DESCRIPTION

Pros:

• Volvo DNA design shines brightly
• Lots of standard and optional safety features
• Powerful turbocharged engine
• Spacious and stylish interior

Cons:

• Navigation system is difficult to use
• Average fuel economy
• Back seat needs more space for the kids

Ruling: Perfect combination of style, performance, and safety. The XC60 delivers on performance in addition to being one of the best looking crossovers/SUV on the market today.

The addition of the 3.2 R-Design to the Volvo XC60 2011 lineup brings its total number of trim levels to four. The other trims are the base 3.2, the T6 and the T6 R-Design.

The T6 models both have all-wheel-drive systems furnished with sport-tuned suspensions and 3-liter 6-cylinder turbocharged engines that pump out 300 horsepower and 325 pound-feet of torque. The 3.2 trims are powered by the less lusty 240-horsepower in-line-6.

The standard drivetrain offered for the 3.2 and its R-Design version is front wheel drive but the AWD option is available. All trims come with the standard 6-speed automatic transmission with a manual-shift facility.

An Insurance Institute for Highway Safety “Top Safety Pick” for 2011, this five-passenger luxury crossover is loaded with both active and passive safety features that include the City Safety Technology, which uses infrared laser sensors to help drivers avoid collisions.

  As a premium crossover, the XC60 “is an easy driver. The steering tuning is well-balanced, offering some engagement, without requiring weekly weight lifting to turn,” says CNET. Its tastefully designed exterior and plush, distinctly Scandinavian interior make it “a stylish family hauler but it doesn’t sacrifice function for fashion,” notes U.S. News and World Report. With a huge 67.4-cubic-feet cargo capacity, this Volvo’s utility will surely appeal to practical shoppers. Also, though the XC60 is slightly bigger in size compared to its peers, it can be handled “like a smaller SUV. Fleet of foot when equipped with the turbo engine, this might be the best Volvo,” says Car and Driver.

  The EPA has given the XC60 a city/highway MPG rating of 18/25 for the 3.2 trims and 17/22 for the T6 models. Though these estimates are solid, they do not make the XC60 as efficient as some of its competitors. This is just one drawback, though, to what is essentially a great-looking, stable and safe ride.