The 2018 Volvo XC60 is fully redesigned with more luxury, technology and new engine choices. A smaller version of its sibling, the three-row XC90, the all-new XC60 represents about 30 percent of Volvo Cars’ sales, with more than 1 million sold globally.
It’s also the North American Utility Vehicle of the year, winning the prestigious honor earlier this week in Detroit at the North American International Auto Show. A little closer to home, the XC60 was named the SUV of Texas by the Texas Auto Writers Association.
There’s good reason the XC60 has won all those awards. It is a fabulous car.
Pricing for the T5 starts at $41,500, the T6 starts at $44,900 and the T8 starts at $52,900. My test car for the week was the T6 AWD Inscription with the turbocharged engine mated to an 8-speed automatic transmission.
The XC60 is offered in three trims: Momentum, R-Design and Inscription. Each trim can be paired with any of the available powertrains.
The powertrain in my Inscription test car was a T6 turbocharged gas engine that produces 316 horsepower. The T5 engine develops 250 horsepower, and a top-end T8 plug-in hybrid is also available.
Regardless of which trim or engine you select, you’ll appreciate the luxury of this automobile. It has a world-class cabin with a standard panoramic moonroof, leather seats and Thor’s Hammer LED headlights, as well as Apple CarPlay and Android Auto integrated into the 9-inch center touch screen. Nappa leather seats with ventilation and massage are available.
My test XC 60 had the massaging feature – available in the $3,000 Luxury Seat Package – but it’s the best 3-grand option around. It includes Nappa leather, heating, cooling, power cushion extensions, heated rear seats and even a heated steering wheel. I can tell you that once you’ve experienced these seats, it’s hard to go back to regular car seats.
Front and rear seat headroom are identical at 38 inches. Rear seat legroom is also 38 inches.
Bowers & Wilkins premium sound adds to the luxury inside, and the acoustics inside rivals the Ryman Auditorium in Nashville. My Inscription trim test vehicle also had exquisite inlays and leather all around.
Volvo’s available Pilot Assist feature is another option I checked out, and it’s hands down the best autonomous driving system I’ve driven. Volvo calls it semi-autonomous because it will drive the car for only so long without driver input on the steering wheel. Pilot assist handles steering, acceleration and braking on well-marked roads up to 80 miles per hour.
Some lane keeping systems tend to allow the car to veer to the edges of the lane on either side before correcting, but Pilot Assist keeps the vehicle square in the middle of the lane.
If you’re not so much into autonomous driving aids, the 4,199-lb. XC60 offers a dynamic driving experience with your own hands on the wheel. Steering is linear and precise, and the car soaks up road imperfections without fuss. Some degree of engine and tire noise manages to filter into the cabin, which is really quiet otherwise.
Volvo has long a reputation for building safe vehicles, and the 2018 XC 60 is no exception. The Insurance Institute for Highway Safety gives it its “Top Safety Pick” award.
Standard safety equipment on the test car included Volvo’s City Safety collision avoidance system, lane keeping assist, front seat whiplash protection and a full complement of airbags including a driver’s knee airbag. The $1,900 Advanced Package adds a heads-up display system, a 360-degree camera and adaptive headlights with high pressure washers.
Your search for a mid-size luxury crossover won’t be complete until you head down to Volvo and take the XC60 for a spin.
2018 Volvo XC60 AWD Inscription
Engine:
2.0-liter super & turbocharged 4-cylinder
Horsepower/Torque:
316/295 lb.-ft.
Transmission:
8-speed automatic
Price:
$44,900 ($63,290 with options & freight)
EPA mileage estimates:
21 mpg city/27 mpg highway/23 mpg combined
Estimated highway range:
508 miles