Volvo XC60 DRIVe SE Lux Review

"Clever engine tech means 47.1mpg"

What is it?

The latest XC60 from Volvo is a two-wheel drive eco SUV. Sounds like a bit of an oxymoron doesn’t it? I mean, surely the idea of an SUV is that it should have some off-road ability? Well, at least car manufacturers are now admitting that many of their customers don’t give a damn about off-roading. Of course, you can get the baby Volvo XC as a 4x4, but if you go for that motor instead, then you don't get the amazing fuel economy that this DRIVe version offers.

What’s it like on the inside?

There’s nothing about the interior that’s any different to other SE Lux models in the range. Which is a good thing, as the cabin of the Volvo is a truly comfortable, luxurious place to spend time. The floating console that first appeared in the S/V40 is finished in a beautiful Nordic light-coloured wood — which really complemented the beige leather trim of my test car. The Volvo also has class-leading space (it’s bigger than the Land Rover Freelander) and the cabin is airy and light. Plus, it’s so easy to flatten the rear seats, and when you do, you get a massive 1,455-litres of space (and access it via a rather flash powered tailgate). There’s plenty of storage inside, too, which the school-run mum will love (no doubt where a large quota of XC60s will go), such as the rear’s grocery bag-holder, to stop your organic shopping spilling out. And the built-in child booster seat means S-R-M can accommodate Tarquin's little friend, too. The instrumentation will be recognisable to Volvo owners, they’re well laid out and everything has a premium feel to it, although gone is the Swede firm's dash-raising sat-nav screen, instead it’s now slap bang in the middle of the console.

What’s it like on the outside?

The XC60 is probably the best-looking Volvo to date, gone are the boxy lines of its bigger, XC90 brother. Curvier lines make the car feel a lot more contemporary, and the big cluster of rear lights make it look distinctive from the back, and these look great when they’re illuminated, loading up the Volvo at night. But it’s the aggressive front-end stance, with the sweptback headlights and big front grille that makes it stand out from rivals. In fact, the XC60 marks a real deaparture in design for the marque, as judging by the look of the new C30 — revealed at the Frankfurt Motor Show —other Volvos are going to resemble this nice-looking car. The problem is, people who buy this brand just don’t seem to be bothered about their cars looking cool and sexy – proven by the amount of XC90 drivers I drove past who didn’t even blink at the sleeker-looking SUV I was in. Maybe it's because they're more bothered about transporting their kids/shopping/bicycles in safety and comfort than anything else. So, this family-friendly, earth-friendly model should do Volvo's share price some good.

What’s it like to drive?

Considering this is billed as a 'green' car, the XC60 is remarkably swift, performing the 0-60mph sprint in a remarkable 9.8 seconds. And because the Volvo sits quite low for an SUV, it actually handles pretty well, until you get it up to high speeds that is, or if you push it hard on a country road, and then it all starts to get a bit wallowy. The DRIVe model's front-wheel drive doesn't help, either, as at least with the 4x4 you have more grip. But those after an enthusiastic drive need to look elsewhere, because this is not Volvo's forte. And, as the dark evenings draw in, if we have another winter of floods and snow, this car ain't gonna get you out of any sticky situations with its 2WD!
 

Verdict

The XC60 should sell well, it's got the looks, the planet-saving credentials, immense practicality, amazing comfort and has a real air of that clean, Scandinavian design. This DRIVe version is only available as a fuel-efficient manual, though, which enables it to achieve a fuel-consumption figure of 47.1mpg. And with CO2 emissions of 159g/km for a medium-sized SUV, it has to be a worthy rival to the stop/start Land Rover Freelander, which doesn't offer as great a fuel economy as the XC60. While VW's Tiguan although much cheaper, simply isn't as practical, is smaller and just isn't such a prestigious a car — but its fuel returns are better. So, until Audi's rumoured hybrid Q5 arrives, this is going to be the well-heeled's green SUV of choice.

By Gary Lord