The XC - or cross country - range of mid-sized SUVs from Volvo are capable vehicles that are popular among families that seek luxury, space and Volvo's trademark - safety.
Among the XC range available here, the XC60 is Volvo's other crossover SUV aside from the bigger XC90. The car was first unveiled at the 2007 North American International Motor Show as a concept and the production version debuted at the 2008 Geneva Motor Show.
This year, in what has been said as one of Volvo's biggest facelift projects, the whole of its 60 range, including the S60 and V60, has been brought to the surgeon for a cosmetic makeover.
Exterior
The most obvious exterior changes would probably concern the front facet. The grille has been widened and the chrome surround on the outgoing model is now gone, giving the XC60 a lower and wider stance.
The trademark diagonal bar across the Volvo badge is now slimmer and a quartet of horizontal chrome bars lie perpendicular to the black vertical bars on the grille.
Sitting on top is a new hood design with sculpted lines, which adds more visual appeal and bulk to make up for the loss of the chrome grille surround. The formerly raised washer nozzles have also gone undercover to a position that is out of sight under the hood.
Flanking these features is a sleeker headlamp cluster that features Active Bending Xenon technology, containing a single bulb now instead of the previous two.
Supporting the jaw is a redesigned front bumper that houses a new and larger air intake. As a result of this, the old pair of trapezoidal driving lights/air intakes formerly located on either side of the lower front fascia have been replaced by a set of new vertical daytime running lights, giving the car an altogether bolder look.
Over at the back, it remains virtually unchanged, except that the old round exhaust tips have been traded for a pair of integrated chrome trapezium units for a sportier appearance as well as a chrome tailgate lining, which adds a touch of sophistication.
Interior
Former Volvo owners should feel at home in the cabin of the XC60 as the location and style of the usual switches, dials and buttons haven't changed much.
That said, there is a more extensive use of soft touch materials with the updated model, such as the fabric wrapped B-pillar, giving an overall boost in luxury levels.
Air conditioning vents and lighting control panel also feature silk metal highlights as part of the upgrade package, livening up the otherwise dull-coloured interior.
One eye-catching update would be the instrument panel, which now features the Adaptive Digital Display, first seen in the V40 Cross Country. The system is programmed with three themes - Elegance as default, Eco to inspire better fuel economy and Performance for a sportier atmosphere.
Former Volvo owners should feel at home in the cabin of the XC60 as the location and style of the usual switches, dials and buttons haven't changed much.
That said, there is a more extensive use of soft touch materials with the updated model, such as the fabric wrapped B-pillar, giving an overall boost in luxury levels.
Air conditioning vents and lighting control panel also feature silk metal highlights as part of the upgrade package, livening up the otherwise dull-coloured interior.
One eye-catching update would be the instrument panel, which now features the Adaptive Digital Display, first seen in the V40 Cross Country. The system is programmed with three themes - Elegance as default, Eco to inspire better fuel economy and Performance for a sportier atmosphere.
Replacing the leather seats from the previous model are sculpted sports seats with Arianne leather upholstery that feels snug and comfortable, with good support all the way from the shoulders to the thighs.
Rear passengers should not have issues with headroom and legroom, thanks to the XC60's tall roofline that provides a lot of passenger space inside, hence ensuring a fresh and relaxed journey.
Busy drivers with weekend-hauling tasks will appreciate the level of versatility and cargo capacity. 490 litres of boot space should be adequate for daily errands and if there's a need to lug back some furniture from fellow Swedish firm IKEA, the rear seats can be folded to provide more than double the space.
The Drive
Under the bonnet lies a 2.0-litre turbocharged engine, producing 240bhp and 320Nm of torque. Although this lump delivers enough power, we detected a tad of coarseness when pushed hard.
In charge of shifting duties is the six-speed PowerShift transmission, a dual-clutch automatic that is also shared with Ford.
Gearshifts are smooth whether left to its own devices or using the manual shifter, but we reckoned there was a little lag in downshifts and a faster shift option would have made the XC60 an even better drive than it already is.
A propelling launch off the traffic lights should not be expected, but a 8.1 seconds century sprint timing is peppy and respectable enough for this 1,748kg SUV.
There is a good weight through the steering, although it could do with a little more feedback. Nonetheless, the ride in the car is one of the most comfortable ones in its class. The suspension has no trouble blotting up bumps and ruts without unsettling occupants.
Under the bonnet lies a 2.0-litre turbocharged engine, producing 240bhp and 320Nm of torque. Although this lump delivers enough power, we detected a tad of coarseness when pushed hard.
In charge of shifting duties is the six-speed PowerShift transmission, a dual-clutch automatic that is also shared with Ford.
Gearshifts are smooth whether left to its own devices or using the manual shifter, but we reckoned there was a little lag in downshifts and a faster shift option would have made the XC60 an even better drive than it already is.
A propelling launch off the traffic lights should not be expected, but a 8.1 seconds century sprint timing is peppy and respectable enough for this 1,748kg SUV.
There is a good weight through the steering, although it could do with a little more feedback. Nonetheless, the ride in the car is one of the most comfortable ones in its class. The suspension has no trouble blotting up bumps and ruts without unsettling occupants.
Putting the scary thoughts about the XC60's tall proportions away - it has excellent handling and drives like a much lower vehicle, with a secure, planted feel in corners.
Volvo has been well-known for vehicle safety and it is not a surprise that the XC60 comes with a wide array of safety features such as the enhanced City Safety - active at speeds up to 50km/h - where the vehicle automatically brakes if the driver fails to react in time to the stationary or moving vehicle in front.
Conclusion
With this update, the XC60 showcases smart-looking Scandinavian style that will appeal, if not, attract buyers who are looking for an uncommon family hauler.
The changes allow the XC60 to look more sophisticated, more upmarket and, least to say, to keep up to date with the trend.
More importantly, with the cleverly designed safety features that have always been a trademark of Volvo, a peace of mind driving experience is ensured.
