2019 Volvo XC60 Dynamic and Sporty

The Volvo XC is arguably the best mid-sized SUV on the market.

It’s a compact luxury cross-over manufactured since 2008 and the first Volvo since the company’s purchase by the Chinese Geely Motors. The first XC60 introduced a fresh vibe to the series line-up, such as Volvo’s new styling cues, a new shift mechanism and electronic features.

As part of its mission statement, “no deaths or serious injuries by 2020”, Volvo has been at the forefront of autonomous technology. We have seen trial after trial such as ‘vehicle platooning’, a scenario where vehicles move in convoys according to destinations.

More applicably, last year Volvo and Uber agreed on a $300 million deal to develop and supply 24 000 self-driving cars. The deal was halted for a moment due to a fatal accident, however, it has since gone through, and Uber will start testing reconfigured autonomous Volvos on public roads in 2020.

Amazing innovation is also taking place at Volvo trucks; they are well advanced in automated driving, electro mobility and connected driving. It seems Volvo is only limited by litigation.

At first sight, the XC60 struck me as Volvo’s most aggressive face, with a long bonnet. It’s an imposing mid-sized SUV with a dynamic and sporty appeal, clothed in elegance. It takes on strong family features and goes unmistaken in identity. Lately,Volvo has taken its design to another level, not failing at all in this area.

On the interior, the XC60 mirrors its larger siblings with reduced clutter around the centre console. We can’t talk Volvo without mentioning the Swedish classic contemporary style furniture brand Ikea, finished in ashy grey/black, while the centre console and interface surroundings get a shiny black finish which blends in well with aluminum strands, knobs, meshes and leather. The fascia is retro but classy.

The XC60 is very comfortable with a quiet spacious cabin – credit goes to Volvo’s scalable product architecture platform, it has enabled smaller engines and bought more occupant space.

Seats are covered in Nappa leather, of which all are ventilated and heated. Volvo seats never cease to amaze. I have not seen seats with more moving parts, in this case powered seat bolsters and cushion extenders, lumbar, headrests and memory. And there is the traditional Swedish flag tag depicting its authenticity.

For infotainment, the XC60 comes with a 12,3-inch portrait screen displaying all your driving modes and configurations, information and entertainment. The rear has its own digital dual-zone climate control.

The Volvo is fitted with a high-end Bowers and Wilkins sound system, complementing its classic character. With it, you are connected to Bluetooth, Wi-Fi, internet radio, media apps and navigation, thanks to the Volvo Sensus Connect. You also have Apple car play and USB and auxiliary ports hidden in the centre console.

Our test drive was the XC60 D5 AWD version, which is the most powerful diesel in the range. It’s powered by a 1 969 cc inline-four unit with two turbo-chargers. The D5 has an output of 173 kW/232 hp, generating 480 Nm. It’s the most powerful of the XC60 line-up and is able to accelerate from 0 to 100 in a speedy seven seconds.

The T5 spec, however, is the fastest sprinter, doing 0 to 100km/h in just over six seconds, all via an eight-speed gearbox. The D5 also boasts good economy, consuming 5,6 litres every 100km.

If we don’t specify its safety features, we would be doing Volvo an injustice – safety is its strength. Firstly, the XC60 scores the highest rating with the European NCAP, which is the strictest crashworthiness body in the world, scoring about 98% in total.

Its features include advanced autonomous emergency braking that detects pedestrians, cyclists, vehicles and even large animals. It’s a system that will also steer out of the way of the detected object. It comes with driver figure detection, lane keep assistance, blind spot monitoring, cross traffic alert and rear collision warning. Should its autonomy fail to deliver, it has seven airbags, including front, side, knee and curtain, and it incorporates Isofix points for child seats.

The XC60 lives up to the Volvo legend of power, safety and comfort. It has suspension regulating road holding, handling behavior and ride comfort. It has independent coil springs at the front and rear, and these are governed by the active chassis with air suspension which adapts to different roads and driving conditions.

In an age of information overload, Sunrise is The Namibian’s morning briefing, delivered at 6h00 from Monday to Friday. It offers a curated rundown of the most important stories from the past 24 hours – occasionally with a light, witty touch. It’s an essential way to stay informed. Subscribe and join our newsletter community.