First Drive – A Safety First Approach: 2010 Volvo XC60
Story and Photos by Gerry Frechette
It is no surprise that the new Volvo XC60 premium mid-size crossover has a full suite of safety features, Volvo being rightfully well-known for them. But we can all be told about them and think, okay, that’s nice. It is when you actually experience them that the light bulb goes on and you think, wow, that really works.
Such was the case in our first drive of the XC60 recently. No, the airbags weren’t deployed. We were driving along with no other cars around us, perhaps enjoying the scenery a bit more than we should have been, when the friendly voice in the dashboard comes on to tell us that it appears that we might be drowsy, and perhaps we should stop for a rest break. All because I wasn’t looking straight ahead. The car knew that, and soon enough, I did too.
The XC60 debuts Volvo’s new City Safety system, which we experienced in a controlled situation. City Safety is active at speeds below 30 km/h and utilizes laser sensors mounted on the windshield near the rear-view mirror to monitor up to 10 metres in front of the XC60. If a collision with a vehicle in front becomes imminent and the driver takes no action, City Safety automatically applies up to 50 percent braking power, and stops the car. Yes, on its own, with no driver input.
Okay, so the XC60 is a safe vehicle, the safest Volvo, and maybe the safest vehicle anywhere. It is also very capable and comfortable.
Under the hood is a 3.0-litre turbocharged straight-six, delivering 281 hp and 295 lb-ft of torque, putting the XC60 at the top of the class for power. The engine is mated to a 6-speed automatic with Geartronic, and all-wheel drive with Instant Traction.
The XC60’s interior is roomy, comfortable and very attractively finished, in the Volvo tradition. As usual with Swedish thrones, we can’t overstate how good the front seats are. You can drive all day and never feel fatigued, a safety feature in itself. For its base price, the XC60 is nicely equipped with power windows/locks/mirrors, dual-zone electronic climate control, heated front seats and the active safety features any premium vehicle has to have, including ABS and stability control.
City Safety is standard, but to get all the other electronic safety goodies (and the full-on Dynaudio sound system), one must order the Tech Package for $4,100. There are lots more comfort and convenience features available including panoramic sunroof, navigation, active chassis control, and advanced alarm system, and if you check all the options boxes, you will add about $14,000 to the base price.
Driving the XC60 out on the open road or around town is a confidence-inspiring exercise. The torquey turbo engine gets it up to speed quickly, and the ride and handling are towards the pleasantly-firm side. We couldn’t call it performance-oriented, but it will more than satisfy those who value Volvo’s safety-first approach to building vehicles.
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