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When I think of Volvo cars, only one thing comes to mind: safety.
It's easy to imagine a bunch of Volvo engineers huddled around a cup
of coffee discussing whether they could install an airbag into a
cupholder and how to make the radio buttons cause fewer injuries.
Volvo is obsessive about things like that.
Driving the XC60 this past week, though, I was reminded that this is a
company known for building luxury cars, too.
Part of that comes from its feeling of solidity. Most cars these daysEven putting all its safety features aside — things like automatic
braking, sensors that see pedestrians, and its ability to read road
signs — it's still one really, really nice ride.
put their focus on fuel economy, so they start to feel flimsy and
hollowed out in an effort to save weight.
The XC60 isn't like that. Its heavy, massive doors close with the kind
of bank-vault thud more commonly found in $100,000 Mercedes sedans. It
feels like you're driving in a tank, wrapped in a cocoon of
high-strength steel.
Gas mileage suffers a bit as a result. It's rated for 25 mpg on the
highway and 19 in city driving, and slightly worse with all-wheel
drive.
The driving feel, though, is phenomenal — assuming you opt for the
turbocharged engine.
Some Volvos I've driven in the past have felt underpowered, but the
3.0-liter, six-cylinder turbo engine in my test vehicle made it feel
like a sports car, with 300 horsepower on tap. Even the base engine
makes 240 horses.
With a taut suspension and sensitive steering, it leaves a
surprisingly sporty impression for something so obviously designed for
family-hauling duties. The powerful engine's roar and zippy feeling in
corners almost make you forget that the XC60 has built-in booster
seats for children.
And that brings us to the heart of the stereotypical Volvo, which is
its ridiculously well-thoughy-out list of safety technology.
Some of its standard features include Ready Alert Brakes, a system
that primes the car for heavy braking if it senses a collision is
imminent, and City Safety, which will automatically stomp on the
brakes to avoid a low-speed wreck.
One optional feature on the XC60 is Road Sign Information, something
I'd never seen before on any car. It uses a video camera to scan the
road signs ahead of you — particularly the speed limits and "no
passing" signs — and displays them in a digital readout in the
instrument panel.
If you've ever forgotten what the speed limit was on a given stretch
of road, you can just look down at the dash and see it. If you choose,
you can also set it to give you an audible warning when you break the
speed limit.
Pricing starts at $34,350 for the base model, or $40,650 for the
turbocharged XC60 with all-wheel drive. It's also available in
325-horsepower R-Design trim for $44,850.
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Derek Price is an automotive columnist for CNHI News Service. Contact him at carcolum@gmail.com.
X x x x
INFO BOX:
RATINGS
Style: 9
Performance: 9
Price: 6
Handling: 7
Ride: 7
Comfort: 8
Quality: 9
Overall: 9
What was tested?
2013 Volvo XC60 T6 AWD ($40,450). Options: Platinum package ($4,600),
climate package ($900), metallic paint ($550), 19-inch wheels ($750).
Price as tested (including $895 destination charge): $48,145.
Why buy it?
It has some amazing safety features, a refined driving feel and solid
build quality. It drives like a luxury car for the family.
Why hesitate?
The heavy, tank-like body makes it feel safe, but it also hurts gas
mileage. This week's test vehicle was rated for 17 mpg in city
driving.
