XC 60: The Volvo’s Most Compact Crossover SUV

The XC 60 is a compact crossover SUV produced by Volvo Cars at the Volvo Cars factory in Ghent, Belgium. The XC 60 concept was a preview of the production XC 60. It included a glass roof and a newly styled grille, with a much larger Volvo logo along with the ‘V’ which is shaped on the Volvo, this was the first of Volvo’s new ‘DNA’ which they are slowly implementing throughout the model range. The XC 60 concept also included a new shifting mechanism, electronic boot lid, and 20 inch wheels. The Volvo XC 60 Vehicle was unveiled at the 2007 North American International Auto Show. The production vehicle itself was unveiled at the 2008 Geneva Motor Show. The XC 60 sales began in Europe in the third quarter of 2008, while North American models went on sale in early 2009 as a 2010 model. In 2009, the Volvo XC 60 was Volvo’s bestselling car.

The XC 60 shares technology with the Land Rover Freelander of 2007, using a modified version of the Volvo Y20 platform. The Land Rover Discovery 4/LR3 will set the stage for these corporate siblings to enter the market, as much of the engineering and tuning of this CUV was done by Volvo in Sweden, only off-road capabilities were done at Land Rover in England. The project director for the XC 60 is Lars Blenwall. In April 2010, an R-Design variant of the XC 60 featuring a color-matching body kit, stiffer chassis and damping, and other unique exterior/interior trim.

In the 2010, Volvo also released the 2010 Volvo XC 60 T6 SUV which is the second of three trim levels, and is basically the lower trim with a turbocharged engine. The added horsepower changes the dynamic of this XC 60 T6 and gives it a bit more of an “edge.” Volvo Car Malaysia also launched a second XC 60 model, and this one is in 2.0 litre turbocharged form.

The Volvo XC 60 2.0T Turbo Powershift, to give the SUV its full moniker, follows in the trail blazed by the XC 60 T6, which arrived on the scene in June 2009 in LE and SE forms. Its arrival brings to an end the journey of the XC 60 T6 variant in the country, of which 150 units have been sold. Where the XC 60 T6 version was fully-imported, the Volvo XC 60 2.0T Turbo Powershift happens to be a CKD version – it’s assembled at Volvo’s plant in Shah Alam, and joins the seven-seater XC90 2.5T petrol and XC90 diesel D5 versions on the lineup of locally-assembled Volvo SUVs.

In the 2011, Volvo has built extra value into its XC 60 compact soft-roader range starting with $1730 worth of extras on its base model up to an additional $9810 worth of equipment on the range-topping variant. And revisions to its sole diesel engine beef up power and torque while cutting fuel use, with the XC 60 model gaining a luxury car tax exemption for the first time that has allowed the Volvo to add a further $1000 in extra value.

It has radically revised the XC 60 line-up, with the range now comprising 10 models covering four engine variants – three petrol and one diesel. No wonder if the XC 60 price could cost more in the US, but if you think you still want to get this car, a used XC 60 Volvo is still worth it. Volvo XC 60 second hand range between $30.000 – $45.000, you can even get a cheaper price if you want to join at the Volvo XC 60 forums.