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Volvo XC60 2009 review

EXPERT RATING
8

Australians are gorging on a feast of quality SUVs. The all-wheel drive wagon menu has never been tastier, more varied, or more satisfying.

This week's test is the Volvo XC60, officially Australia's safest new car, but I cannot assess the Swedish SUV without thinking about all the newcomers from the Nissan Murano and Audi Q7 to the latest Lexus RX, as well as benchmark cars including the Volkswagen Tiguan, Renault Koleos, Mazda CX-7 and even the Toyota RAV4. It's a lot to consider and a lot more to digest.

So, to get to the bottom at the top, the XC60 is one of the very best. It's not as flashy as the Murano, or as sporty as the CX-7, and it cannot really go off-road or beat the Tiguan for value. But nothing in the SUV lineup can top the class in every subject, so the Volvo translates solid scores in every single area into a class- leading result. And, as you expect, it has Volvo safety.

The XC60 arrives after several earlier XC efforts, including the giant 90, as one of the very latest arrivals in the SUV pack. It edged out its closest competitor today, the German Q5, but not by much.

Arriving late means Volvo has had a lot of time to do its work on the 60 and the result is a vehicle built up from a super-sturdy basic body and then tweaked with everything from luxury leather and classy sound to a couple of impressive engines and all the safety stuff _ including a City Safety system designed to prevent low-speed city smacks with a driver warning and then automatic braking intervention.

Drivetrains and pricing

The range opens with a turbodiesel XC60 from $57,950, like so many diesel-driven Euro brands these days, and works up to the 3-litre T6 with a petrol inline six. But there is a lot more stuff that can be added to fluff the pillows and pad the bottom line.

The XC60 has the potential to become Volvo's best seller in Australia, although the numbers are taking a little while to build to their maximum. Only 116 were delivered in May, against 154 for the XC90 and 140 for the Q5, but supplies are tight around the world and it's going to take a while to fill the pipeline.

To put the XC60 into perspective, it's a mid-sized SUV _ think Holden Captiva or Hyundai Santa Fe _ but with a big-car fell and a specification which puts it solidly into the luxury SUV category which includes everything from the Lexus and Range Rover to Benz ML and the Porsche Cayenne.

The difference is that it is priced sensibly with a sub-$60,000 start and even the basic turbodiesel has all the suspension, transmission and safety stuff you really need.

I preferred the diesel to the petrol six during a testing preview drive from Canberra over the Alps to Albury, and it would still be the car I would try first. But diesel prices move around a lot, plenty of young families are not convinced on the green credentials and the grotty pumps which often spoil refuelling, and you need to be running better than 30,000km a year to cash the real benefits.

Volvo Australia knows it has a winner, and a value hero, so cannot wait to get fully into stride with the XC60.

"I don't think there has ever been a more accomplished crossover. It offers stunning style, outstanding functionality and brilliant on-road performance - and sets a new safety benchmark not just in its segment, but for the overall new-car market," claims company chief, Alan Desselss.

Driving

The compact Volvo feels solid, secure and safe.

There is just enough trendiness to tick the box, without going over top with fripperies, although the Carsguide test team is split on the Scandinavian wood strip through the centre console. I think it breaks up the all-black cabin of the T6 test car, but Ali says it is contrived and Warren is too trendy for wood in an SUV.

The XC60 returned after an earlier run, but this time it was following the Audi Q5. First impressions count, and the biggest was the price difference in favour of the Swedish model.

But the basic T6 also felt a little drab, and that's probably not the right word, after the luxury look and feel of the Nissan Murano and a Q5 with plenty of optional extras. I have driven a fully loaded XC and it also does the job, but it slips just a little on initial impact when you have the basic model.

But turn the key - or, actually, press the key into the dash to start - and the XC60 does the job, and does it easily and well.

It has more than enough cabin space for five people, it rides firmly with good grip and excellent brakes, it is easy to park - helped by radar - and the dash is simple and clear.

The six-cylinder petrol engine has more than enough torque and power for any job and it copes easily with a little gravel road action. It's not an off-roader, but neither are any of its real rivals.

It's a city and suburban family car and it does the job well. The boot is big and easy to load, it will cruise happily at 100km/h while doing 9L/100km, and the finish is impressive.

I also love the HID headlamps, am less convinced by the absence of a Bluetooth phone connection, enjoy the punchy sound and am won by the safety stuff.

I know the XC60 will be great in a crash, but it's things like City Safety - which is a real driver bonus - and the built-in back seat booster cushions which show how deep and rich the safety vein runs at Volvo.

But, better than that, the XC60 is a car which you would never have to justify. Friends might question anyone who buys a safety-first Volvo, but there is far, far more to like in this one and safety is really just the icing on the cake.

INSIDE VIEW
MODEL: Volvo XC60 T6
PRICE: $64,950 as tested
FUEL CONSUMPTION: Average on test 10.4L/100km WEIGHT kg SPARE TYRE¬?
SCORE: 80/100
Rivals:
Audi Q5 (from $59,900): 80/100
BMW X3 (from $61,830): 74/100
Jeep Grand Cherokee (from $66,690): 77/100
Nissan Murano: (from $45,990): 80/100

Pricing guides

$10,990
Based on 9 cars listed for sale in the last 6 months
Lowest Price
$8,990
Highest Price
$12,499

Range and Specs

VehicleSpecsPrice*
D5 2.4 2.4L, Diesel, 6 SP AUTO $9,680 – 13,200 2009 Volvo XC60 2009 D5 2.4 Pricing and Specs
T6 3.0 3.0L, PULP, 6 SP AUTO $10,780 – 14,740 2009 Volvo XC60 2009 T6 3.0 Pricing and Specs
3.2 LE 3.2L, PULP, 6 SP AUTO $7,260 – 10,230 2009 Volvo XC60 2009 3.2 LE Pricing and Specs
D5 2.4 LE 2.4L, Diesel, 6 SP AUTO $7,370 – 10,450 2009 Volvo XC60 2009 D5 2.4 LE Pricing and Specs
EXPERT RATING
8
Pricing Guide

$8,990

Lowest price, based on 7 car listings in the last 6 months

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Disclaimer: The pricing information shown in the editorial content (Review Prices) is to be used as a guide only and is based on information provided to Carsguide Autotrader Media Solutions Pty Ltd (Carsguide) both by third party sources and the car manufacturer at the time of publication. The Review Prices were correct at the time of publication.  Carsguide does not warrant or represent that the information is accurate, reliable, complete, current or suitable for any particular purpose. You should not use or rely upon this information without conducting an independent assessment and valuation of the vehicle.