Words by Afzal Rawuther
Volvo has announced the new generation of its mid-size SUV, the XC60 and has priced it at Rs 55.9 lakh. The XC60 has been the largest selling model in Volvo’s India (as well as global) portfolio with 30 per cent of all sales coming from this SUV. The XC60 has only been launched in one variant — the D5 Inscription. It will be powered by a 2-litre turbo diesel motor that makes 232bhp and 480Nm of torque. The drivetrain is identical to the ones on the XC90 and the V90 Cross Country and gets all-wheel drive. The XC60 will go up against the likes of the BMW X3 and Audi Q5. The XC60 shares several design features to its elder sibling, the XC90.
On the outside, it looks like a shrunken XC90 to the untrained eye. That cannot be a bad thing considering how well the XC90 has been doing in the Indian market. There are a few differences though. The smaller size makes the XC60 appear squatter, and the rising shoulder line along with the raked out D-pillar give it a more athletic stance. The Thor’s hammer headlamps make an appearance as do the similar overall shape of the XC90. However, the small overall proportions make the XC60 appear more sporty. The interiors have also undergone a major redesign and is now similar in layout to the other cars with the SPA platform. The dash is elegantly done with a neat minimalsit design. A single piece of wood flows neatly across it and the central touchscreen is also very well integrated with the dash as well as with the air con vents, with very few buttons and knobs.
The new car is based on Volvo’s SPA architecture that now underpins all of the 60 and 90 series cars. The XC60 has three driving modes, Comfort, Dynamic and Off-road. The fact that the XC60 is available only in the Inscription trim means that Nappa leather seats, a 15 speaker Bower and Wilkins system, heated and cooled seats with massage functions, four-zone climate control come as standard. As with any Volvo, radar enabled active safety systems and driver assistance aids are also standard. Adaptive cruise control, pilot assist, blind-spot assist, collision mitigation systems and park assist complete the suite of driver assistance tools that the Volvo has to offer.
We got our hands on the XC60 for a short drive recently. Read more about it here.