Volvo XC60: First Drive

"A Volvo that’s a head turner. A Volvo that is invigorating to drive. A Volvo that is exceptionally designed. A Volvo that you want very badly." Till recently, these are words that one would most probably never have used in the same sentence as Volvo, but then that is just how the world spins and today these statements are a harsh reality. Enter the realm of the XC60, a crossover that not only plays the game right, but also offers an insight into the mindset of a rejuvenated company-Volvo.

For a company that has typically dwelled in the realm of building very safe cars that are rather competent but overlooked design as a forte, the change to making exciting looking vehicles is truly welcome. Expressing this fact is the all new XC60, which is possibly the best looking Volvo till date, and a head turner at that! The bold sculpted looks, the taunt muscular stance, the tightly stretched skin all work together to give you a vehicle that is aggressive looking.

In fact its forward leaning design and robust rear make it look as though a wildcat is sitting on its haunches about to launch into an attack. Interestingly, typical Volvo design cues such as the rectangular front grille have been incorporated seamlessly albeit with slight changes which include the little lights placed on the snout. The curvaceous rear flows well with the overall design and complimenting the bold styling are the very sexy looking curved LED taillights. Sitting on large alloys shod with butch tyres, the entire package works its magic and you can’t but help staring at the XC60 endlessly. If this is what Scandinavian design has evolved to, then the Germans have a definite cause to worry about.

The Volvo XC60

The XC60 scores brilliantly in the looks department and the build quality lives up to the excitement as well. The shut lines are impeccable, the body is exudes a high quality air about it and the touch and feel is that of a well crafted tough vehicle that has been build with precision.

Open the doors and you are greeted by a luxurious interior. Top notch materials find their way to the right places to give you a very elegant, yet young and trendy look. Taking center stage is the 'floating' center stack that houses a variety of controls including the audio system, air conditioning, and numerous safety features. Not only does it look good in wood, it takes dashboard style to a whole new level. Further to this, the brushed aluminum trim around the center console and on the steering wheel work in unison with the wooden finish to offer a high quality appeal. The seats are draped in two tone leather that again works extremely well with the interior theme and I should add that the front seats are extremely comfortable.

The airy interiors offer comfortable seating, though the rear bench might be a bit of a squeeze for a tall person such as myself, but overall the interiors are extremely well appointed. A striking feature about the seating at the rear was the fold up 'kiddie' seat which I thought was a neat touch and very 'Volvo' like in terms of keeping the family in mind, even in an outrageous machine such as the XC60. Bootspace is great and the fully flat folding rear seats free up oodles of loading space should there be a need to carry everything including the kitchen sink along with you on a weekend getaway.

The Volvo XC60

The XC60 is an extremely feature rich vehicle and they greet you from the word 'go'.  With its key recognition system, the XC60 doesn't require you to press buttons to open the door. As long as you possess the key on you , the doors will open at the pull of the handles. Once inside, all you have to do is buckle up and push the 'start' button and viola the engine jumps to life. As you set out to drive a plethora of safety gizmos and gadgetry immediately come into play and you find yourself cocooned in possibly the safest vehicle on Indian roads. After all, this is a Volvo and that just happens to be a name synonymous with safety. Having said that, the list of safety features is endless on this vehicle.

I've jotted down some of the major ones, but the features list would actually best detailed out in a book and not this article, so without further adieu, here are a few features that the XC 60 packs apart from the conventional pretension seatbelts, ABS and EBD, there is the radar and camera assist automatic braking, active bending lights that help you see around corners, Roll Stability Control (RSC), Side Impact Protection System (SIPS), Roll Over Protection System (ROPS), Whiplash Protection System (WHIPS), Adaptive Braking lights (ABL), Ready Alert Braking (RAB) and Hydraulic Brake Assist (HBA). The XC60 also boasts of BLIS, or a camera based blind spot information system. Should a vehicle be in your blind spot, the XC60 notifies you with a blinking orange light located on the inside of the A-Pillar. Couple all this together and you are literally traveling in a safety shell like no other, in fact at times I felt that the XC60 is better off in its own hands than in mine!

The Volvo XC60

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Powering the XC60 is a 2.4 litre twin-turbo 5 cylinder diesel motor that churns out 205 bhp at 4000 rpm and generates a more than substantial 420Nm of torque between 1500-3250 rpm. Mated to a six speed steptronic gearbox, the power is transferred to the all wheel drive system and the result is uncensored power that surges the XC60 forward. With minimal turbo lag and a very responsive engine, the XC60 is an engaging vehicle that begs to be driven.

The all wheel drive system coupled with features such as Roll Stability Control and the Continuously Controlled Chassis Concept (Four-C) offer the XC60 the ability to handle like a high end sedan. Its tall stance does not act up at anytime and this vehicle can be pushed rather hard around corners. The steering input is clear and this vehicle just begs to be driven. As far as ride quality is concerned, the XC60’s Four-C system allows the driver to choose between ‘comfort’ ‘sport’ and ‘dynamic’ mode at a gentle press of a button to suit your driving style and need. Further to this, the XC60 can take on a bit of off-roading as well.

It’s not your typical boulder climber, however it can hold its own in the wild. Apart from the all time 4 wheel drive system and the advanced braking technologies mentioned before, the XC60 also comes fitted with Hill Descend Control (HDC) which goes a long way in making it easy to handle the wild outdoors. With such versatility, the XC60 does fit in a niche space that till date has only witnessed the likes of BMW X3 and the Audi Q5.

With newfound determination, the XC60 undoubtedly plans on being the king of the hill. Luckily it has the potential to be there as well. There is a lot working in favour of the XC60 and it starts with the looks. The Germans are a little too conventional in design, when compared to the XC60. Further to this, Volvo has managed to fit in a ton of gizmos and gadgetry which make the XC60 great value for money and by pricing it at Rs. 39.5 lakh (ex-showroom, Delhi), Volvo has hammered in a homerun by totally undercutting the competition, that too with an vehicle that boasts of  such quality and features. Volvo India has a winner, and this is just the beginning, for there is more to come from the Volvo stable in the coming months!

The Volvo XC60