VOLVO XC60 CROSSOVER REVIEW

Performance

3 out of 5 stars

Three five-cylinder diesel models are available – the front-wheel drive 2.0 D3 and the four-wheel drive 2.4 D3 and D5. All provide decent pace, but they’re not as flexible as some rivals. There's also a T5 petrol unit, which we're yet to drive, while a four-wheel drive 3.0-litre T6 petrol, which has enough oomph to trouble hot hatches, rounds off the range.
Ride & Handling

4 out of 5 stars

The XC60 comes in both front- and four-wheel drive, and has good ground clearance and large alloy wheels, but either way it’s more at home on the road than off the beaten track. The standard model's steering is a little slow and light, but its ride is smooth. There’s plenty of grip and body lean is well controlled, too. R-Design models sacrifice some comfort for even better body control and sharper steering.
Refinement

4 out of 5 stars

You won't find many more refined cars in this class of car than the Volvo XC60. It's the low levels of wind-, suspension- and especially road noise that make it particularly impressive. It’s a shame, then, that the five-cylinder diesel engines are a little gruff, but the noise is kept distant enough to stop it becoming annoying. The cumulative effect makes the XC60 an extremely cultured car.

Buying & Owning

4 out of 5 stars

The XC60 isn't cheap, but discounts on the list price are readily available and some rivals cost plenty more. You can also rest easy knowing that the XC60's resale values are among the best in the class. The front-wheel-drive DRIVe version gives you good fuel economy, and the reasonable emissions mean it's affordable to run as a company car. The D5 is a bit more costly, but owning the T6 petrol hits your wallet hard.
Quality & Reliability

4 out of 5 stars

Dense, high-quality plastics give the cabin a real feel of classiness, and the XC60 appears built to last and should withstand the rigours of family life. Many components are borrowed from the rest of the Volvo range, so the mechanical bits should prove hardy.
Safety & Security

5 out of 5 stars

Twin front and side airbags, cabin-length window airbags, a strengthened roof and anti-whiplash front head restraints are all standard, as is something called City Safety. At speeds of 20mph or less, sensors in the windscreen can tell if you're likely to hit the car in front and activate a warning buzzer. If you fail to respond, it will brake for you. It won't recognise pedestrians and struggles with motorcycles, but it should prevent, or at least minimise, low-speed shunts.

Behind The Wheel

4 out of 5 stars

There's plenty of leg-, head- and elbow room up front. The superbly supportive seats and two-way adjustable steering column make it easy to find the right driving position. Most of the controls are located on Volvo's snazzy floating central instrument stack, which looks cool, but some of the buttons are a bit small to be easily found on the move.
Space & Practicality

5 out of 5 stars

The rear bench is elevated to give a good view of the road ahead - even for little ones. Specify the 40/20/40 split/fold rear seats with built-in child booster seats and a central picnic table, and add a pair of DVD screens, and we're talking nirvana for fractious nippers. Whip down the rear-seat backs and you're left with a flat floor and a cargo space that goes from a useful 495 litres to a mountain bike-swallowing 1455 litres.
Equipment

4 out of 5 stars

Every XC60 is well equipped. Entry-level ES models come with 17-inch alloys, four electric windows, steering wheel-mounted stereo controls, climate control and cruise control. Extras on SE models include a power-operated tailgate, a USB input, reversing sensors and Bluetooth. Above that, things get increasingly luxurious, while R-Design have sporty cosmetic upgrades.