We Hit Road In All-New Volvo XC60

Our verdict as we get behind the wheel of new smaller brother to XC90, which has a tough act to follow.

- Steve Fowler

IT’S been a remarkable couple of years for Volvo since the launch of the XC90. That car, along with the S90 saloon and V90 estate, has firmly established the maker as a proper premium brand, battling BMW, Audi, Mercedes, Jaguar and Land Rover.

Now it’s the turn of Volvo’s 60-series cars, starting with the XC60 SUV. And if you thought the XC90 had it tough, this car is replacing the best-selling Volvo in history – and it’s up against the current Auto Express Car of the Year, Jaguar’s F-Pace. It also rivals the Audi Q5 and Mercedes GLC. Tough gig.

The similarities between the XC60 and XC90 are clear. From the LED running lights and upright grille to the distinct profile and a traditional rear, the XC60 is Volvo through and through. But if you were to put the two SUVs together, you’d notice that the 60 is curvier, with a sharp crease atop the rear wheelarches and wider lights to highlight the lower and, whisper it, sportier look.

The XC60 shares much more than simply its design with its brother. It sits on Volvo’s Scalable Platform Architecture (SPA), and borrows the XC90’s engines, much of its tech and plenty of the cabin bits and pieces, too. It’s 261mm shorter, 9mm narrower and 118mm lower, and it’s a little shorter and lower but slightly wider than the F-Pace, too.