Volvo XC60 Review

Simple but clever cubist shapes dominate their designs and straight lines and bold curves are beautifully used. And the designs work. Furniture company IKEA is a massive success all over the world and Volvo gets the same respect as car makers from Germany. There is no IKEA centre here and for every Volvo sold, at least 10 other Indians opt for various other German cars. This then, the far-from-understated new Volvo XC60 could be just the medicine. Yes, there are plenty of Volvo design cues carried over.

Even Volvo, ever bashful, says this is its safest car ever. Even though this car is a crossover, more high estate than SUV, Volvo will position the XC60 as a compact SUV, placing it next to the Q5 and the X3. Many cars look impressive at a distance. Now Volvo is famous for making super-safe cars, Volvo is famous for being understated and Volvo is famous for making cars that last forever. In ‘comfort’ mode though, the XC60 does roll a fair bit. The big Volvo turns into corners with plenty of enthusiasm, straight-line stability and braking inspire even more confidence and you can really carry a lot of speed into a corner. Closer examination of this Volvo reveals why this system is so effective; it’s a semi-active setup that adjusts the shocks upto 500 times a second.

Also, while the Volvo is relatively easy to manoeuvre in traffic, it is a large car that often shows its bulk, especially when you are trying to squeeze into gaps in traffic.

Clearly, this car is for covering miles and miles at a quick but not rapid pace.

The XC60 is beautifully finished, has the ability to go off tarmac, drives and steers well and is jammed tight with cutting-edge safety features. There’s little doubt that this is the most interesting Volvo.