Volvo is on a roll with a fresh suite of SUVs

The Swedish brand has used Chinese cash from new owner Geely to get going again, including a family of SUVs with the mid-size XC60 at its core.

Volvo is on a roll with a range of newcomers that sell on style, not just safety. The Swedish brand has used Chinese cash from new owner Geely to get going again, including a family of SUVs with the mid-sized XC60 at its core.

THE PICK-UP

ALI: I love these new Volvo models. They are understated with quality, safety and good design.

PAUL: We don’t even need to talk safety, because it’s got all the latest driver assistance tech to help you avoid a crash.

ALI: That’s what I expect.

PAUL: But the shape is back to boxy, just as in the ’70s and ’80s.

ALI: That’s fine in an SUV. It’s about function.

PAUL: Just checking. Because I also like the way it looks, especially the cabin.

ALI: I liked the XC90 as well.

PAUL: And next year there is going to be an XC40.

ALI: It sounds like Goldilocks and the Three Bears. Why do they need three sizes of the same car?

PAUL: They have to cover the various size and price brackets and they are not exactly the same car, although a lot of the hidden stuff in the XC60 is shared with the bigger XC90.

THE BAGGAGE

PAUL: It’s pretty roomy for me. And the outward vision is great.

ALI: Good space. It’s easy to load and I like the electric tailgate. That’s much easier to load up after I’ve been to the markets.

PAUL: But even cheaper SUVs have those.

ALI: If you pay a premium but it’s part of the package on this one.

THE COMMUTE

PAUL: We’ve got the petrol engine which is a bit complicated, with a turbocharger and a supercharger, but the outputs are good — 235kW and 400Nm. And it’s all-wheel drive with an eight-speed auto and paddle-shifters.

ALI: I don’t care about that, so long as it zips away at the lights.

PAUL: This one is the fully loaded T6 R-Design, with that giant glass sunroof and all the fruit. To be honest, I’d be just as happy in the basic car at $59,990 — this one runs up to nearly $85,000 on the road.

ALI: Those electric seats are so annoying. They need to go back to the way they were set for the previous driver.

PAUL: The driver’s slides all the way back every time. Then you have to wait for it to rumble forward.

ALI: They must be expecting a lot of large people to buy it.

THE SHOPPING

ALI: The 360-degree camera view is tricky but disconcerting when all I want is to look behind me. I just want a straight reversing camera but perhaps I need more time with it.

ELI: Don’t forget the parking.

ALI: That’s right. I tried the automatic parking but couldn’t get it to work for me. Probably something else that takes time.

SUNDAY RUN

ALI: A beautiful drive and amazing suspension. I hardly noticed my least favourite speed hump.

PAUL: It’s definitely good but maybe not the best in class. The R-Design package brings big wheels and good cornering grip, which I like. And the top-level engine has some serious go, even with five people on board.

ALI: One thing I’m missing is the old console design I remember from the V40, which had a big cut-out area and huge carrying capacity.

ELI: When you’re wearing thongs, you can feel little air vents blowing on you.

PAUL: The interior design is simple, effective and I think the quality is fantastic.

ALI: I like the portrait-style infotainment screen. The interface is user-friendly— you can swipe and pinch like an iPad.

THE FAMILY

PAUL: This one does everything we need and delivers proper class and quality.

ELI: My friend Hunter liked it, too.

PAUL: It’s the right size for us.

ALI: I thought it was the XC90 at the start. The cabin is so roomy and it has all that boot space.

THE TICK

ALI: It’s a tick. So long as you’re good with reverse parking.

PAUL: Or you have more time to learn about it. It’s a tick for me, too.

VOLVO XC60 T6 R-DESIGN

PRICE from about $84,059 drive-away

SERVICE 3 years/unlimited km, $3500 for 3 years

ENGINE 2.0-litre 4-cyl turbo and supercharged, 235kW/400Nm

SAFETY 5 stars, 7 airbags, city saafety, steering assist, Pilot Assist

FUEL 8.0L/100km

SPARE Space-saver

BOOT 505L/854L