Volvo XC60 T5 Review: Star child

What we like:

A fresh modern Scandinavian design that is equal parts elegance and aggression.

What we dislike:

Steering lacks feel and accuracy.

Volvo has chosen to leave the mechanical bits out of the latest update which isn’t an entirely bad thing. The car still comes with the same 2.0-litre four cylinder T5 unit that boasts 240bhp supplemented with a healthy 320Nm of torque from 1800rpm.

The car is relatively brisk off the line and completes the century sprint in just 8.1 seconds. More importantly, the cog swopping done by the dual clutch Powershift gearbox is smooth. But like in previous models, paddle shifters are still missing and requires manual shifting to be done through the gearshift alone. Though this is a small annoyance considering that most potential owners wouldn't bother with it anyway.

Ride comfort is excellent on the XC60 and the car handles the dips and bumps well on our roads. It is firm but supple when needed without being rolly-poly in the bends.

Steering lacks any real feel and isn't quite as sharp as its competitors. But the car stays properly rooted in the bends despite the lack of steering feedback.

It’s obvious that this was more of a visual update than a serious rethinking of the model but we’re not complaining. The new face draws the model closer to its German rivals in terms of design with many of its competitors going the way of LCD instrument panels lately.

The XC60 looks like an SUV but drives more like a sedan while providing SUV standards of space and practicality. It remains a sensible choice for the young family looking for style, unquestionable safety and decent cargo capacity.

Credits: Story and Photos by Benjamin G. Kline