Volvo XC60 Review

Crossover SUVs, thanks to their combination of utility and carlike handling, have become the mainstream choice for many drivers. The Volvo XC60 is the Swedish manufacturer's latest entry. Seating five, the XC60 competes in the growing small luxury crossover segment.

Being that it's a Volvo, you might assume that the XC60 has safety going for it, and you'd be right. There's even a trick City Safety system that automatically brakes the vehicle to prevent or mitigate low-speed collisions. But the XC60 is also a stylish and functional vehicle, and it handles unusually well for a crossover, let alone one with a Volvo badge on the front. It belongs on your short list if you're shopping for a vehicle of this sort.

Current Volvo XC60

The Volvo XC60 premium crossover SUV debuted for the 2010 model year and is available in a single T6 trim level. Its 3.0-liter turbocharged inline-6 engine puts out 281 horsepower and 295 pound-feet of torque. The only transmission is a six-speed automatic with manual control that sends power to an all-wheel-drive system.

Standard features include alloy wheels, power front seats, cruise control, dual-zone automatic climate control, Bluetooth connectivity and a CD/MP3 audio system. The optional Technology package upgrades the stereo and adds a navigation system (albeit one of the least user-friendly in the business). Various other packages tack on niceties like heated front and rear seats and a power liftgate, and additional options include a panoramic sunroof and Volvo's integrated child booster seats.

Safety features are plentiful on the Volvo XC60, including stability control, antilock brakes with brake assist, front-seat side airbags, side curtain airbags and whiplash-reducing front seats. With the standard City Safety feature engaged, the XC60 can autonomously apply the vehicle's brakes below certain speeds to prevent or lessen damage from collisions. A Collision Avoidance package is optional and adds a lane departure warning system, a blind-spot warning system, adaptive cruise control and other driver aids.

So the XC60 is Volvo safe. But you expected that. What you might not expect is this tall wagon's considerable appeal in other areas. In reviews, our editors have praised the XC60's avant-garde "floating" center stack, which is the piéce de rèsistance of the generally stylish and classy interior. Real oak trim is available as an option (metallic trim is standard), and the overall quality of materials is high. The roomy and comfortably elevated rear seat has a convenient 40/20/40-split configuration that reveals 67 cubic feet of maximum cargo capacity when folded.

On the road, we've found that the Volvo XC60 delivers performance that's easily on par with its European rivals. The turbocharged straight-6 provides ample power with no perceptible lag, though it sounds a bit coarse for an inline six-cylinder. Handling is downright impressive, as the XC60 boasts one of the fastest slalom times of any crossover SUV, though it's hampered by numb steering. The only real demerit here is ride quality -- we think Volvo went a bit overboard with the XC60's handling given the family-friendly nature of this segment, and the ride is overly firm as a result.