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FIRST DRIVE
CARS ADVENTURES
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V O LV O X C 6 0
Unpredictably handsome on the outside and incredibly homely on the inside, the 2018 edition is implacably competent. Alvin Thomas enjoys the Swedish luxury and largesse wrapped in indubitable safety
aring and sporty designs, unimaginably futuristic technologies and safety features to match; who thought that Volvo – of all car companies – would be the one to redefine the car market with its prowess and dexterity? Its vehicles, starting with the XC90 SUV all the way to the contemporarily styled S90, break the style barrier with ease. Nevertheless, four years since the release of its remodelled XC90, the folk are back at it – and this time it’s with an SUV in a smaller guise. And joy of joys, the vehicle in question here – the XC60 – is peppered with clues that it’s nothing short of the XC90 that it shares space with. Often touted as a stepping stone to the larger sibling, the XC60 has always been something of an underdog. And going up against the likes of German and Japanese vehicles that has over time gained in size and market share didn’t aid its cause either. But for 2018, the XC60 dons a rather outlandish
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approach – entering the market with a little more than just substance. It has finally got style too. Volvo keeps the XC60’s fascia in line with the XC90’s for the greater good, albeit with a few nips and tucks. For instance, the ‘Thor’ LED daytime running lights now integrate into the front grille. All styling elements, including the faux air-intakes, are inconspicuous and a bit discreet, however, it’s predictably handsome. The side profile is what gives away the SUV’s dimensions. Still, it rides tall and provides decent approach and departure angles, but the 19-inch alloy rims mask that to add to the sporty appeal. The tail lamps on the D-pillar are inspired from those found on the XC90, but are seemingly sharper and streamlined to match the proportions. The posterior is rounded off with dual exhausts. Anyone who has been in an XC90 will find the XC60’s interior to be like home. It’s all very contemporary; it’s all very IKEA. Not much has changed – and that’s a great thing. Everything from the knob-type engine start/stop and the seats, all the way to the 9.2-inch touchscreen and the 12.3-inch digital driver’s display remains similar to the latter. The touchscreen is slick (it’s faster than before courtesy software upgrades) and intuitive; it controls functions ranging from your climate control, infotainment, and even your driver aids. Navigation and Google Search seem to be pre-loaded as standard, too. Meanwhile, the digital driver’s display keeps it simple with a speedometer and tachometer, and a central portion that can be altered to display anything from maps to your music playlist. It’s all very nifty. Moving on, the XC60 comes with heated and
ventillated seats that are also 10-way electronically adjustable. While this gives you the liberty to adjust your seats according to your preferences, I did find the seats to provide adequate lumbar, thigh and side support regardless of the setting you choose. Rear passengers are treated with adequate space, too. It compares itself with