capacity 2953cc
Bore x stroke 82mm x 93.5mm
Compression ratio 9.3:1
Max power 285hp at 5600rpm
Max torque 400Nm at 1500-4800rpm
Power to weight 150hp per tonne
Gearbox 6-speed automatic with manual select
Driven wheels All
PERFORMANCE
0-100km/h 7.5 seconds
Top speed 210km/h
Consumption 8.4km/L (combined)
SUSPENSION
Front MacPherson struts, coil springs, anti-roll bar
Rear Multi-link, coil springs, anti-roll bar
BRAKES
Front / Rear Ventilated discs
TYRES
Type Pirelli P Zero Rosso
Size 235/60 R18
SAFETY
Airbags 6
Traction aids ABS, DSTC
MEASUREMENTS
Length 4628mm
Width 1891mm
Height 1713mm
Wheelbase 2774mm
Kerb weight 1900kg
Turning circle 11.9m
BUYING IT
Price incl. COE To be announced
Warranty To be announced
+ Handsome styling, premium quality, tidy handling
– Engine lacks character, not frugal, no diesel for Singapore (yet)
