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2010 Volvo XC60 T6 AWD
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It’s not often I actually ask for a second go ‘round in a vehicle I've driven upon its introduction, but Volvo’s sexy (!) crossover is that exception. I’d really taken a liking to the XC60 on its launch in San Francisco in January; its compelling combination of great looks inside and out, potent performance from its 281hp turbocharged six (that’s pretty much unaffected by altitude), and all-weather AWD practicality made it seem tailor-made for the Rocky Mountain lifestyle that’s my regular thing.
My biggest gripe had been with the brittle and noisy ride on of the Euro-spec XC60s on California’s Highway 1 and 101. Thankfully, Volvo did some tweaking to damper rates (and possibly bushing kinematics) for the U.S. market, and the example I just spent a week with in and around Denver was much more supple and quiet, without giving up any of the tight-fisted, sporty body control that had made this crossover so fun to fling through the twisties. In fact, it may be one of the best-riding Volvos in recent history.
Everything else was as remembered: excellent ergonomics and amazing seats, killer sound system with standard HD Radio (so much better than satellite in sound quality, which is also included), great cockpit architecture, and—sadly—mediocre fuel economy. The XC60 rarely would exceed 20mpg, except on highway-only runs. But that’s the price you pay for performance like the T6 dishes up, and now that there’s a normally-aspirated 3.2-liter, front-drive model for the rest of the country—most of which doesn’t need AWD or turbo power—everyone else can enjoy the Volvo’s numerous other virtues without worry about pump prices.
THE BROKER’S VIEW: Value can be hard to quantify. Is it just sticker price? What about intangibles (at least when you drive off the lot) like reliability and ease of service? Volvo really seems to have those aspects covered: not only is the bumper-to-bumper warranty longer than most competitors, at 5 years or 60,000 miles, but they also cover all scheduled maintenance and wear and tear for that same time frame. While BMW still has something similar (if shorter in term), Audi and Mercedes no longer do so. And though they all make safe vehicles, Volvo has managed to stay ahead with the introduction of their City Safety system, which is standard on the XC60. While some of these factors may be seen as unquantifiable, what’s isn't is that the Volvo is also about $2000 less than a similarly equipped Benz GLK350 and about a grand less than an Audi Q5.
Price as tested: $44,240
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