123auto has a review of the Volvo XC60, here are the highlights:

Volvo happens to be one of those well-established average performing makes that spent some time in the fire-sale isle in Ford’s “makes-for-sale” store. Recently confirmed as part of the China’s growing Zhejiang Geely Holding Group, the Swedish maker is now in a great position to continue developing its product. Don’t think that these takeovers are a bad thing; in most cases, the buyer has sufficient resources to maintain momentum and by the same token, improve on its own line-up with the “buyee’s” technology.

Clear and present design
The newest member of the Volvo family is perhaps the best they have made in the last 15 years. In fact, the XC60 is what you would get, in my mind, if you took every model in Volvo’s portfolio, put them in a blender and voilà!

From any angle, the XC60 is without a doubt a Volvo. Its bulbous and shapely body carries the signature swollen bodylines which start from the purposeful-looking headlights all the way back to the twisted cat-ear taillights. In between, you will find a vehicle that looks bigger than it is; solid and unified.

An underdog
Volvo as a brand is often overlooked. In my opinion, those that choose competing European or Japanese brands such as BMW, Audi or Infiniti, especially if driving dynamics are secondary to comfort, are missing out on some of the most cosseting cars on the road.

The $39,995, the base XC60 faces stiff competition from the likes of the Audi Q5, Infiniti EX35, BMW X3 and Acura RDX. With an as-tested price of $53,445, the XC60 is not the least expensive but it does include all the kit one could ever want, save for the navigation system which is a $2,625 option. A basic T6 carries a price tag of $49,995.

If being different, meaning not driving a BMW or an Audi, does not scare you, the Volvo will surely impress even the most discerning buyer with its high level of quality and creature comforts.

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VOLVO is well regarded as an automaker of safe cars and crossovers. But this Swedish brand has evolved into a maker of distinctively styled and safe vehicles.
Its latest effort is the compact XC60, a five-passenger crossover that is a step smaller than its XC90 crossover. Inside, the XC60 seems more of a midsize for interior space and cargo capacity.

Volvo also has one of the best controllers for its navigation system. The inputs are made on a small control pad behind the right steering-wheel spoke. There is a small joystick, a “back” button and an “enter” button. The idea is for the driver to not take his hands off the wheel. There is also a remote feature so the passenger can make changes.

Clever engineering and safety features come at a cost of weight and price. And while the XC60 may seem pricey, its “popularly equipped” price is comparable with those of such vehicles as the Acura RDX, Audi Q5 and BMW X3.

Read the full review at Jamaica Observer

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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

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Here is a new review of the Volvo XC60 from Kustomatic:
This oeuvre-on-wheels may be sharing a niche currently dominated by impressive entries from big guns like BMW (BMW X3), Land Rover (Land Rover LR2), Acura (Acura RDX), and Infiniti (EX35), but, being a flagship product of the Swedish company’s thrust to enhance the design DNA of its cars and being billed as the “safest Volvo ever,” it can surely outshine its earlier counterparts.
According to Volvo, the car is packed with “more emotive form and more energy” compared to all the other cars it has manufactured through the years. Volvo Cars Design Director Steve Mattin further claimed that “if you say that you’d recognize a Volvo from a hundred meters away today, I dare say the XC60 radiates a clear Volvo presence from at least twice that distance.”
But there is something more interesting than the luster—the XC60 is available in metallic finishes: electric silver, black sapphire, barents blue, maple red, to name some—catching the eyes of people from this “double-distance” Mattin is talking about. The XC60 is offered with drivers having a say on what engine will run their XC60s: it can either be the turbocharged T6, which produces 285 horsepower, or two variants of the D5 turbodiesel—for Europe—yielding 185 and 163 horsepower respectively. All Wheel Drive (AWD) is fitted as standard.
The XC60 also features a revolutionary braking technology called “City Safety,” which enables the car to automatically brake whenever the car is about to drive into something—a wall, another car—and the driver is not able to respond. This is done via built-in cameras and sensors that can detect imminent impacts.
“We are the first manufacturer in the world to offer this type of feature as standard. City Safety clearly advertises that the new XC60 is the safest car Volvo has ever produced,” Volvo CEO Fredrik Arp said. “The car is packed with our accumulated safety know-how and technology, both when it comes to preventing accidents and protecting all the occupants in a collision.”
Aside from these special attributes, the XC60 does not leave out other staples of a dream comfort car. It has standard Bluetooth connectivity, HD Radio, Sirius Satellite Radio, USB and auxiliary inputs for audio players, power front seats, roof rails, and even a large moonroof.

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Likes:
Attractive styling
Well-trimmed interior
Good handling and acceleration

Dislikes:
Poor fuel economy
Lots of techno buttons

The 2010 Volvo XC60 is the Swedish car company’s first foray into the compact crossover segment—the same niche that includes the BMW X3, Land Rover LR2, Acura RDX, and Infiniti EX35. Happily, the Volvo entry is one of the handsomest of the bunch, comes standard with all-wheel drive and surprising off-road specs, and adds to the brand’s reputation for safety with a new twist.

With the $38,025 XC60, Volvo allows its designers freer rein. The XC60 is a handsome machine—particularly from the side, where it reminds other drivers of a four-fifths-scale Buick Enclave, and from the rear, where the taillights flow into its shoulders like the deltoids of a muscular athlete. The large “ironmark” badge and big grille complete the pro-sports analogy and may be a little big for some tastes. Inside, it’s even more appealing: The Volvo trick of making a thin-panel console leaves storage behind its wood-paneled center stack, metallic trim outlines big geometric shapes, and all sorts of pleasing colors and textures fill out the cabin.

The Bottom Line:
The 2010 Volvo XC60 brings unexpected style and a heavy dose of safety technology to families with all-weather needs.

Read the full review at : The Car Connection

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Volvo launched an all-new entry-level crossover for 2009 called the XC60. The Swedish automaker describes the car as the “safest Volvo ever,” which says a lot coming from a company that built is reputation on just that.

(Click here to use Leftlane’s Price Quote Form to get Volvo XC60 pricing information from a trusted local dealer. Zero obligation)

The model is a direct answer to Acura’s RDX, BMW’s X3 and Infiniti’s EX 35. It is based very closely on the popular XC60 concept vehicle.

“This car is charged with more emotive form and more energy than any other Volvo. We’re elevating our design DNA to an entirely new level by literally turning up the visual volume.,” said Volvo Cars Design Director Steve Mattin. “If you say that you’d recognise a Volvo from a hundred metres away today, I dare say the XC60 radiates a clear Volvo presence from at least twice that distance.”

As a reminder Ford’s now-defunct Premier Automotive Group strategy, the XC60 is expected to share the platform with the Land Rover LR2.

The new XC60 is being launched with a choice of three engines: the turbocharged T6 which produces 285 horsepower, and two variants of the D5 turbodiesel — for Europe — producing 185 and 163 horsepower respectively. All Wheel Drive (AWD) is fitted as standard.

The big news when it comes to safety is “City Safety” — a unique feature to prevent low-speed impacts that are common in stop-and-go commuting. If the car is about to drive into the vehicle in front and the driver does not react, the car brakes itself.

“We are the first manufacturer in the world to offer this type of feature as standard. City Safety clearly advertises that the new XC60 is the safest car Volvo has ever produced. The car is packed with our accumulated safety know-how and technology, both when it comes to preventing accidents and protecting all the occupants in a collision,” says Volvo CEO Fredrik Arp.

The XC60 has its sights set on the same design-conscious target group that the C30 caters to. “One might say that this could be the C30 owner’s next car. It’s as sporty and exciting, but way more capable. With the XC60, we’re widening our model range to attract even more customers with an active urban lifestyle,” explains Arp.

The sales target for the new XC60 is over 50,000 cars per year. The five largest markets during peak year 2010 will be the USA, Germany, Great Britain, Russia and China. Equal volumes are expected between Europe and North America. The XC60 will be built at the Volvo Cars factory in Ghent, Belgium.

[Source: Left Lane News]

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In March, the all new Volvo XC60 will go on sale in the United States. Launched this fall in Europe, the XC60 is Volvo’s entry in the “small premium utility segment,” where it will take on the likes of the BMW X5, the Acura RDX, the Audi Q5, and the Infiniti EX35. Hoping to build on its “safety first” image, Volvo has added measure of performance and fun to its newest vehicle, emphasizing styling, high-tech content, and all-around capability.

BOLDER STYLING, BOTH INSIDE AND OUT
The XC60 is the first production vehicle to reflect Volvo’s new design DNA. With a strong face featuring a larger logo and grille and a broader shoulder line, the XC60 has a more sporty, muscular stance than its Volvo brethren. Yet the XC60 is clearly a Volvo, an indication that the designers have successfully integrated traditional Volvo styling cues into its new design language.

Inside the cabin, the slim floating center stack, which debuted in the S40, is attractively finished in your choice of matte wood or brushed metal and is slightly canted toward the center to give the driver the feeling of being in a cockpit. The sculpted seats are upholstered in two-tone leather stitched in a pattern that Volvo calls its X-theme. “Cross County, Cross City, or Cross Over – choose the interpretation that suits you best,” says Jonathan Disley, head of interior design for the XC60. As with all Volvos, the seats themselves are pretty much the best in the business, being not only supportive but supremely comfortable.

The surfaces inside the cabin are nicely finished, with a visually interesting mix of contrasting materials, including leather, soft-touch plastics, brushed metal, and wood. Headroom is plentiful in all seating positions, and rear seat legroom is acceptable, especially if you’re less than six feet tall.

The XC60’s rear tailgate opening is the widest in the segment, according to Volvo. With the 40/20//40 second row folded flat, you should find room for just about anything you need to haul home from the mall or the garden center. Even with the second row upright, the XC60 olds a relatively generous 30.8 cubic feet of cargo.

Read the rest of the review at Automobile Mag

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