2008 Geneva Motor Show: 2009 Volvo XC60

• Competes with: BMW X3, Land Rover LR2, Acura RDX
• Looks like: Safe comes to the compact luxury SUV market
• Drivetrain: 281-hp, turbocharged six-cylinder
• Hits dealerships: Early 2009

Volvo is jumping into the small luxury SUV game with the XC60. It joins an ever-growing group of very good vehicles, like the BMW X3, Acura RDX, Land Rover LR2, Infiniti EX35 and Mercedes-Benz’s upcoming GLK. Can Volvo play the safe card and win buyers?

That’s what the company says it isn’t doing, at least with the design. While it certainly isn’t boxy, we’re not sure if the lines are as universally appealing as the Infiniti EX35 or as true to their brand as the Land Rover LR2. At first glance the interior looks similar to other Volvos, but the floating center stack is actually off-center, skewing toward the driver. It’s an odd effect, but it might turn out to be quite practical.

Under the hood is the energetic turbocharged T6 six-cylinder pumping out 281 hp — more than any other SUV in this group — we recently tested in the Volvo S80 sedan. It will be the only available engine in the U.S. when it goes on sale in early 2009. All-wheel drive will be standard, which makes us worry that the entry price might be high. But considering that parts of Volvo’s lineup — like the S80 and XC70 — are priced well below the competition, we’ll have to wait and see.

As for safety, the XC60 comes with a crash-avoidance feature that can tell if you’re about to run into the car in front of you, and it then applies the brakes to avoid the accident. Volvo is calling it “City Safety” in the XC60, but it sounds much like the collision warning system in other vehicles in Volvo’s lineup, sometimes as part of a $1,700 option package. City Safety is standard in the XC60.

Check out more photos below and let us know if the looks work or not.

Comments

[PS]

I think that its very sharp looking, I am surprized as most of their designs look awkward.

[Trev - Dog]

I think the XC60 is the best looking Volvo in the Volvo lineup. The angles make the car look aggressive but still... well, SoccerMom! Love the offset center stack.

[Roger]

It's about time that Volvo announced the xc60. Cann't wait to see it in the showroom. If it looks as good in person I will probably driving one next year.

[DonB]

I think this is a great-looking design. It looks contemporary, clean, and a little different from those "run of the auto mill" boxes that are so boring.

[Tally]

The look of this new smaller XC is really sharp, I only hope the reliability is much improved over our XC. In the past two years we've put close to $3,000 in repairs fixing ABS brake issues and various electrical issues. I regret not taking a firmer stance with my wife when I told her to go with the MDX. Now she can't wait to get rid of it as she's afraid it'll leave her stranded again. Seven more payments and we'll end up dumping it for a Japanese vehicle. Who would have thought a Volvo with just 60k on it would be so problematic!

[Dave T.]

Roger,
Volvo debuted the concept at last year's Detroit Auto Show. So just over a year to debut the production. That's pretty darn fast!

[Johannes Ketter]

Hier bei Infiniti freuen wir uns sehr auf den europäischen Markt, sowie die offizielle Einführung bei der Genfer Motor Show (06. – 16. März).

Wie Sie diesem Artikel entnehmen können, sind alle bisherigen Reaktionen extrem positiv ausgefallen. Wenn Sie gerne wissen möchten, was andere über Infiniti zu sagen haben, besuchen Sie unsere Website www.infiniti.eu. Dort erwartet Sie eine Zusammenstellung verschiedener Presseartikel.

[J]

Strangely, the askew center stack reminds me of the one in my windstar SEL while the side profile looks Ford Edge-ish. the rear looks unmistakably volvo while the front looks a little Nissan with a too-large emblem. A nice looking car overall, and the interior should be voluptuous. Quality is up in the air right now for this model.

[Used Cars]

great! I want to see the showroom! when and where it be held?

[Zach]

I love the looks. If my 2007 XC90 3.2 is any indication of future reliability, then I think Volvo has a winner - not one problem in the first year. I've driven the new T6 engine in an S80 and it feels great. I only wish Volvo would offer that new T6 in the XC90.