Volvo XC60 Review

Upward mobility. It's not an uncommon or unworthy quest in life and it's something Volvo has worked tirelessly to achieve over the past few years.

Not all that long ago, the Swedish brand was viewed very much as a cut-price alternative to the premium German trident of Audi, BMW and Mercedes. Well, these days Volvo is no longer knocking on the door of that exclusive club – it's partying hard inside.

Of course, when you're no longer significantly cheaper than your rivals there’s no excuse for not being as good or better, and that's the challenge faced by the Volvo XC60. Based on the same platform that underpins the company’s flagship XC90, the XC60 is almost as wide but shorter and several thousands of pounds cheaper.

The original XC60 ('08-16) was a big hit and even picked up our SUV of the Year award. However, this latest model is up against much tougher competition than its predecessor, the best of which includes the Audi Q5 and the Land Rover Discovery Sport.

Is the XC60 up to the challenge? What are its strengths and weaknesses? And which engines and trims make the most sense? Read on over the next few pages for all the answers.

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