2017 Volvo XC60 Road Test and Review

2016 Volvo XC60 exterior profile ・ Photo by Carrie Kim

The 2017 Volvo XC60 is a stylish, small(ish) crossover with an impressive suite of standard safety features. It’s getting a little dated since its big brother XC90 hit the scene with a complete redesign in 2015, but the XC60 is still relevant in a heavily saturated — and highly competitive — segment. The Volvo XC60 can appeal to a wide range of buyers: families with small children, active couples looking for all-terrain capabilities and even empty nesters who are looking for a luxurious, comfortable ride. Read on to see if the Volvo XC60 is a good fit for you.

Hard Act to Follow

A new bar was set once Volvo released their larger 3-row crossover, the XC90; the luxurious crossover has received countless awards and praise since its debut in 2015. Unfortunately, with two more years to go in its current production cycle, the smaller XC60 seems a little underwhelming by comparison. Volvo has updated the XC60 to incorporate some of the more recent features and functionality available in the XC90, but the implementation isn’t nearly as successful. The XC60’s infotainment system is complicated and the interior design lacks the wow-factor of the XC90, but we’re confident that the Scandinavians will up the XC60’s game once it gets its proper re-imagineering.

Photo by Volvo

XC60 on the Road

The good news is, when you take the XC60 out for a drive, there’s nothing “old” or complicated about it. The XC60 is refined and steady — but don’t mistake that for boring; the T6 R-Design we tested had a 2.0-liter supercharged and turbocharged direct injected engine that made 316-hp with 295 lb.-ft. of torque. The twin charged engine is sprightly and the crossover feels more youthful on the road than its mature styling would imply. We managed to find the sweet spot between safe and speedy throughout our weeklong test drive. With all-wheel drive options across all trims, the XC60 is perfectly capable for folks looking to traipse through the mountains and terrains found outside daily (sub)urban life.

Photo by Volvo

Improved fuel economy?

Volvo recently introduced the Drive-E 4-cylinder engine, which was primarily designed to improve fuel efficiency. The base turbo T5 version replaces Volvo’s old 5-cylinder engine, while the uplevel T6 turbocharged and supercharged version replaces the old 6-cylinder unit. All versions feature stop-start technology. On paper, each produces impressive power and fuel economy. However, the T6 AWD version we tested fell far short of the claimed 20 MPG city/27 MPG highway EPA estimates. We were only able to average fuel economy in the upper teens when we tested it driving in mixed traffic conditions over the week. This is consistent with our other experiences with the Drive-E engine and had us scratching our heads.

Photo by Carrie Kim

Style, inside and out.

The XC60 is eight years old, but the crossover has aged incredibly well. The silhouette remains remarkably modern, especially with its signature grille and chiseled rear taillights that keep in line with the rest of Volvo’s lineup. The XC60’s sophistication lies in not looking like all the others; many crossovers in this segment take the ultra-sleek route, with rounded tailgates and high belt lines, but the XC60’s looks are far more sinewy.   Moving inside the cabin, the XC60 remains sophisticated and sharp. Clean lines, warm walnut wood accents or piano black surfaces communicate a designer feel. Even though Volvo’s style is notoriously understated, there should be no doubts about its place in the luxury class  — even if the brand doesn’t feel the need to scream it.

Photo by Carrie Kim

Updated tech, outdated interface,

One of the most impressive features inside of new Volvos are the Tesla-like, large tablet displays that feature sharp hi-res color graphics and an uncluttered interface, and actually respond to touch accurately. We think Volvo blows its competition out of the water with one of the best infotainment systems on the market, and when coupled with Apple CarPlay, it’s one of our favorites. Unfortunately, the XC60 is too old feature the most recently executed version of Volvo’s in-car infotainment system, Sensus. The functionality of it all is still there, but the slick touchscreen display is missing and makes accessibility frustrating. Everything is controlled by a rotary knob, and the tedious scrolling can make simple operations much more complicated. This issue is one of the biggest reasons we’d wait until the new XC60 debuts in a few years. Volvo’s done the best they can to bring its buyers all the tech available in its newer cars, but prepare to master a learning curve before getting comfortable with it.

Photo by Volvo

Safety First

As expected, the Volvo XC60 was named as a Top Safety Pick+, the highest possible award for safety in the United States, by the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety. The brand has been known for its “safety first” ideology for decades, but today, we think the availability of its standard safety features is far more impressive than its crash test scores. Most notably, the XC60 comes standard with City Safety, which can automatically detect both pedestrians and cyclists on the road. If they move into your path and become a hazard, the system can brake for you to assist preventing a collision. The system also helps to negate and lessen impact of a crash when making a turn in an intersection. IntelliSafe, Volvo’s suite of more advanced safety features, is available as an optional package. Some of the most helpful features within the system are blind-spot monitoring, adaptive cruise control, cross traffic alert, lane change merge aid and a 360-degree birds' eye view camera.

Photo by Carrie Kim

Family Friendly

Families prioritize safety and that alone bodes well for the XC60. But aside from the ways your most precious cargo is protected in a Volvo, there are a few neat additional features that will appeal to parents, as well. Our family was a big fan of Volvo’s integrated booster seats. If you didn’t know, this has been a feature in select Volvos for over 25 years. There are no extra parts to install, as long as your child fits the height/weight requirements to move up from their child seats to a booster, all you’ll need to do is fold up a part of the seat cushion, adjust to the proper setting for your child, buckle up and off you go! It makes a busy day of errands run smoothly and most of all, kids are happy to cooperate when they feel like a “big kid” in a seat just like mom and dad’s. It’s even better when there’s a play date on the calendar or an impromptu pickup for a fellow parent in a jam — you don’t have to worry about having an extra booster, because there are two built into the XC60’s back seat. We couldn’t have been more pleased. Other coveted features parents will enjoy are the automatic liftgate in back, grocery hook, and spacious cargo area behind the rear seat. Some smaller crossovers have cargo areas no larger than a compact car, but the XC60 has ample room for sports equipment, snack bar supplies or even camping gear for a weekend.

Photo by Carrie Kim

Models and Pricing

Volvo’s naming conventions can get a little tricky, as both the models and powertrains are alphanumeric. To make it as simple as we can, we’ll say this: XC60 is available with three different powertrains, and two different trims. Tackling powertrain first, the base XC60 is the T5 FWD, starting at $40,950. Mid-level is a T5 with all-wheel drive at $42,950, and the top level is a T6 AWD, starting at $46,350. After choosing your powertrain, you can choose between Dynamic or Inscription trims. In layman’s terms, Dynamic models are more performance based, while the Inscription trim showcase the more luxurious traits. You won’t notice much of a price jump if you compare a base T5 Dynamic model versus a base T5 Inscription, but where you will notice a big jump is in the options. The top-tier T6 AWD Inscription we tested was a whopping $66,365 (including a $995 destination charge), which is a sticker price more in line with higher end versions of the Audi Q5 or Mercedes-Benz GLC-Class.

Photo by Volvo

Final Thoughts

There is an elegance associated with a Volvo XC60 that isn’t found in similarly sized crossovers like the Hyundai Santa Fe Sport or Chevrolet Equinox. But when compared to its more direct competitors, the Audi Q5 or BMW X3, it can seem lacking, primarily due to its age. Fans of the brand will still love the XC60 and relish its unique presence within a very crowded segment. After living with it for a week, we can’t say we dislike the XC60, but we are looking forward to the updates and improvements that will come in the next generation of this luxury crossover.

Photo by Carrie Kim