Drive with us: Test driving the Volvo XC60

Please note, this is now a retired model and isn't available to lease due to a newer facelift. But don't worry, you can still find your perfect car by browsing our Volvo lease deals. Or, for more choice, head to our best car lease deals to search all brands.

Volvo XC60 Review - How good is this mid-size SUV?

The Volvo XC60 is known for being one of the safest SUVs on the market as well as being one of the best looking. And thanks to their Mild-hybrid technology, one of the most economic. 

Should a Volvo XC60 lease be on your shortlist if you're considering some of our Volvo lease deals? Let's find out!

Engines

You’re spoilt for choice when it comes to engine options for the XC60; whether it be petrol, diesel or hybrid. You can also take your pick between front-wheel drive or all-wheel drive; the only thing you don’t get a choice on is the transmission as all XC60s come with an 8-speed automatic gearbox.

The Drive

The car we drove had a 2.0-litre diesel engine that produced 197 horsepower and went from 0-60 in 7.8 seconds. While being a big heavy diesel, it almost felt like petrol in the way it pulled off the mark and picked up speed on the motorway. It was spritely, although at times high-revving and loud on the road.

Rapid response, as well as an improved fuel economy, are aided by the mild hybrid engine in this XC60. Essentially the MHEV uses regenerative braking to charge a 48V battery. An integrated starter generator then uses this energy to reduce the load on the engine and make for a smoother drive and lower fuel consumption.

This XC60 comes with functions such as cruise control, keyless go, a dynamic chassis, hill descent control and a choice of driving modes as standard. Our car also came with reversing sensors, but if you want a rear-view camera it's an optional extra.

The Design

The XC60 SUV is a real competitor to the likes of the Mercedes-Benz GLC or BMW X3. The Inscription gets you 19” 10-spoke diamond cut alloys, aluminium trim, a high gloss front grille and dual integrated tailpipes. This particular car came in Mussel Blue Metallic (icy blue/silver) with a charcoal black interior. 

Inside you benefit from leather upholstery and a 3-spoke leather steering wheel with black gloss finishes. While the cabin is really attractive, there’s one thing that spoils it for me and that’s the ‘Orrefors Crystal’ gear lever, which is essentially a clear branded gear changer. It seems like a slightly less well-executed copy of the ‘CraftedClarity’ glass gear selector in the BMWs, which equally, I can't tell if I'm a massive fan of.

The XC60s cabin sticks to Volvos minimalist design, with nice high-quality finishes and comfortable materials. We also had a few optional extras, such as the metal mesh inlays on the dash and rear tinted windows.

Technology and Connectivity

Moving onto technology; all of the Volvos are pretty much identical when it comes to the display and the user experience. There’s a 9” portrait centre touchscreen with features such as Sat Nav, live traffic information, DAB radio and voice control (for key functions) as standard.

As with the S60, the touchscreen in the XC60 takes a bit of getting used to, and I much preferred to set everything while I was stationary rather than trying to faff about whilst on the move. While the home screen buttons are large and easy to navigate, as soon as you swipe through to the main menu of settings and apps everything gets a little bit small and fiddly.

That being said, the graphics are bright and clear, and the screen responsive. There’s also a 12” digital drivers display to show key information, controllable using the steering wheel function keys. Our car had smartphone integration so was compatible with both Apple CarPlay and Android Auto. This car also had the optional Winter Pack; which gets you a fancy headlight cleaning system, heated steering wheel, heated washer nozzles and a heated front windscreen.

Space

Space in the back is very similar to that of the Discovery Sport, although the former had the option for those extra two seats (see us testing out space here). There’s a 60:40 seat configuration but it does have a hatch in the centre seat if you’re wanting to travel with skis.

For the average Joe, there’s plenty of head and legroom, and the seats in our Inscription model were incredibly comfortable. There’s two easy-access Isofix points in the back, as well as a centre armrest with extra storage and cup holders. Unfortunately, however, there are no USB ports for the rear passengers.

Boot capacity is very good (although smaller than that of the Audi Q5) and depending on which model line you go for, you can also get a powered tailgate or options such as power-folding seat headrests and a three-pin plug socket in the centre console.

Safety

Safety is at the forefront of most people’s minds when it comes to choosing a Volvo, and many times the XC60 has been referred to as the safest car on the planet. All of the models come with a five-star NCAP rating as well as a plethora of standard safety features such as;

• Pedestrian, cyclist and large animal detection with front collision warning and auto-braking
• Run-off road protection and mitigation
• Lane-keeping aids
• Speed limiter
• Road sign recognition

This car also had the additional Intellisafe Pro Pack, which gets you Pilot Assist and Adaptive Cruise Control and Intellisafe Surround (Blind Spot Information System with Steer Assist, Cross-Traffic Alert with Autobrake and Rear Collision Mitigation).

Model Lines

The standard Momentum models get a lot of features as standard including the 12.3-inch driver's display, centre touchscreen, Sat Nav, heated front seats and various safety features. Here are some of the features each of the following model lines get:

Edition (in addition to Momentum)

• Dark tinted rear windows
• Rear camera
• 19” 5-Spoke Alloys
• Smartphone integration (Apple CarPlay and Android Auto)

Momentum Pro (in addition to Momentum)

• Heated aqua blades and heated steering wheel
• Keyless Drive
• Head-Up display
• Memory seat (driver only)
• Puddle lights
• Active bending headlights

R-Design (in addition to Momentum)

• Leather combination sports seats
• Dual integrated exhaust pipes with high gloss black surround
• Sports steering wheel, sport floor mats, sports pedals
• Black Gloss roof rails
• Ambient lighting
• Lowered sports chassis

R-Design Pro (in addition to R-Design)

• 21" 8-spoke alloys
• Heated aqua blades and steering wheel
• Active Four-C Chassis - Four Corner Adaptive Dampers with Electronic Air Suspension
• Puddle lights
• Head-Up display
• Active bending headlights
• Electronic tailgate
• Massage seats (front)

Polestar Engineered (in addition to R-Design Pro)

• Harmon Kardon surround sound
• Gold seatbelts
• 21" 'Y' 5-Spoke alloys
• Polestar engineered chassis
• Metallic paint
• Floating front brake discs with Polestar Engineered Front and Rear Brake Callipers
• Polestar Engineered Black Chrome Exhaust Pipes
• Front Aluminium Tread Plates
• High Gloss Black Mesh Front Grille with High Gloss Black Surround

Inscription (in addition to Momentum)

• Perforated Nappa leather steering wheel
• Power Memory seats and mirrors
• 19” 10-spoke Alloys
• Driftwood inlays
• Crystal gear knob
• Multi-directional lumbar support
• Chrome window surrounds, mouldings and lowered front bumper

Inscription Pro (in addition to Inscription)

• Heated aqua blades and steering wheel
• Active Four-C Chassis - Four Corner Adaptive Dampers with Electronic Air Suspension
• 20” 8-Spoke Alloys
• Head-Up display
• Active bending headlights
• Electronic tailgate
• Massage seats (front)

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