New Volvo XC60 SUV revealed 07 | 03 | 2017
VOLVO LAUNCHED ITS second-generation Volvo XC60 today at the Geneva Motor Show. The new mid-sized SUV will go head-to-head with the Jaguar F-Pace and all-new Audi Q5 when it goes on-sale at Scottish dealerships, starting from around £35,000, in the summer.
Volvo bosses were eager to stress buyers shouldn’t simply see the XC60 as a scaled-down version of the XC90, despite the fact both share the Swedish company’s SPA large-vehicle platform.
The XC60 has a sportier nature and design to it. The driver sits lower than in the XC90, and the sporty nature is further enhanced by the muscular-looking door creases, new grille and extended ‘Thor’s Hammer’ headlights. And when compared against the Q5, the XC60 has both a longer bonnet and longer roofline.
Inside the new Volvo, there’s an uncanny resemblance to the class-leading XC90. The dashboard, seats and upholstery are shared with ‘big brother’, and thankfully Volvo has used the same, intuitive and easy-to-use 8.0-inch touchscreen and 12.3-inch digital dial displays. As in the XC90, smartphone integration with Apple CarPlay and Android Auto is also available.
Safety, as you would expect with any Volvo, is of paramount importance and the new XC60 gets plenty of cutting-edge technology. Steer Assist has been added to the ground-breaking City Safety system. A new safety system called Oncoming Lane Mitigation uses Steer Assist to help mitigate head-on collisions, while Volvo’s Blind Spot Indication System (BLIS) now uses Steer Assist functionality to reduce the risk of lane-changing collisions.
Pilot Assist, Volvo’s advanced semi-autonomous driver-assistance system, which takes care of steering, acceleration and braking on well-marked roads up to 80mph, is available in the new XC60 as an option.
Not surprisingly, the 2017 XC60 is larger than its predecessor: it’s 62mm longer, 12mm wider and 14mm lower. Combined with a 91mm-longer wheelbase, there’s now more legroom in the rear.
When the new model enters Scottish showrooms in the summer, it will only be available with four-wheel drive and with an eight-speed automatic gearbox. As is the case with the XC90, only four-cylinder engines will be available.
The entry-level models get the 187bhp D4 and 232bhp D5 diesels; these will make up the bulk of sales. As in the XC90, there will also be a T8 plug-in hybrid which will develop 401bhp and have an all-electric range of 35 miles.
Those keen for more performance in their XC60 will be able to choose the 251bhp T5 petrol.
The XC60 range will be further supplemented later with the addition of a smaller T4 petrol with 197bhp and a more economical 150bhp D3 diesel.
“We have a strong heritage in designing stylish and dynamic SUVs that offer the latest in technology,” Håkan Samuelsson, Volvo president and chief executive, said. “The new XC60 will be no exception. It’s the perfect car for an active lifestyle, and it represents the next step in our transformation plan.”
Related: Roadtest — Volvo V90 Cross Country D5 PowerPulse
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Jim McGill