2016 Volvo XC60 Reviews

Reality check time. Do you really need all wheel drive on your new SUV? Probably not....That's why sales of two wheel drive SUVs are growing fast as buyers analyse exactly what they want from their vehicle and realise they don't need all wheel drive - ever. Volvo has just introduced a two wheel (front) drive XC60 T5 model to its medium SUV range and apart from being the most affordable at $54,150, it is also one of the most enjoyable.TECHNOLOGYIt's because the T5 has Volvo's excellent new GTDi 2.0-litre, direct injection, turbo petrol four cylinder under the bonnet. This is similar to the engine Ford will (eventually) put in Falcon. This engine is the strong and silent type generating a handy 177kW/320Nm, the latter at a readily accessible 1800rpm.It uses a new type of turbo made from sheet metal that is light and boosts efficiency. Drive goes to the front wheels via a six-speed Powershift `manumatic' dual-clutch transmission. It rates as one of the best transmissions in a mainstream car right now with smooth operation and no hesitation as well a fuel economy benefits.SAFETYSafety is of the highest order offering five star protection thanks to a slew of features and systems designed to mitigate a crash or avoid one in the first place. Volvo is (still) a leader in this area and the XC60 T5 has plenty to offer, more if you are prepared to pay for it.Even in basic form, you get `City Safe' that helps avoid hitting a pedestrian, roll over mitigation, stability control, a reinforced chassis, rear park assist and multiple air bags among the safety inventory. A number of optional packages will elevate primary and secondary safety to a much higher level as is the case with luxury equipment.DESIGNThe vehicle is good looking and offers a high level of comfort and surprisingly good dynamics given its height and 1740kg weight. Seats for five are provided with a decent load space in the rear. It will tow up to 1800kg with a braked trailer.DRIVINGWe found the standard spec' test car to be totally acceptable in the comfort department with leather upholstery, Bluetooth phone and audio streaming, an impressive audio system with Harman Kardon speakers, climate control, new centre stack, cruise, rain sensor, auto lights and 17-inch alloys. Start ticking the boxes and you can customise your T5 to your hearts content - well almost.We wouldn't bother. At 8.7-litres/100km from the GTDi engine, the benefit of turbodiesel begins to come into question. We actually bettered this figure with freeway and urban driving. Performance is strong across a wide rev range and the engine is practically imperceptible at any speed. It's good for an 8.1 second 0-100kmh sprint and passes Euro 5 emissions regulations.VERDICTWe have driven a few examples of the XC60 in the past including the diesel and this one is the pick unless you really must have all wheel drive for towing a boat up a ramp. So what you have here is an alternative to the other prestige European mid-size SUVs or wagons at a considerable saving.VOLVO XC60 T5 2WDPrice: $54,150Engine: 2.0-litre 4-cyl turbo-petrol, 177kW/320NmTrans: Six-speed dual-clutch automaticEconomy: 8.7-litres/100kmCrash rating: 5 stars

FORD'S F-150, a staple diet for truck-mad Americans either hauling loads or thinking about hauling loads, is trimming its muscles.It’s 5-litre V8 engine - once as popular as hotdogs at a baseball game - has hit the skids and two V6 engines are becoming the powerplants of choice.Unprecedented? Yes. Predictable? Yes, given that this is the era of downsizing to scavenge back fuel consumption and reduce exhaust emissions.The fact that Ford's most popular model is doing it - and doing it successfully - confirms that small engines are here to stay. No surprise that others are doing something similar.The latest Volvo SUV, for example, is a 1.8-tonne family wagon now with the option of a 2-litre four cylinder. Intriguingly, it drives only the front wheels.That gives you an SUV with no off-road ability yet all that genre's versatility, practicality, safety and high-ride attitude. To boot, it's cheaper to buy, run and maintain than its 4WD sister models.VALUEThe Volvo XC60 T5 costs $54,150 which is the cheapest on the XC60 foodchain and a good $3500 more affordable than the next cheapest - the slower, thirstier and heavier all-wheel drive 3.2 version with a six-cylinder petrol engine.If you're not planning a trip to the outback or even a lazy spin on the beach, then opting for the T5 is clearly a no brainer.The feature list of the T5 is also identical to the 3.2 and the only real difference is the latter's 2000kg tow rating, up 200kg on the T5.There is a temptingly huge - and not inexpensive - option list available so be careful you don't exceed your budget.Going 2WD in the prestige end of the SUV segment isn't uncommon so Volvo hasn't got the playground to itself.However, in comparison with most, it is cheaper, offers better value (the two aren't necessarily mutually exclusive), has the best safety list and I reckon better suits families, especially those with young children.DESIGNChanges to its front end has slimmed down the nose and brought it more in line with the pretty styling of the S40 and S60 passenger car models.That softens the bulky dimensions of the wagon and, combined with the elongated "S" of the tail lights, give distinction to the Volvo.Inside it's a bit more conventional but full marks to the simplicity of the dashboard and the useful storage spaces.There's a lot of thought put into making this car work for the family. Best is the two booster seats on the back seat. Better, there's two heights for kids of different sizes.TECHNOLOGYI'll labour the point - the 2-litre turbo-petrol engine in this is the same as in the Volvo S60 and upcoming Ford Falcon. It's also in other offshore things, like the new Ford Explorer SUV.It's a great powerplant and, with 177kW, will make a lot of people think twice about believing that big engines are best.Part of its appeal is the smoothness, rapid shift speed and almost lag-free action of the dual-clutch transmission. Some rival companies with similar boxes should use the Volvo unit as a benchmark.The rest of the machine is simple - MacPherson front suspension with multi-links and coils at the back, electric-assist power steering and fat disc brakes.It's good to see that the suspension is the same as the all-wheel drive models rather than pick up a comparatively crude - and cheaper - torsion beam system.SAFETYCity Safety is the system that, at low speeds, will stop the car from running into something up ahead. That could be another car, a tree, a wall or even a person.It's standard on the XC60 range. That alone puts this SUV ahead of its rivals. Then you add the full suite of electronic chassis and brake aids, a five-star crash rating and six airbags.You will have to pay $1275 for the blind-spot warning system and an extra $4175 for pedestrain alert, auto brakes on the adaptive cruise control and a queue alert when cruising busy highways. You've probably just busted your budget.DRIVINGYou'd be hard to pick this as a front-wheel drive wagon. Yes, there are times through sweeping bends where you may feel some lightness from the back end, but it's controllable and even if you stuff it up, the stability control will bring the car back on track.Though the engine is spirited, the XC60 isn't the vehicle for a fang through the hills. But I did it anyway.The biggish steering wheel is the only hinderance to the sports nature of the engine, slowing the steering reaction down and making the driver work the wheel a bit harder than a sedan.Manually picking up the six ratios gets a bit extra performance out of the engine and when downshifting, helps to slow the vehicle. But unless you're really in a hurry, the auto mode requires no effort and is almost as satisfying.The wagon is pretty big - something you feel on the road - and if it wasn't for park sensors could be awkward to park. Volvo provide big seats with wide-grain leather upholstery that is comfortable and durable. Remember that leather can repel lots of natural toxins that children tend to emit but it needs cleaning and moisturising to keep it supple.The XC60 is always comfortable, always quiet - the exception is under hard acceleration - and feels rock solid on the road.The lack of a full-size spare is annoying but given this is a city car, is not as crucial as a 4WD.VERDICTSafety sells and safety in an affordable SUV is even better. This is one of the best SUVs around and it's one of the cheapest. Win-win.AT A GLANCEVOLVO XC60 T5Price: $54,150Warranty: 3 years, 100,000km, roadside assistResale: 69% Service Interval 15,000km or 12 monthsEconomy: 8.7 l/100km; 207g/km CO2Equipment: six airbags, City Safety, ESC, ABS, EBD, EBA, TC.Crash rating: 5 starEngine: 177kW/320Nm 2-litre turbo-petrolTransmission: Six-speed dual-clutch autoBody: 5-door, 5 seat, wagonDimensions: 4627 (L); 1891mm (W); 1713mm (H); 2774mm (WB)Weight: 1740kgTyre size: 235/65R17Spare tyre: Space-saver

CarsGuide has assembled our top 10 motoring snow companions.

There is no escaping the ‘Volvo driver’ syndrome, even in the new and funky XC60 crossover SUV. It's a great little luxury package that fits a family, drives like a sporty sedan and is ultra-safe, as we would expect from the Swedish safety king.Perhaps it is the inherent safety of their cars that makes the drivers think they are invincible, therefore they don't have to drive with much care and attention. Whenever I test a Volvo I become aware that people are staring at me and judging my driving, wondering whether I'm just another ‘bloody Volvo driver’. I therefore over-think my driving and sometimes that can lead to errors for which I am frequently winding down my window to wave an apology.But now the XC60 arrives with so many safety bells and whistles that there should be no such thing again as an inattentive, invincible ‘bloody Volvo driver’.Safety Electronic gadgets such as the standard City Safety function automatically stop the car for you in emergency situations, preventing crashes in low-speed CBD environs.The optional lane departure system ($2075) chimes a chorus of the William Tell Overture every time you stray over a painted white line without indicating, and that is most of the time around my neck of the woods where the roads are covered with white lines for cyclists.And then there is the bright red light that flashes up on my windscreen when I tailgate and there are those orange lights near the wing mirrors that flash when there is a vehicle in my blind spot (a $1275 option). I am assailed by lights, chimes, flashes and warnings. There is no hope of being inattentive.After a while, the first thing I would do when I got into the car was switch off all the safety devices so I could drive in peace and inattentiveness, waving my apologies at the honking, irate motorists around me.Interior And what a lovely environment in which to drive blissfully unaware of your outside environs. It is a scaled-down version of the XC90, but unless you jumped from one vehicle to the next you wouldn't notice it. The cabin feels enormous for the size of the vehicle.The rear passenger area is equally immense, easily fitting three adults, and the cargo area is massive with a flat floor and quality carpeting to keep your luggage and valuables from being scratched. Unfortunately there is only a space-saver spare under the floor.Driving I drove the T6 turbo petrol model and the D5 turbo diesel. While the diesel is about 8L/100km frugal it is rather noisy on hard acceleration and has a bit of lag off the get-go, while the turbo is dynamic and quiet with no lag.Handling is excellent with no caveats for being an SUV. There is no lurching around that you would expect from an SUV and the turning circle and vision is good for shopping centre parking. No real need for the optional rear parking camera, saving you $795. Park assist front and rear costs a lot less at $325, but it's standard on the D5 LE.Outside, it is a handsome vehicle with a nice curve to the hips from behind where tailgaters will be assaulted by the array of taillights, blinkers and brake lights that go all the way to the roof.A great family package for weekday duties as well as weekend fun. In fact, a British magazine has voted the diesel XC60 the best tow car in their market.Volvo XC60 Prices: $57,950 (D5), $64,450 (D5 LE), $64,950 (T6)Engine: 2.4-litre, 5-cyl, turbo-diesel; 3-litre 6-cyl, turbo-petrolPower: 136kW @ 4000rpm (D5); 210kW @ 5600rpm (T6)Torque: 400Nm @ 2000-2750rpm (D5); 400Nm @ 1500-4800rpm (T6) FUELEconomy: 8.3L/100km (D5); 11.9 (T6)Emissions: 219g/km (D5); 284 (T6)Ttransmision: 6-speed automatic, sequential; constant 4WDTowing: 2000kg braked

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.DrivingThe 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 T6PRICE: $64,950 as testedFUEL CONSUMPTION: Average on test 10.4L/100km WEIGHT kg SPARE TYRE¬?SCORE: 80/100Rivals:Audi Q5 (from $59,900): 80/100BMW X3 (from $61,830): 74/100Jeep Grand Cherokee (from $66,690): 77/100Nissan Murano: (from $45,990): 80/100

And there is likely to be more of it so with all the top resorts reporting big falls of crisp fresh white stuff, enthusiasts are dusting of their ski gear and talking snow talk.Carsguide this week takes a look at some of the newer off-roaders and others we think are some of the more desirable partners in snow.NISSAN DUALIS Price: From $28,990IT is a big seller overseas, but the compact Dualis has been slow to take off with buyers here.But it is a competent snow companion. It's not too big, nor too small, has composed on road manners and reasonable soft-road ability.In keeping with the current crop of smaller off-roaders, the Dualis has a wagon-style design, upright driving position and cabin that will swallow a decent amount of gear.The rear seats split fold 60/40 and the four-wheel drive system has a lock function that splits drive 50/50 front and rear when the going gets tough at lower speeds.The Dualis is powered by a 102kW/198Nm 2.0-litre four that delivers acceptable, but not outstanding performance.The Ti gets standard stability control, six airbags and heated leather front seats.Tick: Compact styling.Cross: Still relatively unknown. VOLKSWAGEN TIGUAN Price: From $33,990THE Tiguan is essentially a grown up Golf and takes on all the attributes of its smaller brother, adding all-wheel drive into the mix with a choice of 2.0-litre petrol or turbo-diesel engines.It's slightly longer than the Golf and comes with the 4Motion Haldex all-wheel drive system.There is no low range but the Tig will get you out of most trouble in the snow.One of the impressive things about this off-roader is its handling. Anyone familiar with the Golf will be perfectly at home.Like all VW's the Tiguan is well equipped and gets standard stability control, six airbags and optional hill-descent system.Roof rails are standard and you will need them for a luggage pod because boot space is limited. However, the rear seats do fold almost flat. If you specify leather, the front seats are heated.Tick: Badge and handling.Cross: Luggage space and firm ride. SUBARU FORESTER Price: From $30,990LIKE the previous model, the Forester is a top seller and popular among skiers.The new-generation wagon answers the criticism of limited luggage and rear seat legroom by being bigger and even more practical.However, by growing 90mm in wheelbase and up in overall size the Forester has lost some of that on-road precision that marked the previous model as a standout. Some aspects of the cabin, like the dashboard execution, are not of the quality we expect from Subaru either.Pluses are its size and 2.5-litre boxer four cylinder engines. Subaru build quality is generally good too, as is the constant all-wheel drive system.The Forester has a five-star crash rating and raft of safety features that includes anti-skid brakes, stability control and brace of airbags. Manual Foresters get hill-start assist, which stops the car rolling backwards while first gear is engaged.Tick: It's a Subbie.Cross: Soggy SUV feel. RENAULT KOLEOS Price: From $29,990TO dismiss the Koleos as just a French car over the top of Nissan mechanicals is missing the point.The Koleos is well executed, solid and safe. It has six airbags, stability control and hazard lights that come on after an emergency stop.The "All-Mode 4x4i" all-wheel drive versions also get hill-start assist and hill-descent control.In auto mode, the torque split between the front and rear is automatically determined by the amount of available grip.Entry models are two-wheel drive while all-wheel drive buyers get a choice of the smooth Renault-sourced 2.0-litre dCi turbo diesel or 2.5-litre Nissan-sourced petrol four cylinder.There's plenty of room. The rear centre armrest is removable to allow skis to be pushed through and there are storage bins under the front seats and rear floor.Like the Tiguan, the range topping models with leather get heated front seats.Tick: Better looking than an X-Trail.Cross: Renault badge. AUDI Q5 Price: From: $59,900IT seems that just about any vehicle Audi launches at the moment is a sellout.The Q5 is one of them.Smaller than a Q7, the Q5 has the same off-road attributes in a smaller sharply styled package with good luggage space via the 40/20/40 split rear seats and optional cargo barrier that separates luggage.Two petrol and two turbo diesels are available and the S-tronic seven-speed gearbox contributes to good fuel figures.Audi's permanent quattro all-wheel drive system splits torque 40/60 front and rear, which gives the car relatively neutral handling.For those looking for something bigger, there's the A6 Allroad and the Q7.Unfortunately Audi is becoming just like its German rivals BMW and Mercedes-Benz when it comes to equipment.Tick: Space and diesel.Cross: Expensive options. FORD TERRITORY Price: From $39,490THE Territory has just undergone a recent update to bring it into line with the rest of the Ford range.However, the cabin remains largely the same, and that's not a bad thing. It's good for a family and has seven-seater capacity.The Territory's cabin is well thought out and there is lots of storage space.Buyers have a choice of four AWD models or three rear-drive models.Stability control is standard, as are four airbags and anti-skid brakes.The TS and Ghia four-wheel drive models get seven seats as standard. Mum and Dad will also appreciate the standard DVD player in the Ghia.The reversible rear-load floor and compartment for storing wet items is handy.Tick: Practical and good looking.Cross: Getting on despite update. VOLVO XC60 Price: From $57,950THE XC60 is one of the best handling Volvo wagons around and one of the most attractive.The new City Safety feature is more than just a gimmick. The system applies the brakes if you are about to rear-end another car in low-speed situations up to 30km/h.Other Volvo strengths are the lane change warning system and blind-spot warning system. Volvo seats are renown for their comfort. 40/20/40 split rear seat is practical.There is a choice of either the 2.4-litre D5 turbo-diesel, which is about to be upgraded to a twin-turbo for better economy and efficiency, or the 3.0-litre turbo petrol six.Tick: Styling and equipment.Cross: Rattly diesel. LEXUS RX350 Price: From $81,900.THE RX350 has grown slightly, which translates into more interior room.This wagon, like all Lexus models, is packed with equipment that is optional on its rivals like satellite navigation, power rear hatch and rear reversing camera.The Sports Luxury gets active headlights that follow the curve of the road, plus a heads-up display.The safety package consists of stability control with cooperative steering function (VSC+), traction control, anti-skid brakes, electronic brake-force distribution and brake assist.There is also, hill-start assist, 10 airbags and a first-aid kit.The rear seats split 40/20/40 and there is a wet-storage area in the luggage load floor. Thule luggage pods are also available.Tick: Standard equipment.Cross: Looks bloated. MAZDA CX9 Price: From $51,990It looks big and feels big but once under way, the CX9 shrink-wraps around you.It's well sorted on the road, has a host of safety gear and with seven seats, has plenty of room for the family.The cabin quality is better than the CX9 too.The 204kW/366Nm 3.7-litre V6 has plenty of poke but slurps petrol like a celebrity lining up for a free drink during Melbourne Cup week.The 60/40 split fold rear seats can be released from the luggage area.Tick: Rear seating, quality.Cross: Fuel economy. TOYOTA PRADOPrice: From $48,600THE Prado is the ideal family load-lugger if you need serious space and room for the family.It comes with eight seats and long-range fuel tank of 180 litres.The full-time 4WD system has a low-range setting for heavy off-roading.However only the higher spec Prados get standard stability control, anti-skid brakes, hill-descent control and six airbags as standard so it pays to check the fineprint.GXL, VX and Grande buyers get foglights and roof rails with satellite navigation and height-adjustable air suspension standard only on the top-of-the-range Grande.Tick: Standard and GX lack standard safety gear.Cross: Clunky styling. NISSAN MURANO Price: From $45,990THE previous-generation Murano was a sleeper.In a lineup dominated by the Navara and Patrol, it never really stood out other than a competent family wagon and its soft curves alienated many potential buyers.But Nissan hopes to change that with the new-generation Murano.The styling is sharper, the 191kW/336Nm 3.5-litre V6 a sweet engine that delivers good fuel economy. The packaging is good. The automatic All Mode 4x4-i all-wheel drive system can distribute torque on demand to where its needed.The luxury Ti gets all the fruit, from navigation system to heated front seats, reversing camera, automatic rear hatch and Bose sound system. The 60/40 split rear seats on both the ST and Ti can be flipped forward from the back of the car.Tick: Engine, equipment.Cross: Cheese-cutter grille. RANGE ROVER SPORT Price: From $90,900THE Range Rover brand has a strong following and is the preferred luxury chariot for seriously well-heeled snowgoers.Like the bigger Range Rover the Sport gets the nifty "Terrain Response" off-road system which means you just have to twist the switch to get the required off-road mode.The Range Rover Sport has real off-road capability but we don't think too many owners would ever go bush bashing in the leather-line luxury off-roader, particularly with the stylish 20-inch wheels available some models.The 65/35 split rear seats also have folding cushions and the full-size spare is easily accessible under the car. However, some of the bigger wheel/tyre options make do with a spacesaver.Tick: Luxury.Cross: Reliability.

Or more correctly in this case, a step-down right into the gully for the front of the XC60.This is because (a) the test route, in the flowing scrub-laden hills east of Perth, comprises ball-bearing gravel, and (b) the XC60 is not an off-road vehicle.For the uninitiated, ball-bearing gravel is slippery. Oil has less anti-friction qualities and it's rumoured future gearboxes may use Perth gravel to improve cog smoothness.Combine (a) and (b) and you get (c), stuck.And it didn't take much. Just that slip to the left and the front fell into a gully where winter rains once washed. The rear left-side wheel promptly jammed itself against an incline.Even the Volvo's traction system that proudly boasts the ability to switch power to the wheel with the most traction, couldn't pull it free.It came out after getting a tug from one of the convoy's Land Cruisers but the psychological damage was done — this XC60 was not intended to travel trails.If that was its low point, the new rival for the Audi Q5, BMW X3, VW Touareg and Lexus RX came up trumps with its breathtakingly sophisticated safety features and luxuriant comfort qualities.If this is the `next big step` in car safety, what will Volvo wheel out in another 15 years? The only thing the XC60 doesn't do is steer itself.When a car — or more correctly, the driver — changed from the right to left lane (the one occupied by me), the Volvo went into hysterics.The red light ahead of the driver — the one that flashes on the windscreen when the car figures you're travelling too close to the car in front — illuminated, flashed and then an alarm sounded.If you weren't awake by then, you were when the right foot hit the brake pedal and found it firmed and ready for the boot.That saved the front end of the Volvo. On a smaller scale, sensors will also activate the brakes and prevent the car from accidentally rolling into the parked car ahead of you. That's called City Safety and it's standard on all XC60s, regardless of the model.Many insurance companies — one exception being the RAC in WA — promptly offered premium savings of up to 10 per cent on the XC60 because of the crash avoidance qualities of City Safety.But that's not all the XC60 has. There is a lane change warning — the latter using the same heart-wrenching alarm as the frontal impact warning — that monitors the white line down the edge of the road and senses you are drifting out of your lane.There's also BLIS which is an acronym for cameras that monitor vehicles in your blind spots and can save a bingle in freeway traffic manoeuvres.There are park sensors, too, for parking the unexpectedly large proportions of Volvo's medium-sized SUV.Plus, there are ABS brakes with ESC, roll-over mitigation and protection, lots of airbags, seats that prevent the submarining and whip effects on the human body, and so on. It doesn't get much safer than this and only a complete idiot behind the wheel will come to grief.But how does it drive? Despite its presentation as a medium-sized luxury SUV, the XC60 is 1.9-tonnes and is only 180mm shorter than the seven-seat XC90.It feels — as a Volvo should — about as solid and secure on the road as any luxury saloon.But it reveals its weight through corners. Though it's all-wheel drive, the system powers the front wheels and only drives the back when front slip is detected.Handling is good but it's not really a machine to be hurried.The engine is Volvo's long-standing five-cylinder turbo-diesel unit that has few vices and, despite pulling the XC60's portly weight, economical.The six-speed automatic should get most of the credit because it provides a tight set of ratios that suit the engine's narrow rev range.In the dirt the all-wheel drive comes into play. The XC60 feels as secure on gravel roads as it does on bitumen, enhanced by standard electronic stability control that minimises the front and rear from sliding out on corners.It's also comfortable in a supple, rather than soft, manner with excellent sound suppression over the loose-stone roads.Seating is for five and there's decent foot room in the rear thanks to a low centre tunnel.The rear seats split and fold perfectly flat with the large cargo area set over a substantial wheel well with — unfortunately — a space-saver spare.Cabin treatment is all Volvo with plenty of grained leather, simple white-on-black switchgear and high build quality.The electronic park brake supersedes the awkward foot-operated system on other XC models and is a perfect accompaniment to the car's upmarket presentation.SpecsPrice: $64,450Engine: 2.4-litre, inline 5-cyl, turbo-dieselPower: 136kW @ 4000rpmTorque: 400Nm @ 2000-2750rpmPerformance: 0-100km/h: 9.9 seconds, top speed: 200km/hEconomy (official): 8.3 litres/100km, (tested): 9.7 litres/100kmEmissions: 219g/km (Corolla: 175g/km)Transmission: 6-speed automatic, sequential; constant 4WD

It was only a blow-up Volkswagen Polo, and I was only travelling at 25km/h, but my shiny new Volvo XC60 sensed the potential damage and intervened.It slammed on the brakes and we stopped just short of impact. And it did the same miraculous job a few minutes later as I closed on a moving target, sensing the potential for a nasty crash.This is the magic of City Safety, which is standard on every XC60 sold everywhere in the world.It uses a laser tracking system, complicated electronics and a virtual right-foot stop to bring a new level of anti-crash protection to the world. Other companies have similar systems in development but, once again, Volvo is first on another safety frontier.The XC60 goes on sale on March 1 and is the most important car in recent Volvo history, taking the company into new hotbed of competition in the luxury SUV market. The car is priced from $57,950, with three models up to the T6 at $64,950 complete with a turbocharged six-cylinder motor.Volvo will dig deeper into with the XC60 pool in the third quarter of this year with a starter car priced from around $56,000 with a 3.2- litre petrol inline six.The company is hoping the XC60 will be come its best seller, even overtaking the XC90 family wagon and the S40 which has been its passenger car hero in recent years."It's very important for us. It will be our number two seller, behind the seven-seat XC90," says company chief, Alan Desselss."The most important thing is that it brings a new concept of car to the Volvo range. We have the XC90 with seven seats, but this is for people who would normally have gone into a sedan."It's going to be a very competitive sector. The performance and driveability of the vehicle is first class and last, but definitely not least, is the safety. It's well equipped and the quality is there."When you compare it to the likes of a BMX X3, or a Land Rover Freelander, the quality is superb. Especially in that sector."It's a new direction for volvo. You can clearly see where the brand is now going."Driving Driving the XC60 is refreshing and, in some ways, surprising.The car is light and breezy in the cabin, and also feels light to handle and more responsive than some of its rivals - including the BMW X3.The six-cylinder engine gives it real spark, with steering response and cornering grip that is more like a car. It also stops well.The test car in Canberra yesterday was well loaded, but the biggest surprise was the red lights in the dash advising - through the City Safety system - that the car ahead was too close for comfort. A nice reminder, but . . . also a warning about the real stopping distance in traffic.In a lot of ways the XC60 is like Volvo's earlier C30 coupe. It is moving into new terrain and it breaks the traditional Volvo mold.Safety is a given, and Volvo claims the newcomer is the safest car in Australia with protection beyond any five-star rating from ANCAP, but is the quietness, and the refinement and the quality design and finishing that is the nicest thing. And it is not nearly as ponderous as the XC90.It's easy to say a new car is an advance for its brand and certain to do well, but in this case it's even easier because the XC60 is a sure-fire success.Then again, Audi is just about to uncork its compact Q5 and that is going to make things much tougher for the XC60 than any BMX X3. And by 2010 there will also be a Mercedes-Benz GLK in Australia...

Think safe, sensible and Swedish and you automatically think Volvo.But until recently, handling and dynamics were two words you perhaps would not expect in the modern Volvo vocabulary.The Gothenburg-based carmaker hopes the arrival of the XC60 all-wheel-drive wagon will change that.Impeccable safety standards were a given. Volvo says the XC60 is its safest vehicle ever with a host of passive and active nannies, including the new city safety automatic braking system.But the engineers want street credibility and respect, and that comes only with exacting dynamics and high levels of handling.Volvo looked to Germany for inspiration and modelled the XC60's ride, steering and handling on the BMW X3, according to head of dynamics Stefan Svensson.It is clear this Volvo is aiming high, but the company believes it can also tackle such key rivals as the Land Rover Freelander, Audi Q5, Mercedes-Benz GLK and eventually the BMW X1.XC60 project director Lars Blenwall says designers concentrated on “finding exactly the right balance between sportiness and comfort, for the chassis and for the car as a whole”.He believes the new city safety system, standard when the car arrives here in March, provides another persuasive safety argument.“It is important for us to be leaders in safety,” he says.This device uses a laser beam to automatically stop the car at speeds up to 30km/h if the system's laser detects a vehicle in front.City safety is located behind the rearview mirror and scans up to 6m ahead.If the system detects a crash risk, the brakes “pre-charge” to react faster if the driver touches the pedal. If the driver doesn't brake, collision avoidance kicks in to stop the car.Blenwall says about 30 per cent of all accidents are rear-enders and in 50 per cent of those the driver does not brake at all.Visually the XC60 shares some of its signature design traits with the rest of the XC range: strong shoulder line, rear light clusters, even a 230mm ground clearance to make it look low and sleek.Head designer Steve Mattin describes it as the “boldest crossover so far” from Volvo.“This car is charged with more emotive form and far more energy than any previous Volvo model,” he says. “The XC60 is the next step in modern Scandinavian design.”The wagon also previews Volvo's new face with arched headlights, deep contoured V-shape bonnet and a pronounced grille with an enlarged Volvo badge.The wagon is 200mm shorter than the XC70 but underneath it shares much with that model and the S80.But the car is tuned specifically to handling in a sporty manner. The dampers are 70 per cent stiffer than those in the XC70, the rollbars 10 per cent stiffer and the XC60's steering system is much stiffer and stronger. Front and rear suspension bushings are also stiffer but, according to Blenwall, maintain good noise suppression.The luggage compartment swallows 495 litres with the seatbacks up, 1455 litres with them folded. As in the V70 and XC70, the rear seat is a three-piece 40/20/40 split/fold unit.The dynamic stability and traction control system has been upgraded to include a trailer stability assist system and the roll mitigation device first fitted to the XC90. Hill descent control and Volvo's Four-C adaptive suspension are expected to be optional.In Australia there will be two models — the T6 with a 3.0-litre turbocharged six-cylinder and the D5, which shares its turbo-diesel five-cylinder engine with other Volvos.The 3.0-litre T6 engine is based on the 3.2-litre version used in the S80. It develops 210kW at 5600 revs and 400Nm from 1500 to 4800 revs. This gives a top speed of 210km/h and a zero to 100km/h sprint time of 7.5 seconds.Because of the engine's smaller bore and shorter stroke the turbo has a smaller displacement. This is compensated for by the latest twin-scroll turbocharger technology, delivering fast response low down in the rev range. Volvo claims it is on a par with twin turbocharged engines as far as power delivery goes.The five-cylinder D5 diesel develops 136kW at 4000 revs and 400Nm between 2000 and 2750 revs.It has a top speed of 200km/h and zero to 100km/h sprint time of 9.9 seconds.As with all Volvos, the XC60 is sturdily built, making extensive use of high-strength steel. The ultra-rigid body helps with the chassis set-up and suspension tuning.Weight is evenly distributed between the front and rear axles, which contributes to good balance and traction.Both the diesel and petrol engines are transverse and mated to a fourth-generation Haldex all-wheel-drive system and six-speed Geartronic sequential automatic transmissions.Volvo says the AWD system reacts quicker than previous systems.The MacPherson front suspension and multi-link rear broad track also contribute to excellent directional stability.Local pricing is yet to be confirmed but Volvo Cars Australia spokeswoman Laurissa Mirabelli hopes it will start at $60,000 or less.The XC60, like the XC70, will be available in base and LE models.Mirabelli says the company is looking at several “packs” such as a technology pack that will bundle satellite navigation, xenon headlights, blind-spot information system and Bluetooth; and a luxury pack that will include a panoramic sunroof.A normally aspirated 2.4-litre petrol engine and lower-capacity 120kW/340Nm turbodiesel model are available in Europe but these are unlikely for Australia, Mirrabelli says.The XC60 will also be available in front-wheel drive only in Europe but this is not expected to be part of the local line-up.Mirabelli says the core value of the XC range includes AWD and it is something Volvo Cars Australia is likely to maintain.However, she is quick to utter “never say never” when it comes to future models.“All things are under evaluation,” she says.DRIVINGThe XC60 is perhaps the first Volvo all-wheel-drive in recent memory that you could seriously call sporty.For a large, heavy wagon, that is saying something. Volvo has learned valuable lessons from BMW and managed to give the XC60 a distinctly sporty on-road personality.Everything from the dampers and anti-roll bars to the suspension bushes and geometry are tuned for a more involving feel.Despite using the same underpinnings as the S80 and V70 and Ford's Mondeo, the XC60 benefits from further finessing that results in a well-sorted chassis.The ride on super-smooth European roads is good. Handling is neutral and predictable and there's a sense of spriteliness in T6 guise that belies the wagon's weight.But all those safety systems and high-strength steel come at a price — paid in weight. The D5 auto tips the scales at 1842kg, making it 32kg heavier than the XC70 D5 but 187kg lighter than the XC90 D5. The petrol T6 is 1901kg.Hardly surprising then that the gruff five-cylinder diesel is a slow starter off the line, though performance feels more urgent once the diesel is rolling.The 3.0-litre six is our pick. It is smooth, quiet and accelerates rapidly to freeway speed. Throw a few twisty mountain corners at the XC60 and you'll be pleasantly surprised. There's no hint of the wallowing or steering vagueness that's felt in the XC90 or XC70.The overall driving experience is something we've not seen in a recent Volvo off-roader. It will challenge the perception that the Swedes build safe but dynamically dull cars, and we suspect quite a few XC70 buyers — and even some XC90 buyers — will prefer the XC60 purely for its dynamics.At any speed it is extremely refined, with superb seats and a quiet cabin, apart from some wind noise around the wing mirrors.Visibility is also good despite the shallow glasshouse. Volvo has managed to give the XC60 strength without resorting to thick pillars that obscure vision.Like all Volvo wagons, it has a practical boot and the 40/20/40 split seatbacks add to the car's versatility.The XC60 also ticks all the right boxes when it comes to looks. INSIDE VIEWVOLVO XC60PRICE From $60,000ENGINES 2.4-litre five-cylinder turbodiesel (D5); 3.0-litre in-line six-cylinder (T6)POWER 136kW at 4000 revs (D5); 210kW at 5600 revs (T6)TORQUE 400Nm from 2000-2750 revs (D5); 400Nm from 1500-4800 revs (T6)TRANSMISSION Six-speed sequential automaticECONOMY 8.3 litres/100km (D5); 11.9 litres/100km (T6)EMISSIONS 219g/km CO2 (D6), 294g/km (T6)

More accurately, under its “Vision Zero” plan it proposes no fatalities in Volvo cars. This is the task that falls on the shoulders of Volvo's safety strategies manager, Jan Ivarsson, who runs the company's safety centre at Gothenburg.“Yes, I think we can build the uncrashable car,” he says. “It has been acceptable that people die in cars. In the future, I don't think this attitude will be socially acceptable. You parallel that with aircraft accidents from frequent deaths in the earlier years to very low fatalities today. We no longer accept aircraft collisions.”Last year, 1.2 million people died in car accidents around the world. The data — from intense research by Volvo, which it makes available to its parent company Ford — starts by isolating the actions of the driver.“If you ensure the driver is awake, alert and sober, you have a very good start on the way to minimising car crashes,” Ivarsson says. “Then the driver must have information of the driving environment. This includes making the right road choice for the journey, staying in the right lane, travelling at the right speed, and so on.”But humans can and do make mistakes. Here, Volvo sees that drivers need some assistance.Clearly Ivarsson believes that to attain Volvo's ambitious “Vision Zero” crash-victim plan, the car will have to take over many driving tasks.“Think of it like an auto-pilot in aircraft,” he says. “We would like to have the driver in the loop but in the future, it could be that it is the car that is in control. We make dynamic cars that are fun to drive and a lot of our customers thoroughly enjoy driving. But we recognise that a lot of things start with the driver's attitude and experience.“We shouldn't forget that the factors involved in a crash, however, also involve authorities (road builders, government driver licensing departments, police, etc) and carmakers. We all have a role to play and a duty to perform to minimise car fatalities.”So is Vision Zero workable by 2020? “It's very challenging,” Ivarsson says.That aside, in its path towards Vision Zero, Volvo this week unveiled a raft of sophisticated safety features. Most will be encapsulated in the company's new compact crossover wagon, the XC60, which launches in Europe in October and Australia early next year. Some of the XC60's features are pointers to achieving Vision Zero.The most radical is a low-speed crash avoidance system called City Safety. It will be standard equipment on the XC60, primarily because Volvo is concerned buyers will ignore it as an expensive and seemingly trite option.Consisting of sonar hardware and algorithm-based software, City Safety prevents a car crashing into the back of another at speeds of less than 30km/h. Small fry? Not at all. Using data from 6.3 million police-reported crashes, Volvo found 29 per cent were rear-end prangs.Within those crashes, a huge 75 per cent occurred at less than 30km/h. Put the two together and you see why Volvo is occupying its research and development — or a significant slice of it — at the lower end of the accidents.The reason is that such crashes are expensive to repair, costly when added to time spent by vehicle owners, expensive to administer and police, and perhaps more importantly, can cause injury through whiplash. City Safety eradicates all of that. It could even save the owner money.Volvo, spurred by research by Australian car clubs that spelled out the very high cost of low-speed crashes, is now in discussions with Australian insurance companies. It is quietly confident that owners of Volvo XC60 models can, from next year, get significant premium discounts at selected insurers.Volvo is the first company to devise the system and, after protecting its investment for the next 12 months, will then offer it to other carmakers.It will also roll it out to other Volvo models, and into the Ford group.“It is a very important safety feature,” says Ivarsson. “It rates alongside our other world firsts, starting with the three-point seatbelt in 1959, the catalytic converter with lambda sond (oxygen sensor) in 1976, the seat whiplash system and inflatable curtain airbag, both in 1998. It also reflects our shift from passive safety to preventative safety — it's all about getting it right before the crash.”Volvo officially unveiled the XC60 this month claiming it is “the safest Volvo ever.”This is a car for the family that has all the high-end luxury features in a nimble, attractive package. Though it appears to hit the spot, it soon won't be alone in its market segment.It will rival upcoming compact luxury SUVs including the Volkswagen Tiguan, Audi Q5, new BMW X3, Mercedes-Benz GLK and even a baby Lexus. The market already has the Mazda CX-7, Toyota Kluger, Ford Territory, Nissan Murano and others, so there's plenty of choice.It is 20mm shorter than its sister, the XC70, and lower than its bigger sister, the XC90.It's quite heavy, with a range of 1825kg to 1990kg depending on the model and the fittings, which is on par with the XC70.There will be three engines, starting at the top with Volvo's three-litre in-line six-cylinder turbocharged T6 petrol unit.There are also two five-cylinder turbocharged diesels; the D5 with 136kW and 400Nm and the 2.4-litre 2.4D, with 120kW and 340Nm.There is no four-cylinder option and none will be offered in the near future. However, Volvo says it will launch a hybrid within five years, which is likely to use a four-cylinder engine and be inserted into an SUV model. How a sensor will stop you crashingCity Safety is obvious externally only by the peepholes at the centre top of the windscreen. These give the laser sensors their view of the road ahead and can detect vehicles and other objects up to 10m from the car's front bumper.The sensors use a complex computer software program that has access to the car's brakes, therefore overriding the driver. At its safety centre south of Gothenburg on Sweden's wintry west coast, the demonstration involved an inflatable “car” parked ahead of the test car — you can't be too sure about new technology.You are told to pretend you are in traffic and to drive forward at 30km/h, which is surprisingly fast, and aim for the 'car.'Closer and closer, I'm desperately preventing a jump on to the brake pedal. At a point that feels too late to stop, the brakes suddenly grip hard. The noise of the system as it engages its ABS brake system shocks me. Combined with the sudden stop, I'm quickly alert and move my foot to depress the brake pedal.The system will only hold the car for 1-2 seconds, figuring correctly that I'm now awake. The abruptness and noise is deliberate.It stops the car quickly and ensures the driver knows exactly what's going on. If it was a graduated process, I'm told, the driver would become complacent.It will be standard on the XC60 early next year and other Volvos later. SnapshotVolvo XC60On sale in Australia: March 2009Price: TBA — expected in the $49,000-$62,000 rangeEngine: T6 3L/6-cylinder turbo 210kW/400Nm; 2.4L/5-cyl turbo-diesel D5 136kW/400Nm, 2.4L/5-cyl 2.4D 120kW/340NmEconomy: 0-100km/h: 7.5sec (T6); 9.9sec (D5); 10.9sec (2.4D)