Over the decades, Swedish automaker Volvo has fostered a strong reputation centered on luxury, performance and safety. For a decade, Volvo was ensconced as a cog in Ford Motor Company's portfolio (circa 1999 through 2009). Currently, Volvo's on the books as part of Geely Automotive, a big player in China although Volvo Car Corp. continues making its home in Gothenburg, Sweden. Volvo is no Johnny Come Lately as the company has assembled automobiles with a strong penchant for safety since the late 1920s. From Latin, Volvo translates to "I Roll."
While Volvo continues producing a goodly number of sedans, crossovers and convertibles, its Swedish counterpart has not fared as well of late. Once a part of the General Motors network, Saab was sold by GM during its massive restructuring to niche Dutch carmaker Spyker in 2010, but the marriage never took sufficient flight. By May of 2011, Saab production stopped and in December of 2011, Saab declared bankruptcy when new ownership could not be courted.
Volvo's trio of 2013 luxury-appointed crossovers includes the XC60, XC70 and three-row XC90. Of these, the XC60 is by far biggest seller in the U.S. (although smallest in size) and ranks as Volvo's second-best selling vehicle in the states behind only the S60 sedan. The XC60 debuted in the 2010 model year as an all-new vehicle.
From the get-go, Volvos were designed to tackle harsh and grueling Scandinavian winters, making it an ideal fit for whatever Chicago's unpredictable weather pattern dishes out. Ride quality tends towards the plush rather than stiff spectrum with drivers staying planted in their seats during spirited turns.
While many entry luxury crossovers vie for consumer attention, the five-door, five-passenger XC 60 includes generous leg room and surprisingly whisper quiet interior where wind and engine noise stay clear of the comfy cabin. It's based on a uni-body, car-like platform, not a truck-like, body-on-frame design. While Volvo markets this as a compact entry, it behaves more like a larger mid-sizer. Volvo is not shy about endorsing XC60's many safety nuances and the fact that it's the only European SUV/crossover with a five-star rating (highest available) from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA). Breakout NBA Point Guard Jeremy Lin, currently driving through the lane for the Houston Rockets franchise, began a series of television commercials alongside XC60 in October.
Two six-cylinder powertrains are offered. Unlike most rivals in the compact luxury segment, no four-cylinder engines are offered. No gas-electric hybrid powertrains are available in Volvo's lineup. The base model features a 3.2-liter, six-cylinder (240 horses) mated to a front-wheel drive train. The second and recommended power source is a 3.0-liter turbo-charged variant (designated as a T6) combined with an all-wheel drive platform and generating 300 horses. The T6 engine and all-wheel drive combo in also available with a sports-tuned R-Design package which Volvo markets as a standalone trim designate (T6 with R-Design). One six-speed automatic transmission services both engines (with illuminated gear-shift indicator, new in 2013). Every 2013 XC60 comes with synthetic motor oil.
Lots of extras are available. Volvo XC60 offers Premier Plus and Platinum option groups in all three trims as well as a climate package and a technology package featuring distance alert, adaptive cruise control and lane departure warning. Notable stand-alone options include a rear entertainment system and built-in, two-stage child booster seats for second row outboard positions.
A recently introduced initiative is Volvo's Safe and Secure Coverage Plan of complimentary scheduled maintenance at 10,000, 20,000, 30,000 40,000 and 50,000 mile intervals for the first five years.
Our tester this week is a T6 turbo with all-wheel drive and a starting price of $40,450, Options included a $4,600 Platinum package (navigation with rear park camera, power tailgate, front and rear park assist and Xenon headlights swerving in the same direction as the turning steering wheel), climate package (heated front and rear seats, heated windshield washer nozzles), $900; metallic paint ($550) and 19-inch alloy wheels for a bottom line of $48,145 with $895 destination charge.
The lowest-priced XC90 with naturally aspirated V-6 checks in at $34,200 (one of the lowest priced six cylinder crossovers in the European luxury crossover segment) while a T6 with R-Design checks in at $44,650. Unlike many upscale rivals, the XC60 requires regular 87-octane unleaded fuel, not pricier premium grade to fill the 18.5-gallon tank. The turbo's fuel economy when coupled with all-wheel drive checks in at 17 mpg city and 24 mpg highway; decent, but not a segment leader. The naturally aspirated engine and front wheel drive XC60 delivers slightly higher numbers of 19 mpg city and 25 highway.
Inside, the cozy cabin is ergonomically friendly and visually appealing. Two-toned or monotone interiors include brushed aluminum trimming in several locations. Our firm and sturdy beige/brown leather seats were trimmed with while stitching. The eye-pleasing instrument panel features two circular gauges with interior digital windows. The left-side speedometer houses an electronic horizontal fuel bar while the right side tachometer includes a digital clock, outside temperature and transmission setting. A power start oval resides high on the dash right of the tachometer. Both the power hatch release and fuel door buttons are up off the floor, located left of the manually tilt-telescoping steering column. The electronic parking brake pull latch is nearby under the left-side dash. A rear wiper comes standard and operates from the tip of the right-hand-side steering column stalk.
Although considered at compact, the XC60 has enough second-row girth to handle three adults thanks, in part, to generous leg room.
Vertically down the center of the XC60, skewed ever-so-slightly towards the driver resides the ventilation and communication interface. This design flows seamlessly downward flowing effortlessly into the floor-mounted transmission shifter. A deeply imbedded display window atop is home to the navigation feed and backup camera. This clear, sharp, four-color multi-use window also lists and rotates through AM/FM and satellite radio stations (six months of Satellite radio is standard). Two dials help to scroll through selections and select desired stations or navigation perspectives. Secondary steering wheel controls also allow drivers to tap though presets. The steering wheel is also home to all cruise control functions. A numbered-pad below borrows the look of a push-button cell phone face with rows and columns of numbers doubling as pre-set audio buttons. Framing the pad are clearly marked buttons for navigation, radio and optional heated seats. Further down the brushed aluminum column is the ventilation region where Volvo artistically blends form with function. A tri-sectioned, push-pad fan direction selector resemble a human profile of sorts with a circular button representing the head/defroster region, and body-type triangular shapes indicating a chest and lower torso floor region. Between the front buckets are dual cup holders with sliding track cover. Rearward is the arm rest/storage bin, home to USB port and power outlet.
The XC60's back end includes stretched tail lights trimming the cargo door's entire length. Narrow side windows and high belt line create a sleek profile, although the diminutive window dimensions don't create unobtrusive blind spots. The spare tire under the flat cargo floor gets ensconced within extra sound-proofing materials to keep the quiet rolling. The XC's towing capacity of 3,300 pounds checks in better than many rivals.
The aspirational compact crossover segment includes many better known rivals including the segment benchmark BMW x3 ($38,500 for a four-cylinder turbo) and Audi Q5 ($35,900 with four cylinders). Volvo's effort boasts a strong personality and welcoming, user-friendly interior and interface.
2013 Volvo X60
Price as tested: $48,145
Wheelbase: 109.2 inches
Length: 182.2 inches
Width: 74.4 inches
Height: 67.4 inches
Engine: 3.0-liter six-cylinder Turbo
Horsepower: 300
Curb weight: 4,012 pounds
City/Highway economy: 17 mpg city/23 mpg highway
Assembly: Ghent, Belgium
|