It’s an SUV world we live in right now, with car manufacturers left and right trying to one-up each other just get a slice of the lucrative SUV market pie. Projected to take up 50 percent of all car sales by 2020, it's no wonder why even sports car brands such as Maserati and Porsche have their own contribution to the sport ute category.
And so we now come to one of the latest entries into the SUV market segment, the 2018 Volvo XC60. As this year’s winner of the 2018 World Car of the Year award, the XC60's latest iteration packs a lot of firepower that certainly demands attention. But is it worth your hard-earned money? Find the answer to this question with this 'Buyer's Guide' for the 2018 Volvo XC60.
The latest Volvo XC60 shares many of the beloved traits of its big brother, the three-row crossover XC90. From design details to mechanical architecture, the XC60s beauty is all wrapped up in a package with a smaller footprint. Three engines choices are on the table: two gasoline engines--a 3.0-liter turbochargedsix-cylinder (304 hp, 440 Nm) and a 1.7-liter direct injection turbo four-cylinder (245 hp, 650 Nm)--and a lone diesel, a 2.0-liter turbocharged four-cylinder (181 hp, 400 Nm). The top-of-the-line 3.0-liter trim has all-wheel drive, while the rest are front-wheel drive.
There's no denying it--the XC60 Is drop dead gorgeous. Using the same forward-thinking language Volvo used in its 90-series cars, the XC60 makes smart use of its bold front grille, rear haunch, and sporty exterior design to deliver a truly eye-catching look. The LED headlights are enhanced by the 'Thor's Hammer' daytime running lights. Each wheel arch is filled by 18-inch alloy wheels using 235/60 tires. Meanwhile, the taillights are given the modern vertical treatment that still manages to pay a nod of respect to the traditional design signature that Volvo is known for.
In stark contrast to the a la carte approach many luxury brands take with their vehicle's creature comforts, Volvo takes a more unified route with the XC60. The lower trim can hardly be called 'base,' when you consider that it comes equipped with leather upholstery, panoramic moonroof with power sunshade, and a 10-way power driver's seat. There’s also Volvo's very own CleanZone technology to speak of, which uses multi-filters and a layer of active charcoal to rid the cabin air of pollutants and allergen. And the Bowers & Wilkins sound system is a masterpiece of aural beauty. Meanwhile, the nine-inch center console touchscreen display is stunning as it is functional. With its 'portrait' orientation, the large vertical display gives you a virtual tablet inside the car. There is also an eight-inch, full-color digital driver display that updates traditional analog gauges in the instrument cluster and raises premium feel of this compact SUV considerably.
All three 2018 Volvo XC60 trims measure 1,713 mm high, 4,644 mm long, and 1,891 mm wide. That's definitely a lot shorter than the XC90, which comparatively measures 1,776 mm, 4,950 mm and 2,008 mm, respectively. But that's not to say that the cabin is cramped--in fact it's just the right size of snugness and comfort. Coupled with a superiorly sensuous and serene cabin featuring soft leather, plush blend of smooth and metal trims, and smartly designed ergonomics, the XC90 is chic, functional and cozy in equal amounts.
Volvo is a brand associated with safety above all else, so you can bet that the XC60 has the same priorities. Indeed, even if it's a bold claim, the SUV has every trait to be called the safest car on the road, and it wouldn't be an exaggeration. The Pilot Assist, for example, is a semi-autonomous system that inspires confidence by helping you steer, accelerate, and brake on well-marked roads, up to 128 kph. There's also Adaptive Cruise Control with Queue Assist, Collision Warning with Full Auto Brake and Pedestrian/Cyclist Detection, Driver Alert Control, Lane Departure Warning, and Oncoming Lane Mitigation that works in conjunction with steer assist to help avoid collisions when changing lanes.
Volvo says that 'inspired confidence' is the philosophy behind the new XC60. With so many goodies to speak of, we'd have to agree. For safety, design, performance and comfort, the XC60 is a quadfecta of epic proportions.
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