It's not a good time to be launching new models but Volvo's XC60, despite the poor timing, is a really inpressive car, writes Michael McAleer, motoring editor.
IT'S A TOUGH time for the car industry and it's a particularly tough time for the Swedes. Its two iconic brands, Saab and Volvo, are reportedly under severe pressure with their US parents - General Motors and Ford respectively - both struggling to stay afloat
Never mind buying this new car, if you have a decent cash reserve in the bank, Ford would happily sell you the brand.
Not only is the market for SUVs in the mire, but its parent firm seems eager to offload the affable premium brand.
They've already taken a knife to the firm's employment figures and more pain is likely as whichever new owners Ford manages to attract tries to turn the bottom line figures from red to black. It's ironic, then, that while Volvo's portfolio of models features several cars that don't really match up to German rivals, the newest one is a touch of class.
The XC60 couldn't have arrived on the market at a less opportune time. Yet the car itself is a very impressive package.
It falls into the "soft-roader" category, and as such competes with a host of recent arrivals from the mainstream and premium brands.
Yet it has enough car characteristics, decent styling and interior touches to warrant consideration not only from the dwindling number of fans of the SUV set, but more importantly from the premium saloon market.
Volvo offers its outgoing S60 as the chief rival for the mid-range BMW 3 Series buyers. However, sales figures regularly reveal it as an also-ran.
That's particularly the case in recent years as the likes of the 3 Series, the Lexus IS range and the Audi A4 have pushed the sector on in terms of design and driving dynamics.
The XC60 follows the product development route set by the likes of the BMW X3. You take your popular - but relatively expensive - full-size SUV and shrink to fit the budgets of middle class families who can't justify the bigger version either in terms of price or utility.
You retain the bulky muscular lines and a few signature elements like the light clusters and big grille, throw in a little four-wheel-drive functionality - just enough to let them traverse across a rain-soaked football pitch without getting stuck, add in an engine range and interior that's taken from the equivalent-priced saloon. Hey presto, you've a soft roader.
The off-road ability is usually too minimal to offer the level of ability or reassurance to let you venture too far off the tarmac, in which case it largely goes unused, while the on-road ability is compromised by the basic laws of physics: a high centre of gravity compromises cornering ability.
In the battle for roadspace in our crowded towns and cities, any advantage is sought and taken. It also offers a bit more ruggedness in terms of handling our rougher rural roads, or at least it gives off a perception of such.
It's like owning a Barbour jacket and living in the city centre. You might never stray outside the range of the 46A bus, but you feel a closer affinity to the hunting set. So Volvo has created the latest motoring attire for the wannabe country lady and gent. And it's a good fit.
From the outside it doesn't look like a poor relation of its bigger brother, the XC90. The shape and stature live up to the desires of its potential owners, particularly with smart lighting touches and that enormous grille.
On the inside, the interior trim is respectable, although the large swathe of plastic in place of the Sat-Nav screen on our test car was disappointing. Given that in-built sat-nav costs €4,970, or the park assist camera costs €1,105, it's not likely that many Irish buyers will opt to fit this screen, so a little more effort could have been made to disguise this large gap.
On a more positive note, the chrome touches to the interior trim give the car a proper premium look and feel. Volvo's "floating central console" is a pure marketing gimmick serving little purpose, but the switchgear and controls are well organised and located.
Space is for five rather than seven, but there is enough leg and headroom for all occupants. Back seat legroom is ample for adults, while the boot offers loading space of between 495 litres to an impressive 1,455 litres with the rear seats folded down. It's a bit of a lift to get things up to the lip, but there's more than enough room for the average family motoring detritus.
Volvo has for years marketed itself as a safe and sturdy brand and the XC60 has some new touches to keep that in the fray. The Volvo City Safety technology will prevent rear end shunts at low speeds by cutting in the braking system when you neglect to.
Simply put, if the car is about to drive into the vehicle in front of it and the driver does not react, the car brakes itself. A row of red lights just below the drivers eye-line alerts them to the imminent danger. In terms of driving ability, the XC60's handling is impressive, and while the ride quality could have been more cushioned, there is a good feedback from the steering. That's something not usually credited to Volvo and one criticism we had of the larger XC90.
Its handling was all too neutral for our liking, particularly at motorway speeds where we would prefer a little more feeling of control.
In this instance, however, the steering always seems to give you confidence.
Our test car was powered by Volvo's latest D5 diesel engine, the higher-powered of its diesel offerings. It's not the most eager diesel engine on the market, despite its 182bhp and 400Nm of torque.
When it gets going, however, the performance is on a par with its rivals, and when you nestle the rev counter above 2,000rpm it has the sort of responsiveness we would want from a car of this price.
The automatic gearbox perhaps doesn't get the most out of the engine, but in this category and class it's probably the only show in town when you conside potential buyers in the used market.
As with all car purchasing decisions in these difficult times, you need to be considering what the future used buyer will want from your car as much as what you might fancy yourself.
And so we come to the cold cash. Volvo is pitching this right into the soft-roader market and it's very well priced. It warrants serious consideration for anyone even considering the BMW X3, when you consider the price difference between the two.
The list of standard features on the XC60 are impressive: you get alloy wheels, roof rails, electronic climate control, cruise control, roll stability control, a roll over protection system and Volvo's whiplash protection system.
In terms of off-road ability, it doesn't have the sort of clout of the Land Rover Freelander, with its All-Terrain system, and that model would probably have its beating in more practical areas as well. All-in-all, Volvo should have a winner on its hands. In better times, it would be a hot seller.
Nevertheless, if Volvo can manage to offer products as competitively priced and well styled then it should do well. The Freelander has its beating in terms of functionality, but for suburban families, the XC60 would be our choice over the host of other premium brand offerings in this class.
FACTFILE
ENGINE:2400cc turbodiesel engine putting out 182bhp @ 4,000rpm and 400Nm @ 2,000rpm
Specification:Dual Stage Driver and Passenger Airbags; SIPS (Side Impact Protection System)with curtain airbags; Roll Stability Control; Roll Over Protection System; Whiplash Protection System; ABS with brake assist; Dynamic Stability and Traction Control; Hill Descent Control; Day Running Lights; Headlamp Levelling System; Climate Control with B Pillar Ventilation; cruise control; Split-folding Rear Seat (40:/20:40); chrome trim on Air Vents; brushed aluminium Trim; radio/CD
L/100KM (mpg):urban: 10.9 (25.9); extra-urban: 6.8 (41.5); combined: 8.3 (34.0)
CO2 emissions:219 g/km
Tax:VRT - 32 per cent; annual motor tax - €1,000
Price:€54,610 (€46,950 to €57,660)