The old XC60 was an incredible success for Volvo.
In fact, for every year it was in production, it consistently out-sold the year before,
right up to the day the last model rolled off the line.
That means the new XC60 is a car Volvo can't afford to get wrong, but at the risk of making
this the shortest car review in history, let me start by telling you this: they haven't.
For a start, it looks the part, taking all the best bits of its bigger brother, the XC90,
and integrating them beautifully into the XC60's smaller frame.
Indeed, while the XC90 can look rather bulky, the XC60 appears perfectly proportioned.
All models get a power tailgate opening to reveal a decent if not class-leading boot
of up to 1432 litres, while elsewhere in the interior you'll find the same airy feeling
of Scandinavian design that we've come to expect from Volvo, together with some of the
best seats in the business, and some serious quality materials, although it's a shame some
areas aren't quite up to the standards of its bigger brother.
The dash is home to the same Sensus Connect system that's rapidly becoming a firm favourite
of ours, although we will say we think it's a bit much to ask £300 for Apple CarPlay
and £375 for a reversing camera, when even a modest French hatchback has both as standard.
In their defence, Volvo reckons most people buy options in packs, clearing the way for
the more complex 360-degree surround view system.
Engine choices are all 2.0-litre four-cylinder units, starting with a pair of diesels with
either 190 or 235hp, both of which frankly are pretty excellent.
Given the rise in anti-diesel sentiment, it's good to see there's also a turbocharged petrol
unit with 254hp that's capable of sprinting to sixty in just 6.8 seconds, plus of course
there's Volvo's T8 Twin Engine plug-in electric hybrid, although that's pretty pricey at nearly
fifty seven grand.
All engines are mated to an excellent eight-speed automatic, but one strong-point of the XC60
is that all models get all-wheel-drive as standard.
The system operates in front-wheel-drive most of time, but can divert up to half of all
torque to the rear as necessary, and although most people who buy these things aren't likely
to go rock-crawling, the XC60 still boasts a decent 216mm of ground clearance, with air-suspension
models benefitting from an off-road mode that jacks it up by another 40mm.
We spent a week with a D5 R-Design, and although the sportier set-up could be a little fractious
over cat's eyes and manhole covers, it still impressed us with its noise isolation and
a natural ability to cover large distances without breaking a sweat.
But perhaps the easiest way of thinking of the new XC60 is that it represents all the
best bits of the XC90, transposed into a smaller, more agile body.
And to our eyes, a pretty damn good-looking one, too.
For more infomation >> SUVs de luxo: compare Audi Q7, Range Rover Vogue e Volvo XC90 | Comparativo | Best Cars - Duration: 17:07. 
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