Swedish design meets mountain-goers' needs.
Small SUVs and crossovers are exploding in popularity -- and rightfully so! Some might even argue that they're what SUVs always should have been years ago, because how many people (off-road enthusiasts excluded) actually take their Range Rover across Black Bear Pass? Instead of paying for off-road capability, you can get what you really want in an SUV: the ability to move people, the room to stock up at Costco, the ability to go skiing/mountain biking/camping, and easier winter driving -- all in a vehicle that's more fuel-efficient and handles much better than its off-road focused cousins. And the XC60 shows that Volvo understands that (perhaps better than any other car company right now), putting it in the running for the ultimate Denver bruiser.
So what makes it so good? Let's start with the obvious -- the exterior design. It's clear Volvo has been going through somewhat of a design renaissance, and it's spot on. It's forward-thinking and futuristic without being too gaudy, and unlike Volvos of old (unless you get really old and, of course, the p1800 is excluded), it actually stirs some emotion. Then you plant yourself inside, and it's classic Volvo, which is a really good thing because Volvo interiors are spectacularly comfortable, ooze quality, and are modest in a good way. It's like how you might imagine a good butler to be; just don't forget to substitute the accent for a Swedish one!
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Then there's the tech. Volvos have always attracted a "smart" crowd, like seasoned college professors, techies, and well-to-do people who want Mercedes-grade comfort without people knowing that they're laissez-faire capitalists. With that said, the XC60 is so smart it's even got "intelligent" windshield wipers and everything else you could ask of a modern car. Again, it's a Volvo, so the tech is there if you want it and not forced upon you like some of its counterparts.
As for the way it drives, it's built on Volvo's all new Scalable Product Architecture platform which it shares with the XC90, and it's a big step forward. Volvo likes to emphasize how the XC60 is a driver's car, and I will say it is athletic, but I would never bless it as driver's car. (Of course, that's coming from a disgruntled purist who thinks that to qualify for the title of "driver's car" it's got to have three pedals; although, I'm slowly warming up to paddles!).
That's okay, because you don't buy a XC60 because you're into club racing. You buy it because you like trying "elevated" cuisine in RiNo, have to entertain clients, need to pick up a bag or two of potting soil, and your friends invited you to Crested Butte, in which case the XC60 is the perfect vehicle to bring. So unless you're trading into the XC60 from a Porsche Cayman GT4, Corvette Grand Sport, or a Mazda MX-5, the XC60 will be more than enough driver's car, more comfortable than others in its class, and even smarter than your honor student.
It's this combo of tech, luxury, and design that puts it in the running for the ultimate Denver bruiser. What are your thoughts? Have you driven one? Let us know in the comments below!
