VOLVO XC60

Volvo's midsize luxury SUV gets a midlife update to help it stay relevant

- ABHAY VERMA

VOLVO XC60 ULTRA Engine: 2.0-litre four-cylinder turbocharged petrol Power: 250PS @ 5,500rpm Torque: 360Nm @ 1,500rpm Weight: 1,879kg Gearbox: 8-speed automatic Price: 71.90 lakh ex-showroom

In case you didn't know, the XC60 is Volvo's highest selling SUV globally.

And every time I've had the opportunity to drive it, I've been enamoured by its comfort and luxury. I've also always believed the XC60 holds its own against German rivals like the Mercedes-Benz GLC, BMW X3 and Audi Q5, even if Indian buyers haven't really made a beeline for it. May be, that's because Volvo has been more conservative in its approach, and not updated the XC60 as frequently. But Volvo has just given the current generation XC60 a midlife update, and I spent a day behind the SUV's wheel, and came back impressed, yet again.

Design changes are minimal – you only get a new grille with a crisscross design that has it look similar to the XC90's, but the bumpers and even the 'Thor's hammer' DRLs inside the headlamps are the same. That said, the new grille alone helps the XC60 look fresh and very appealing. There's an understated appeal, which helps it look distinctive and befitting of the aura we've always associated with Volvos. The wheel design has changed and the XC60 runs on sharper looking 19-inch wheels now, but again, that's about the only change on the sides. The rear end looks identical to the older version too, even the tail lamps look the same. It's hard to call the overall design old or dated though – it's almost as if there's a timeless charm to the lines, unlike the XC60's German rivals.