Time flies and we’ve already reached the point where we are looking at the half-life upgrade for the current model Volvo XC60 and the this upgrade offers some interesting new features … most of which are either under the hood or in the interior.
The exterior
On the outside the Volvo XC60 gets a new headlight design and a free-flowing, uncluttered panel surface while the XC60 R-Design gets a redesigned nose, slightly different paint on the grill and a “refined” R-Design emblem.
All-new 20-inch Ixion II wheels are also now available on the XC60 R-Design.
The interior
The Volvo XC60 gets new upholstery colours, new wood inlays, a new headliner and silk metal frames around air vents and light controls. The option of sports seats has also been added to the new XC60 and now there are three different ways of opening the power-operated tailgate.
The XC60 R-Design comes with the new sports seats as standard. The standard upholstery is full leather or there’s a free option of cloth and perforated leather
Safety features
Corner Traction Control is now standard across the range but oddly Hill Descent Control remains as an option.
The XC60 R-Design chassis has been stiffened and the shock absorber springs and anti-roll bars have been tweaked to make them firmer and more balanced
The engine
There are four engine options (two petrol and two diesel) for the Volvo XC60 starting with the T6 petrol engine that delivers 224kW of power and 440Nm of torque. This is coupled to Volvo’s second-generation six-speed Adaptive Geartronic transmission.
The XC60 R-Design has the same T6 petrol engine but it has been Polestar-optimised and now has a displacement of 3.0 litres and produces an extra 20kW of power and40Nm of torque
The XC60 is also available with the 2.0-litre GTDI T5 petrol engine that produces 177kW of power and 320Nm of torque.
From there the Volvo XC60 moves into diesel propulsion with a Polestar-optimised D5 engine for the R-Design that produces 169kW of power and 470Nm of torque that drives through a six-speed Adaptive Geartronic gearbox.
The standard D5 diesel engine is used for the lesser Volvo XC60 and it delivers 158kW of power and 440Nm of torque.
There is also a five-cylinder D4 diesel engine available for the XC60 that delivers 120kW of power and 400Nm of torque at just 1500rpm.
Technology
Volvo’s Adaptive Digital Display which first appeared in the new Volvo V40 now makes its appearance in the XC60. This display uses a Thin Film Transistor crystal display to give the driver personalised information and drivers have the choice of three different themes for the display.
XC60 R-Design owners have a different set of themes to what appears in the XC60.
The XC60 now comes with permanent high beam thanks to Volvo’s new Active High Beam Control. This system save the driver from having to switch from high to low beam if a car is approaching at night and it works through a projector module integrated into the headlamp.
This module assesses how much of the high beam needs to be shaded out when there is an approaching car or when the XC60 is closing on a car travelling in the same direction.
There’s also new software that extends the Volvo XC60’s ability to detect and slow the car if there is a cyclist in a dangerous area ahead of the car. The system will even bring the XC60 to a halt if a cyclist swerves in front of the car and a collision is imminent.
The same technology can also detect pedestrians who step in front of the car. If the driver does not respond by applying the brakes the system will do it for him.
Volvo’s City Safety system is also standard across the XC60 range. This system works at speeds up to 50km/h and automatically applies the brake if there is a danger of rear-ending the car in front.
The bottom line
The entry level Volvo XC60 starts at $58,990 and you can add another $2,000 for the entry level diesel while the top of the range petrol XC60 starts at $61,990 and you can add another $8,000 for the diesel version.
The Volvo XC60 R-Design diesel version will set you back $73,990 and you can add another $5,000 for the petrol version. While Volvo’s press release did not mention dealer and government charges I believe that the above price points do not include these charges.
