Road Test : Volvo XC60 D5

Review by Tristan Tancredi - 15 February 2012

The phrase that I must ensure sticks with you after reading this review is simple: The Volvo XC60 D5 offers ultimate driving comfort.

Driving has never been more pleasant or stress-free after getting behind the wheel of the XC60.

Caressing winding roads with class and supreme smoothness, all the while knowing that you are manouvreing one of the safest cars on the road. A nice thought to have locked away.

The D5 is driven by 5 Cylinder Turbo Charged Diesel, that gives the power required, and then some. Hitting a max power of 150Kw.

This medium sized SUV comes with a 5 star ANCAP rating, combined with exceptional on-road performance, spacious and comfortable interior and all at a cost of around $60,000. Is there a better car in this category on the market?

Drive: 4/5

The 5 cylinder turbo charged diesel has no problem moving the 2500kg mid sized SUV, in fact it delivers more than enough power with ease.

The ride is smooth, really smooth. Take it on the bumpy outback roads, the windy stretches of tarmac down the western coast of Victoria, or the long stretches of highspeed highways and the result is always the same. Smooth.

The 6 Speed geartronic gearbox delivers a high rev count and enough torque to enable a clean, crisp, neat sounding burst of speed. At times, the gear changes can be slow and there can be turbo lag, but this is bearable.

The cabin is otherwise quiet besides the nice purr of the engine.

The car holds its own on corners and the front and rear suspension allow the XC60 to glide through turns.

All said and done, the Volvo XC60 handles the roads of Australia brilliantly. It's a well handled, safe and fun car to drive.

Engine: 4.5/5

There are a number of engine variants available for the XC60, including the Four-Cylinder turbo charged petrol engine, Six Cynlider Petrol, 6 Cylinder Turbo Charged Petrol and the 5 cylinder turbo charged diesel, the latter of which we were lucky enough to own for a week.

The D5 has nice throaty noise about it. This is accompanied by a surprising surge of power that delivers a maximum 158 kw at 4000 rpm and maximum torque sits at 440Nm. Flooring the pedal and that aggressive noise flows through the cabin as you sit back thinking, "Nice".

The 5 Cylinder Diesel Engine does chew through a bit of fuel, however its T5 petrol cousin has a much higher fuel consumption rate.

According the Volvo, the figures point at 6.9L per 100km for the diesel, and 8.7L per 100km for the 4 cylinder petrol engine. We only drove the diesel and we can verify that the claim is pretty accurate. (We clocked a tad more then 6.9 but we drove it kinda fast).

Exterior: 4.5/5

The XC60 measures in at 4627mm long, 1713mm tall and 2120mm wide and has that distinctive Volvo look about it.

The latest edition XC60 doesn't differ a hell of a lot from it's earlier models, they all look pretty similar to the naked eye. But hey, when a car looks as good as the Volvo XC60, why alter it too much?

Sitting atop 17" Silver Stone aluminiums, the XC60 is a sporty looking mid-sized luxury SUV.

A bunch of extras are available including bike holders, sport equipment holders and load carriers for the adventure junkies out there.

Safety: 4.5/5

The XC60 D5 easily puts your worries at ease as soon as you sit behind the wheel.

A 5 star ANCAP safety rating creates the base as to why the XC60 is a pioneer in ultimate driving comfort.

Not only does it relieve the stress and hassle of day to day city driving, it makes it enjoyable.

Combined with all the important safety features, such as: Dynamic Stability and Traction Control, Roll Stability Control aswell as protective safety in the forms of Side Impact, Roll-Over and Whiplash protection systems.

It also has Lane Departure Warning and Driver Alert Control. A blind spot sensor can be flicked on at a switch and flashes when a car is in the blind spots. (However, nothing is safer then a headcheck).

As with all new cars, especially Volvos, it is fitted with a host of airbags including dual stage front airbags, side airbags and inflatable curtain airbags.

We can't give the Volvo a perfect 5/5 on safety as the XC60 is fitted with a space saver wheel. The only letdown in an otherwise perfectly safe car.

All said and done, there is probably no safer mid sized SUV on the road.

Interior: 4.5/5

Luxuruious leather seats fill out the cabin and are as comfy as your favourite lounge chair. Designed specifically to cater for space and comfort, the XC60 really does offer the best of both worlds.

There is plenty of space for a family of 5 to be comfortable on family excursions. The kiddies will quietly drift off to sleep in the comfy, yet slightly upright, back seats.

Complimenting the generous interior space is 495L of boot space. The boot comes with a brilliantly designed rear opening so as to make it easy to transport those larger objects.

Worrying about whether your surfboard or your push bike will fit? Do not fear, the back seats fold down to create sufficient space.

Brushed aluminium trim lines the interior and gives the Volvo a refined, classy look. At an extra cost, different wood-styled trims are available from $600 onwards.

A multi-functioned leather clad steering wheel caters for all your music and information needs. Additional steering wheels are also available at an extra cost.

The best feature about the "floating console" positioned in the centre console is that it is simple and uncluttered. With Bluetooth and Ipod connectivity, aswell as Navigation software, the floating console is easy to use and minimises onroad distractions.

A number of features cap off a brilliant, clean, crisp looking interior. These include an electric park brake, rain sensor wipers and rear park assist.

Overall: 4.5 / 5

The Volvo XC60 hits the mark in pretty much all areas. There is little to complain about with this medium sized SUV.

The 5 Cylinder Turbo Diesel Charged (D5) engine is the perfect engine for this car. Is offers sufficient (and when needed, extra) power and gives off a refreshing, crisp snarl. 

A great asset for a growing family. It's easy to drive, exceptionally safe, spacious and comfortable. A perfect family car.

Priced from around $50,000* for the base model petrol, it offers pretty good value for money. There are heaps of extras, and higher end models, which eventually nudge the price skywards.

If in the market for a mid sized SUV and the price sits right, you need to check out the Volvo XC60 D5.

* Prices are manufacturer list prices only, for the drive away price please contact your local authorised Volvo dealer.