Volvo XC60 Assessment
Tuesday, May 31st, 2011Smooth, sophisticated, chic and sporty are not words you might commonly affiliate with a 4×4 – and you’d be very unlikely to use all of them at as soon as to explain precisely the same 4×4. That is till the advent of Volvo’s XC60.
Because bringing the utilitarian off-roader in to the household leisure market, Volvo S80 V8 AWD makers have striven to style it and tailor it to supply the broadest appeal, with varying degrees of good results. Some try out a 4×4/MPV cross, whilst other folks go for a more laid-back SUV image. There is even been an attempt by a top quality auto maker at hoping to turn its significant SUV into a smooth sports coupe, with notably unsleek, nay, grotesque, final results!
As opposed to a lot of SUVs, Volvo’s XC60 manages to retain, and also increase, the svelte lines and subtle contours of its much more light-weight saloon and estate brethren. In fact, should you lowered an Volvo S80 D5 to create it adopt a road-hugging stance, it could doubtless look as being a fairly rakish sports estate. Volvo calls it “emotional” styling.
Cabin Comfort
You would not accuse the XC60’s interior of currently being overdone. It is fresh new, modem, stylish and, previously mentioned all, basic. The all-anthracite lower-half trim of our check example may well seem to be dull and oppressive in some autos, but with small more to raise it than white contrast stitching and tastefully applied bright moldings, the Volvo manages an air of smart practicality. You’d anticipate practically nothing much less from Swedish design and style.
The focal stage is with out doubt Volvo S80 3.2’s now popular ‘floating’ middle console, within this instance having a vibrant metallic complete. It presents an array of logically-arranged and clearly-marked controls – the human-shaped air-distribution graphic being a selected circumstance in level – which turn into nearly intuitive in the beginning glance. Previously mentioned this as well as the CD slot resides the clear sat-nav display screen, somewhat inset to reduce reflections in the window glass, and located within the exact same plane as the instruments exactly where a speedy glance enables quick visual clarity with no refocusing.
Gauges – just the 2 – convey the necessary facts via annular analogue dials and (that word once again) ‘floating’ pointers with digital supplementary information shown in their centers. They have a chronographic glimpse to them, but Volvo has thankfully resisted the normally Far-Eastern vehicle manufacturers’ pattern to embellish them with a lot of bling and fancy illumination.
In genuine Volvo custom, the seats are well-shaped, supportive and cozy with these from the front providing a beneficial array of adjustment. The rear compartment offers sensible if not commodious legroom, and also the nicely contoured seat should provide three average-sized adults with cozy but cozy travel. The 40:20:forty split/fold seat offers a flat load floor once the one-touch release levers are operated.