Refinement is also up a few notches and the new XC60 offers a pleasantly cushy ride. The standard air suspension and active chassis allow for dynamic ride quality improvements and adjustments on the go. In Eco and Comfort modes, the XC60 makes it evident that the target was a softer ride and it impresses with its comfort. The sound deadening, a bane on the older cars that made a bad bump sound a lot worse than it felt, has been vastly improved upon. At speed, it’s more whoosh and less whirr. There is slight body-roll perceptible, but it’s nothing to discuss, really. In Dynamic mode, the dampers work hard, stiffening up for better handling dynamics, yet the ride remains soft, with the car slinking down to a lower ride height for reduced drag. There’s also an Off Road mode. Find the rough stuff, and it raises the XC60 up to 223 mm. The smart four-wheel driveline distributes the torque effortlessly no matter what the surface or conditions. With the plethora of driver aids, there is absolutely no feeling of a loss of control.
On the open highway with lane markings is where it truly shines, though. The scenario of five occupants with a loaded boot hitting the road for a trip away from the ordinary takes shape very well. The adaptive cruise control aided by the radar sensor, camera and laser setup under the IntelliSafe umbrella make cruising a breeze. Set the speed and the XC60 follows the road, keeping to its lane, following a vehicle ahead or maintaining a set speed, all this while accelerating, braking and steering by itself, leaving you, pretty much, at leisure to chat with others in the car, or even relax a bit after the strains of getting out of the city and enjoying the initial bit of open highway. The heads-up display show current speed, and prioritises navigation notifications, for instance, any turns coming up.
The XC60 behaves very well at speed. It’s claimed top is 210 km/h, so a 120-km/h cruise speed is nothing more than a relaxing jaunt for the twin-turbo motor. The added sound-deadening also reduces outside noise, including unruly traffic and any tyre noise, making it rather deceptive on the move. Should you need to shed speed, the brakes are rather large and are very progressive in delivering their stopping power. All in all, the new XC60 is a commendable evolution, built on a revolutionary new platform that promises more and delivers on all counts. It’s smooth, refined, comfortable and, by a huge margin, safe. With all it offers, it helps maintain the calm no matter what’s on the outside and that, in essence, is its greatest virtue.
Need to Know – Volvo XC60 D5 AWD
Price: Rs 55.90 lakh (ex-showroom)
Engine: 1,969 cc, in-line four, twin-turbo diesel
Max Power: 235 PS @ 4,000 rpm
Max Torque: 480 Nm @ 1,750-2,250 rpm
Transmission: Eight-speed, automatic, all-wheel-drive
Weight: 1,900 kg
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