Volvo XC60 Crossover full 9 point review
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Performance
Two 2.4-litre five-cylinder diesel models are available – the front-wheel drive 173bhp DRIVe and the four-wheel drive 203bhp D5. Both have plenty of go, and their strong mid-range pull means they're ideally suited to hauling all the family. A four-wheel drive 3.0-litre T6 petrol, that has enough oomph to trouble hot hatches, rounds off the range.
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Ride & Handling
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.
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Refinement
You won't find many more refined cars in this class of car than the Volvo XC60. It's the incredibly low levels of wind-, suspension- and especially road noise that make it particularly impressive. The D5 diesel engine is 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.
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Buying & Owning
The XC60 isn't cheap, but some rivals cost plenty more. You can also rest easy knowing that you'll probably be better off in the long term, because the XC60's resale values are among the best in the class. The front-wheel-drive DRIVe version gives you good fuel economy, and reasonable emissions mean it's affordable to run as a company car. The D5 and T6 look pricey in comparison.
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Quality & Reliability
Dense, high-quality plastics give the cabin a real feel of classiness, and the XC60 appears built to last and withstand the rigours of family life. Many components are borrowed from the rest of the Volvo range, so the mechanical bits should prove hardy.
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Safety & Security
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.
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Behind The Wheel
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.
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Space & Practicality
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.
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Equipment
S models come with 17-inch alloys, four electric windows, a central information screen, steering wheel-mounted stereo controls, climate control and cruise control. Treat yourself to SE Lux and chronographic style instrumentation, leather upholstery, larger alloy wheels, active headlights, a powered tailgate and rear parking sensors are added.
XC60 used car reviews
Volvo XC60 Crossover 2.4D DRIVe SE 5dr
As long as you don't need to head into the wilds, this combination of engine and transmission is the pick of the XC60 range. SE, likewise, is our favourite trim, although S may be enough for some buyers
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