Positioned as Volvo’s entry to the “small premium utility segment” the Volvo XC60 being releasing late Feb 2009 will take on the likes of Audi Q5, BMW X5, Acura RDX, and the Infiniti EX35. Building upon its “safety first” tagline, the company has added a variety of features that maximizes performance, safety and fun to its newest model. It emphasizes high-tech content, style, and unbeatable capability.
Luxurious Styling on the Inside Out
The Volvo XC60 being released on late Feb 2009 reflects the company’s new design goals. Sporting a larger logo, a broader shoulder line, and a grille, the XC60 presents a bold and muscular appeal. Yet, despite its more pronounced styling, the new automobile cannot be mistaken for anything but a Volvo. It integrates traditional styling cues that the company is renowned for. The exterior of the XC60 is eye-catching but it would be a mistake not to look into its interiors.
The vehicle’s interior features the slim center stack which was first introduced in the S40. It is furnished with your choice of brushed metal or matte wood. The seats are upholstered with the X-theme, a two-tone leather stitched pattern that provides a choice of “cross county”, “cross city”, and “cross over”. As is expected from Volvo, the seats of the XC60 not only provide sufficient support, it is very comfortable as well.
Using a contrasting mix of materials including wood, brushed metal, soft-touch plastics, and leather, the surface inside the cabin is undeniably luxurious and appealing. There is plenty of headroom in all seats as well as sufficient rear legroom. In addition, the Volvo XC60’s rear tailgate opening is designed to be the widest in its category. If the second row upright, the model provides a generous 30.8 cubic feet of cargo. And if it is folded flat, you will have enough space for almost anything you need to haul to and from your home.
Power and Performance
Sharing the basic architecture with its XC70 and S80 cousins, the Volvo XC60 being releasing late Feb 2009 has an engine that is transversely mounted as well. The 3.0-liter turbocharged inline-six engine has a six-speed automatic transmission, an available sport mode, and the capability to produce 281 hp. The 295 lb-ft of toque provides plentiful power in the rev engine. Acceleration is expectedly smooth and flawless.

Read the full story on Engine Folder

Acura RDX · Audi Q5 · Automatic transmission · Autos · BMW X5 · Makes and Models · Volvo S80 · Volvo XC60

The Volvo XC60 took first prize in the “Family Car of the Year” category in the first-ever Women’s World Car of the Year competition.

All told, 21 cars competed in four categories when eight female motoring journalists from seven countries voted for their favourite cars.

“It is naturally immensely gratifying that women appreciate the Volvo XC60 and that our product meets their requirements. With the Volvo XC60 we feel we have truly succeeded in creating a car that appeals to many different customer groups,” says Johan Rasmusson, Car Line Manager for the Volvo XC60 and XC90 at Volvo Cars.
Over the past year, eight female motoring journalists from Britain, the USA, Canada, South Africa, India, Australia and New Zealand put 21 selected cars to the test. The group and the award were created to educate the world’s car makers about female customers’ requirements.

Read the full story on Automotive.

Canada · India · Recreation · South Africa · United States · Volvo Cars · Volvo XC60 · Volvo XC90

Given Volvo’s reputation for safety, when the company calls its new XC60 the safest Volvo yet, and probably the safest vehicle in the world, it’s not just hyperbole. It should be a serious consideration when out shopping. Impact test data was not available at the time of this review, but if a crash test dummy could ‘come to its sensors’ it should try to get in line for the XC60 test that day.

Volvo has rolled out the XC60 for 2010 to stake its share in the extremely popular small luxury crossover SUV segment, taking on the BMW X3 and much newer Audi Q5 and Mercedes GLK, among many, many others. Safety being in its DNA, this part of the XC60 story starts with the very steel used to make it and body structure that employs collision management to distribute energy. The very shape and flush elements of the energy absorbing front-end reduces the severity of impact with pedestrians and cyclists. Bumpers that match the height of lower car bumpers negate bigger than usual fender bender bills, and the transversely mounted engine will be less likely to penetrate the passenger cabin in a front-end collision. The XC60, of course, comes with a full complement of multi-stage front and side curtain airbags. We are talking about the company that invented the side airbag, not to mention the single most important advancement in automotive safety – the three-point seatbelt. Fifty years later, the XC60 boasts another nifty Volvo first. It stops itself!

The City Safety system is born out of these statistics. Seventy-five percent of crashes occur at speeds under 30 km/h, and half of those are because of distraction, where the driver did not brake at all! Behind the rear-view mirror on the XC60 is a laser that scans for objects 6 metres ahead. Based on the distance to any vehicle or object and your speed, the system calculates braking forces needed to avoid collision. If you exceed that threshold by, you guessed it, NOT hitting the brakes or not pressing down on the peddle hard enough, the system takes over. The City Safety system does not promise to avoid collision, but even if there is contact the severity of the crash will be reduced significantly. There are some limitations, however, like snow and ice covering the laser. In addition, that laser is best at reading reflective objects like a car, so don’t plough through your flat beige garage door showing off this cool new feature to your neighbor.

Despite its 2,774-mm (109.2-inch) wheelbase the XC60 provides a lot of leg and cargo volume at 1,907 litres (67.3 cu ft). Built-in two-stage booster seats are a very nice feature, too. XC, of course, stands for cross-country, and the XC60 provides ample ground clearance of 230 mm (9.0 inches) for off-road use. It does not offer lower gearing, however, because at its heart it is a luxury family mover.

Read the full review on Autos Canada

Airbag · Audi Q5 · Automobile · BMW X3 · City Safety · Crossover · Mercedes-Benz GLK-Class · Traffic collision

The diesel Volvo XC60 in australia proves that using higher grade fuel makes for better power, fuel economy and no smoke

The Volvo XC60 D5 is powered by the very same engine that powers the Volvo XC90 back here in Malaysia, the difference being the fuel quality.

In Australia, the standard for diesel fuel is Euro 4, which Australians would say is “heaps” better than what we have here. The benefit is better power, better fuel economy, and most wonderful of all, no smoke.

The 2.5-litre common rail diesel turbo engine produces 185 horsepower and 400Nm of torque, giving the XC60 plenty of get-up-and-go. It is a great vehicle to drive, being AWD (all-wheel drive), and its safety features make it the safest Volvo ever built.

Standard features include City Safety, a system that uses cameras mounted high up on the windscreen to monitor the distance between it and the vehicle in front in crawling traffic, applying the brakes automatically to prevent or mitigate a collision if the driver is not paying attention; cruise control; traction control; ABS; and enough airbags to cushion you should you have an impact.

One of its most useful features is the user-friendly Garmin GPS system.

I have no complaints about the XC60 whatsoever, but driving it there brings some thoughts about the diesel situation back here in Malaysia.

The first thing you will notice when driving in Australian cities, or even as a pedestrian in the streets and sidewalks, is the absence of petrol or diesel fumes when the traffic passes by. This is because Australia’s strict anti-pollution laws ensure that manufacturers equip their cars with engines that comply with the standards, and enforcement is non-negotiable.

Obviously, there is merit in such a system as it makes everybody’s life better on account of cleaner air. Thus, you will live longer, and be relatively free of lung and breathing-related illnesses.

With fuel prices at around AUD1.30 (approximately RM3.90) per litre, it is expensive to drive there. Yes, you can say that we should look at it based on a ringgit-versus-Australian dollar, but Australians are telling me it is expensive too.

Diesel prices are about the same or a few cents higher, but it delivers more energy per pound of fuel, thus, it makes sense for people to purchase diesel-engined cars.

In the case of SUVs like the Volvo XC60, which weighs in at about two tons, it makes perfect sense to go diesel.

Well, our tank of diesel lasted for eight days of driving between Brisbane and the Gold Coast, including some adventure into the hills to attend a relative’s wedding ceremony.

We covered a total of 610km on the XC60’s tank, and the refill came to 63 litres of diesel. That works out to 9.6km per litre. A petrol-engined vehicle of the same size and weight would have consumed at least 20% more fuel, if not more.

Read the full story on The Sun Daily

Australia · Common rail · Diesel engine · Four-wheel drive · Sport utility vehicle · Turbocharger · Volvo XC60 · Volvo XC90

If you’re in the market for a new car, you really should look at the Costco Auto Program – it’s super easy and can save you a ton of money. 

Through January 4, 2010, Costco and Volvo are running a promotion for significant savings on all 2010 XC60, XC70 and XC90 models. In addition, if you purchase a vehicle and complete a survey, you’ll receive a $500 Costco Cash Card.

Source: My Coupons

Automobile · Autos · Makes and Models · Money · Recreation · Volvo · Volvo V70 · Volvo XC90

Last Saturday, it was raining cats and Chihuahuas here in Los Angeles. And I was glad to have the XC 60 while driving through it all, surprisingly thanks to the more lower-tech of its long list of safety features. In addition to the quick-acting rear defogger and side-view mirror heaters, the XC 60 also has something European cars are more likely to have than American cars are — a rear fog light. In addition to the expected fronts, the latter (seen here in the lower left corner of the XC60′s rear bumper) provides a little more peace of mind when you’re driving in low-visibility conditions.

Read the full story at insideline

Business and Economy · California · Counties · Los Angeles · Metro Areas · Organizations · Travel and Tourism · United States

As well as scooping two coveted Top Gear magazine awards – the “Saloon Car of the Year” award for the Jaguar XF S Diesel and “Interior of the Year” for the new XJ – the Jaguar XF has also won the inaugural “Women’s World Car of the Year” award.

This new award was conceived in November last year and stemmed from the fact the US based World Car of the Year judging panel did not have a single female judge in 2007.

Chief Judge, Sandy Myhre, said: “Over the past year the judges have tested 21 cars from the short list and the Jaguar XF was the clear winner, beating the Volvo XC60 by 21 points, which is quite a considerable margin considering some of the cars were separated by one point or less.

Source: The Auto Channel

Automobile · Jaguar · Jaguar XF · Jaguar XJ · Makes and Models · Top Gear · Volvo XC60 · World Car of the Year

Volvo has endowed the XC60 with a generous supply of standard features, including trip computer, leather seats, electric-adjust driver’s seat, cruise control, electric parking brake, climate control, hill descent control, rear parking sensors and six-disc CD high-performance audio with eight speakers.
The XC60 is only the third Volvo to be equipped with the 3.0-litre turbocharged six-cylinder engine. It’s a refined and intuitive engine and won’t shatter your eardrum, owing to a growly note that highlights the glaze of turbo whistle under acceleration. This unique powerplant is mated to a standard six-speed automatic transmission.

Read the rest of the story at My Car Directory

Automatic transmission · Business · Compact Disc · Cruise control · Parking brake · Straight-six engine · Transmission · Turbocharger

Twelve cars have made the final cut for the New Zealand car of the year.

They will be judged by more than 30 members of the New Zealand Motoring Writers’ Guild covering print, internet and broadcast media nationwide.

Guild president, John Oxley, says solely all-new models are eligible, and only if they’ve been driven by a majority of voting members, “not just a select few.”

“We stress that our members vote just on cars they have road tested in their home environment in NewZealand, in conditions they are used to driving everyday.”

Oxley says the award’s strengths are that voting members have experienced these cars in the conditions in which their buyers will drive them, and that the size of the voting panel means a wide range of buyer demographic is covered.

The shortlist – selected by a Guild committee from all new models launched in NZ in the 12 months prior to November 1 – includes the Alfa Romeo MiTo, the Audi Q5, BMW 7 Series, Ford Fiesta, Kia Soul, Mercedes E-class, Mazda3, Nissan Qashqai, Subaru Legacy/Outback, Volkswagen Golf and Scirocco and Volvo XC60.

Read more at NZ Herald

Alfa Romeo MiTo · Audi Q5 · BMW 7 Series · Mercedes-Benz E-Class · New Zealand · Oceania · Volkswagen Golf · Volvo XC60

Attention, jaywalkers and drunk pedestrians: The car you want to stumble in front of is the Volvo XC60 crossover. Its City Safety feature brings the car safely to a stop when it detects an object in front, be it human, animal, car, at speeds of 10 mph or less. And this feature is standard, not a thousand-dollar option. Add in Volvo’s other safety features, and it’s a solid choice as one of the 2010 Digital Drive Top 10 cars.

The XC60 is a small-to-midsize crossover SUV new for 2010 and comes standard with Bluetooth and a USB adapter as well as City Safety. A technology package adds active cruise control and lane departure warning for a reasonable $1,700. But then, Volvo is part of Ford, which specializes in good technology cheap. One exception to the cheap tech mode is the combo navigation system / backup camera package at $2,700. The keyless go smart key system, which Volvo grandly calls the Personal Car Communicator (PCC) with Keyless Drive & Heartbeat Sensor, reports, when you’re within about 100 yards of the car, if you remembered to lock the doors and – perhaps playing to women’s fears regardless of the statistical odds – whether someone is lurking in the car. At $550, this is half the price of some smart keys that provide remote unlocking and keyless start but not two-way capabilities.

I’ve used City Safety and it works even better than advertised. Some stops are gentle, others are aggressive. Volvo privately says that while the XC60 should mitigate the effects of a collision between 10 mph and 20 mph, in many cases “mitigate” will mean “stop without hitting anything.”

But: The ride is European car firm, not Lexus pillow-soft (not necessarily a drawback), and the navigation system is only so-so given the price.

Read the full story at Gearlog

Backup camera · Bluetooth · Crossover · Cruise control · Ford Motor Company · Personal Car Communicator · Universal Serial Bus · Volvo XC60