Volvo XC60 priced from $59,990 BOCs

VOLVO Car Australia (VCA) has undercut its German medium SUV competition with aggressive pricing for its new-generation XC60 set to go on sale locally from October, with an opening pricetag of $59,990 plus on-road costs.

The five-engine, eight-speed automatic-equipped all-wheel-drive XC60 kicks off from about $6000 below the still-fresh Audi Q5 2.0 TDI Design and Mercedes-Benz GLC220d.

The $59,990 XC60 D4 Momentum includes a 2.0-litre four-cylinder turbo-diesel engine with 140kW at 4250rpm and 400Nm delivered between 1750rpm and 4800rpm, ensuring 0-100km/h acceleration in 8.4 seconds and 5.4 litres per 100 kilometres on the official combined fuel consumption cycle.

Power and torque are identical to the Q5 2.0 TDI Design, but the Audi claims a 7.9s sprint with 5.5L/100km consumption, while the Volvo compares most favourably with the GLC220d’s 125kW/400Nm, 8.3s dash and 5.6L/100km.

A $62,990 XC60 T5 Momentum is also available using a 2.0-litre turbo-petrol four-cylinder producing 187kW at 5500rpm and 350Nm between 1500rpm and 4800rpm, delivering a 6.8s time to triple-digit speed and 7.8L/100km.

Buyers can then step up to the $66,990 XC60 D4 Inscription and $69,990 T5 Inscription grades, the only other grade those engines are available in. The remaining three engines are then only available in sports-focused R-Design trim.

The $73,990 XC60 D5 R-Design adds a second turbocharger to the diesel engine to make 173kW at 4000rpm and 480Nm between 1750rpm and 2250rpm, with a 7.2s 0-100km/h and 5.6L/100km comparing favourably with the $70,990 GLC250d’s 150kW/500Nm, 7.6s and 5.8L/100km equivalents.

With a supercharger added to the turbocharger of the more affordable petrol, the $76,990 XC60 T6 R-Design steps it up with 235kW at 5700rpm and 400Nm between 2200rpm and 5400rpm, its 5.9s 0-100km/h and 8.0L/100km taking it to the $73,211 Q5 2.0 TFSI Sport’s 185kW/370Nm, 6.3s and 7.3L/100km.

Just as Audi does not offer a semi-performance diesel, nor does Mercedes-Benz deliver a semi-performance petrol model below the $101,400 GLC43’s 270kW/520Nm, 4.9s 0-100km/h and 8.8L/100km.

Volvo’s flagship $92,990 XC60 T8 R-Design adds an electric motor to the T6’s engine, with an additional 65kW at 7000rpm and 240Nm between zero and 5400rpm, contributing to a total 300kW and 5.3s 0-100km/h.

While slightly off the Benz GLC43’s performance, it bests the SQ5’s 260kW/500Nm, 5.4s 0-100km/h and 8.4L/100km, and being a plug-in hybrid with up to 45km of electric-only range, the XC60 T8 R-Design claims to deliver just 2.1L/100km.

Every XC60 comes standard with City Safety autonomous emergency braking (AEB), Steering Support with Oncoming Lane Mitigation and Off-Road Mitigation that can guide the steering away from obstacles plus Driver Alert Control, Road Sign Information, Blind Spot Information, Lane Keeping Aid, Rear Collision Warning and Cross Traffic Alert with front and rear parking sensors, 360-degree camera and automatic reverse-park assistance.

All XC60s include a 9.0-inch portrait colour touchscreen with digital radio, satellite navigation, Apple CarPlay/Android Auto smartphone mirroring technology, voice control and 10-speaker/224-watt audio, with optional 15-speaker Bowers and Wilkins audio, plus a 12.3-inch colour driver display.

Even the Momentum includes full-LED headlights with adaptive cornering lights and auto high-beam that can detect traffic and block out the beam affecting individual vehicles plus foglights, 19-inch alloy wheels, dual-zone climate control, leather trim with electrically adjustable front seats including lumbar adjustment and memory settings, and electric tailgate with ‘kick’ function.

A $2500 Lifestyle Package includes heated front seats and panoramic sunroof, while an alternative $6500 Sports Package includes heated front seats, sports steering wheel and cabin trim, larger 20-inch alloys and Bowers and Wilkins audio.

While heated seats, panoramic sunroof and B&W audio remain optional for the Inscription and R-Design, both add 20-inch alloys and 21s respectively, as well as adaptive cruise control with Pilot Assist technology that can partially autonomously drive at up to 130km/h, colour head-up display, four-zone climate control, and extra seat movement (electric side bolstering and thigh extenders).

While the Inscription differentiates itself from the Momentum by replacing a gloss-black grille and body colour side cladding with a chrome variety, plus integrated twin exhausts and Driftwood trim inside, the R-Design steps it up with a mild bodykit incorporating gloss-black and satin-chrome inserts, plus Metal Mesh aluminium cabin inlays and sports seats with charcoal headlining.

R-Design models further include a 20mm-lower sports suspension setup, however Active Air Suspension with Comfort and Dynamic adaptive modes are available as an option both on that grade and the Inscription.

The optional suspension is part of a $7500 Premium Package that blends the Lifestyle Package together with an electric-folding rear backrest and headrests, with the further option of a tailored, trimmed dashboard on Inscription only.

While the Volvo closely matches the GLC for equipment, the Mercedes-Benz still reserves a larger screen and electric seat adjustment with genuine leather trim for the options list at base level. The Audi Q5 also has LED automatic high-beam, 360-degree camera and auto reverse-park assist optional across the board.

Even at nine years old the outgoing, first-generation XC60 remains Volvo’s best-selling vehicle, with 1028 units sold year-to-date comfortably ahead of the Swedish brand’s next best performer, the V40 with 597 sales.

VCA managing director Kevin McCann enthusiastically welcomed the new XC60 to the country, in a statement nominating it as both “the perfect car for an active Australian lifestyle” and representing “the next step in our transformation plan.”“Volvo has a strong heritage in designing stylish and dynamic SUVs that offer the latest in technology,” he added.

“The all-new XC60 is no exception, even by our already high standards. The exterior has an athletic sculpture with a subtle, timeless quality. The interior is a masterful composition of well-resolved architecture, beautiful materials and the very latest technology – all perfectly blended together.”

2017 Volvo XC60 pricing*

Momentum D4 (a)	$59,990
Momentum T5 (a)	$62,990
Inscription D4 (a)	$66,990
Inscription T5 (a)	$69,990
R-Design D5 (a)	$73,990
R-Design T6 (a)	$76,990
R-Design T8 (a)	$92,990

*Excludes on-road costs