2010 Volvo XC60 - Review

By Viknesh Vijayenthiran

Viknesh Vijayenthiran

Editor BIO

Vik is an Editor at High Gear Media and contributor for a number of sites within the High Gear Media network. He was a co-founder of... More

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2010 Volvo XC60

Under the sheet metal, the new XC60 shares much in common with Volvo’s S80 sedan flagship. Both the turbocharged six-cylinder engine and Haldex all-wheel-drive system are borrowed from the S80, as are several other mechanical and structural parts.

The 3.0-liter gasoline mill spins out 281 horsepower and 295 pound-feet of torque, and delivers it to all four wheels via a six-speed automatic transmission. The auto’s sport shift mode exploits the engine’s torque to great effect and while there is a slight whistle and vibration that can be associated with the turbo, it’s never intrusive. After all, the pairing of the engine and turbo gives the XC60 a rather impressive 0-60 mph for a crossover, accomplishing it in about 7 seconds.

In most dry situations the XC60 is essentially a front-wheel driver with all-wheel drive coming into play only when required, usually when wheelspin triggers the rear wheels into action. For those interested in taking the XC-60 off-road, it has an impressive 9.1 inches of ground clearance. The electric power steering has been designed for decent feedback and the brakes provide strong performance, and when combined with the standard 18 inch wheels (19 inch optional) provides the XC60 with good handling and stopping power for its class. It tracks smoothly on the freeway, while when faced with twisty trails it can charm the driver into a little fun--especially when coupled with the transmission’s sports mode.

Unfortunately, taking into consideration all driving scenarios, in part due to it being a heavy machine, fuel economy does not impress at 16/22 mpg city/highway which, to put into perspective, only betters Volvo’s own seven-seater XC90 SUV by 2 mpg.

As a crossover, the XC60 needs to deliver car-like handling but also SUV-like space. The XC60 succeeds with a cargo-friendly cabin and mostly comfortable seats. There were a few sticking points, however. In the front there's poor support from the bottom cushions and the front wheelhouses eat into the footwells. The console trim also rubs uncomfortably on the knees. In the second row of seats there's good legroom for two large adults. Note that while the rear seats fold down into a large cargo area, they don’t fold completely flat. Overall, the XC60's interior speaks of quality trim and textures, with lots of quality finishes adding to the upmarket feel.