Volvo XC60 (08 on) - Review

Review by David Ross on
Last Updated: 01 August 2011
Combining off-road toughness and practicality with coupe styling and driving characteristics doesn't sound like an obvious mix, but that's exactly what Volvo has aimed to do with the XC60 - an alternative to cars like the Land Rover Freelander and BMW X3. It's certainly very stylish with a less boxy and bulky look than the larger XC90, but it's designed to also be spacious and family-friendly. Volvo also offers a low-emission, front-wheel drive version badged DRIVe. On the road it doesn't handle like an off-roader, with good body control, while the ride quality is excellent, making it a superb long distance machine. There are three engines available, including the punchy D5 diesel, although this is fairly noisy and not as refined as newer diesels. The XC60 is also the safest car Volvo has ever made and all models get City Safety - a system designed to prevent low speed impacts.
4 out of 5

Other Volvo reviews

Facts & Figures

ES

More Figures

D3 (163bhp) DRIVe ES (Start Stop) 5d

More Figures

D5 (215bhp) ES AWD (Start Stop) 5d

More Figures

D5 (215bhp) ES AWD 5d Geartronic

More Figures

D3 (163bhp) ES AWD (Start Stop) 5d

More Figures

D3 (163bhp) ES AWD 5d Geartronic

More Figures

2.0 D3 (163bhp) ES 5d Geartronic

See 87 used Volvo XC60s for sale, starting at £13,988

Ocean Race

More Figures

D3 (163bhp) Ocean Race AWD (Start Stop) 5d

More Figures

D3 (163bhp) Ocean Race AWD 5d Geartronic

More Figures

D5 (215bhp) Ocean Race AWD (Start Stop) 5d

More Figures

D5 (215bhp) Ocean Race AWD 5d Geartronic

See 87 used Volvo XC60s for sale, starting at £13,988

R Design

More Figures

D3 (163bhp) DRIVe R Design (Start Stop) 5d

More Figures

D5 (215bhp) R Design AWD (Start Stop) 5d

More Figures

D5 (215bhp) R Design AWD 5d Geartronic

More Figures

D3 (163bhp) R Design AWD (Start Stop) 5d

More Figures

D3 (163bhp) R Design AWD 5d Geartronic

More Figures

2.0 D3 (163bhp) R Design 5d Geartronic

See 87 used Volvo XC60s for sale, starting at £13,988

SE

More Figures

D3 (163bhp) DRIVe SE (Start Stop) 5d

More Figures

D5 (215bhp) SE AWD (Start Stop) 5d

More Figures

D5 (215bhp) SE AWD 5d Geartronic

More Figures

D3 (163bhp) SE AWD (Start Stop) 5d

More Figures

D3 (163bhp) SE AWD 5d Geartronic

More Figures

2.0 D3 (163bhp) SE 5d Geartronic

See 87 used Volvo XC60s for sale, starting at £13,988

SE Premium

More Figures

T5 (240bhp) SE Premium 5d Powershift

More Figures

D3 (163bhp) DRIVe SE Premium (Start Stop) 5d

More Figures

D5 (215bhp) SE Premium AWD (Start Stop) 5d

More Figures

D5 (215bhp) SE Premium AWD 5d Geartronic

More Figures

D3 (163bhp) SE Premium AWD (Start Stop) 5d

More Figures

D3 (163bhp) SE Premium AWD 5d Geartronic

More Figures

2.0 D3 (163bhp) SE Premium 5d Geartronic

See 87 used Volvo XC60s for sale, starting at £13,988

R Design Premium

More Figures

T5 (240bhp) R Design Premium 5d Powershift

More Figures

D3 (163bhp) DRIVe R Design Premium (Start Stop) 5d

More Figures

D5 (215bhp) R Design Premium AWD (Start Stop) 5d

More Figures

D5 (215bhp) R Design Premium AWD 5d Geartronic

More Figures

D3 (163bhp) R Design Premium AWD (Start Stop) 5d

More Figures

D3 (163bhp) R Design Premium AWD 5d Geartronic

More Figures

3.0 T6 (304bhp) R Design Premium AWD 5d Geartronic

More Figures

2.0 D3 (163bhp) R Design Premium 5d Geartronic

See 87 used Volvo XC60s for sale, starting at £13,988

SE Lux

More Figures

D3 (163bhp) DRIVe SE Lux (Start Stop) 5d

More Figures

D5 (215bhp) SE Lux AWD (Start Stop) 5d

More Figures

D5 (215bhp) SE Lux AWD 5d Geartronic

More Figures

D3 (163bhp) SE Lux AWD (Start Stop) 5d

More Figures

D3 (163bhp) SE Lux AWD 5d Geartronic

More Figures

2.0 D3 (163bhp) SE Lux 5d Geartronic

See 87 used Volvo XC60s for sale, starting at £13,988

SE Lux Premium

More Figures

T5 (240bhp) SE Lux Premium 5d Powershift

More Figures

D3 (163bhp) DRIVe SE Lux Premium (Start Stop) 5d

More Figures

D5 (215bhp) SE Lux Premium AWD (Start Stop) 5d

More Figures

D5 (215bhp) SE Lux Premium AWD 5d Geartronic

More Figures

D3 (163bhp) SE Lux Premium AWD (Start Stop) 5d

More Figures

D3 (163bhp) SE Lux Premium AWD 5d Geartronic

More Figures

3.0 T6 (304bhp) SE Lux Premium AWD 5d Geartronic

More Figures

2.0 D3 (163bhp) SE Lux Premium 5d Geartronic

See 87 used Volvo XC60s for sale, starting at £13,988