Volvo’s sporty take on its XC60 SUV comes with two turbodiesel engine choices or the 282bhp petrol-fuelled 3.2-litre six-cylinder engine used in the T6. The T6 only comes with a five-speed Geartronic automatic gearbox, while the diesels use six-speed manual gearboxes as standard, with the option of an auto at extra cost. For the R-Design, the D5 engine has 202bhp to drive all four wheels, just like the T6 model, while the 172bhp 2.4D DRIVe model only sends power to the front wheels. Because of the lighter weight of the DRIVe model without the four-wheel drive mechanics of its sister models, it feels just as quick in a straight line. However, the front-drive DRIVe model does suffer from a fair amount of power travelling through just two wheels and the steering wheel can writhe in the driver’s hands on anything but a perfectly smooth road. We also find the XC60 diesel models are better suited to the manual gearbox as they feel more lively and fun to drive.

The XC60 R-Design comes in standard and SE trims, both of which provide a plethora of standard equipment to feel every inch the luxury SUV. With strong residual values, competitive pricing and Volvo’s quality to back them up, the only thing that prevents this Volvo scoring a full five-star rating is that there’s not a more frugal engine option. Even the 2.4D DRIVe model with its 47.1mpg and 159g/km carbon dioxide emissions is good rather than great, and you have to sacrifice four-wheel drive to achieve these figures.

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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.

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Volvo have this afternoon released its 2010 diesel powered line-up at a brief media gathering in Melbourne.
Featuring two new turbo-diesel engines — an all-new twin-turbo five-cylinder and a single-turbo four-cylinder — Volvo now offers an economical, low emissions diesel option for every vehicle in next year’s range, excluding XC90.

Volvo D5 Engine
The new 2.4-litre twin-turbo D5 engine has, except for its designation and in-line five-cylinder configuration, no relationship with the previous unit.
Available in XC60, XC70 and S80, the new D5 engine is mated as standard to a six-speed adaptive Geartronic transmission, driving all wheels via a Haldex All Wheel Drive system.

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Diesel engine, Geartronic, Inline-four engine, Transmission, Volvo S80, Volvo V70, Volvo XC60, Volvo XC90