2013
Volvo
XC60 Review
(3 Stars)
Reviewed by Automotive on
The 2013 Volvo XC60 may be the perfect SUV in the Volvo lineup. It features a stylish exterior, plenty of room, and great power, which distinguishes it from some other Volvos in the wagon/crossover/SUV range. In fact, if you seek sportiness and power in a Volvo SUV, there’s really no other choice. All the advantages drivers look for in a Volvo SUV they find here, with few of the drawbacks. In fact, the only real drawback compared to the others in the Volvo lineup concerns size. Unless you absolutely need a larger SUV, the XC60 is the way to go for Volvo sport utility vehicles.
The XC60 provides the modern answer to the family station wagon of old. It includes double built-in booster seats, as much cargo space as an old-school wagon, and of course, a great safety record. All that comes in a modern package that allows the 2013 Volvo XC60 to fit in in just about any environment. Trim levels for the 2013 Volvo XC60 include the base 3.2, the turbocharged T6, and the sporty T6 R-Design, with Premier, Premier Plus, and Platinum sub-trims.
New For 2013
As one of the most up-to-date vehicles in the Volvo fleet, the 2013 Volvo XC60 has plenty of updated features, all standard, including headlight washers, headlight tunnel detection, automatic windshield wipers, an illuminated shift lever and a leather-covered steering wheel.
Exterior
The 2013 Volvo XC60 is probably the best looking large vehicle Volvo sells. It’s a far cry from the boxy wagons of Volvo’s past. Standard exterior features include 18-inch wheels, automatic washer headlights, and roof rails. Upgrades include silver roof rails, keyless drive, a sunroof, tinted rear windows, xenon headlights, a power liftgate, and front and rear parking sensors. The sporty R-Design features 20-inch alloy wheels with dual chrome exhausts. Available colors include Flamenco Red Metallic, Terra Bronze Metallic, Black Stone, and Ice White.
Interior & Cargo
The 2013 Volvo XC60 has a plush, comfortable interior. Families with kids welcome the integrated booster seats, along with the rear seat entertainment system. The XC60 has room for five, and offers a healthy 30.8 cubic feet of cargo space with all seats in place, expandable to a maximum cargo capacity of 67.4 cubic feet. The XC60 includes a fold-flat passenger seat and a 40/20/40 split-folding rear seatback.
Standard interior features include an eight-way power driver’s seat with adjustable lumbar support, a leather-covered wheel and shift knob, dual-zone climate control, and tilt/telescoping functions on the wheel. Bluetooth connectivity comes standard, and the basic entertainment features include eight speakers for HD radio, satellite radio, and a CD player, with an iPod/USB interface. The Platinum trim provides a real-time traffic navigation system and 12-speaker surround sound. In the sporty R-Design, drivers get a sport steering wheel and sport seats.
On the whole, controls seem well-placed and intuitive, although audio and navigation could both stand a bit of a facelift. The interior looks great with lots of alloy trim and leather, and climate controls prove easy to use.
Safety
Volvo puts a premium on safety and, as perhaps the most modern SUV in the Volvo line, the 2013 Volvo XC60 benefits from all the safety advantages Volvo has to offer, most notably the City Safe system, which detects objects that indicate when a low-speed collision may be imminent, and it applies the brakes automatically to avoid a crash. A blind spot warning system provides an option that you shouldn’t skip if you’re interested in safety, and if safety is your top priority, you must add the Technology options package, which provides such anti-accident safety features as pedestrian detection, driver inattention alert, adaptive cruise control, and lane change warning.
As you would expect when shopping for a Volvo, the 2013 Volvo XC60 aces the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety’s (IIHS) safety tests. On all four measures, including frontal-offset tests, side-impact tests, roof-strength tests, and rear-crash protection tests, the XC60 scores the IIHS’ highest rating of ?Good.?
In addition to the state-of-the-art safety features listed above, the 2013 XC60 also includes a wide array of standard safety features, including emergency brake assist, emergency braking preparation, electronic brake force distribution, stability and traction control, and a four-wheel anti-lock braking system with ventilated front and rear disc brakes. Along with the integrated booster seats, you can find child seat anchors in the XC60 as well as rear-door child safety locks. You also find an engine immobilizer and alarm system for theft protection. Other safety features include front and rear seat belt pretensioners, tire pressure monitoring, and dusk-sensing headlamps.
Driving Experience
All XC60 models offer a comfortable, quiet, stable ride, but how much power and performance you get depends on which model you buy. Driving enthusiasts should upgrade from the base front-drive 3.2 with a 3.2-liter, six-cylinder engine linked to a six-speed automatic that generates a mere 240 horsepower and 236 lb-ft of torque. You can upgrade to all-wheel drive, which comes standard on the more powerful T6 with its turbocharged, 3.0-liter six-cylinder that bumps you up to a full 300 horsepower and 325 lb-ft of torque. The R-Design serves as the peppiest and sportiest of the lot, delivering 325 horsepower and 354 lb-ft of torque, and jumping from zero to 60 mph in a head-turning 6.2 seconds. Fuel economy does not mark strength for the 2013 Volvo XC60, with 19/25 city/highway on the base and 17/23 mpg city/highway for the T6 versions.
Key Competitors For The 2013 Volvo XC60
- Audi Q5
- Mercedes-Benz GLK-Class
- Cadillac SRX
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