… Volvo XC60 D5 PowerPulse AWD …
In isolation the Volvo XC60 looks big. And it is, but it’s not really. Confused? This is the XC90’s smaller sibling, but it is longer and wider than the previous XC60 so maybe it’s a larger mid-range SUV or a slightly smaller large SUV if you see what I mean. Whatever, it’s a big car, inside and out.
The trouble is, although cars seem to be getting longer, wider and taller all the time, British roads are not getting any wider. It would appear that the Government has failed to recognise that wider roads which could cope better with bigger cars would make driving safer.
Increasingly stringent European car safety rules have a lot to do with cars growing in size. That’s down to the requirement for deformable structures front and rear, improved side impact protection and the myriad of occupant safety systems which have to be built into every brand new car. Many of these requirements also add weight to cars (and vans and trucks and buses) which make them less efficient despite the adoption of new materials and methods of construction.
Naturally such safety legislation is a good thing, but Governments around Europe appear to have overlooked the fact that if vehicles are getting bigger, roads need to be improved to cope. This is a problem exacerbated by the building of many new housing estates which have very narrow roads and not enough parking spaces for the residents who choose to live there. In effect, the country is getting smaller while cars are getting bigger. There are many areas in the country’s inner cities which are virtually no-go for larger vehicles.
On the other hand this could be a cunning plan by Government to get us on our bikes!
The trouble with that is, the interior of the Volvo XC60 is such a desirable place to be, especially in the British winter and spring weather, that the thought of clambering aboard a bike in the wind, rain and the cold is not a terribly attractive proposition.
Besides, a Volvo is a lot safer than a bike. Volvo was first to introduce a functioning and reliable city centre emergency stop system. The Volvo system applies the brakes when it detects the imminent approach of a pedestrian or cyclist. The company even claims it works with large animals, so if a bull runs out of a china shop towards you, the Volvo will detect it and apply the brakes. What are the chances, eh? Makes you wonder if they tried the system out on a an errant sky-diver dropping down in front of the car?
The car also has steer assist and oncoming lane mitigation plus the latest addition, run-off road protection. If the car detects that it is running off the road it automatically tightens the front seatbelts while the front seats have a collapsible mid section which will reduce vertical forces exerted on the body and help prevent spinal injuries. There are quite a few rally drivers around who could benefit from such an idea!
It’s not only safe, it’s intelligent. Volvo’s Sensus Connect system provides access to the Internet and a range of Apps and there is a full European mapping in the SatNav system with free upgrades for life.
All these electronics and safety systems indicate that the days of full automated driver-less cars are approaching much faster than we dare to think.
For the moment those of us who enjoy the sheer pleasure of driving a nice car had best make the most of it now.
The SC60 sores highly on driver enjoyment. The 231 bhp 2 litre PowerPulse diesel provides effortless cruising and brisk acceleration with smooth and assured handling. That came courtesy of the adaptive dampers with air suspension at £1500 extra. The 8 speed automatic transmission can be a bit hesitant at times especially on the approach to roundabouts. Just be careful when slowing down and then seeking instant response if you spot a gap in the traffic.
The SC60 range starts from just over 37 thousand, but the test car had a whole host of extras which lifted the price to £56,630. These extras included 360 degree Surround View cameras, tilt and slide sunroof and the Park Assist Pilot at £2000. The intelligent braking and sensory systems added another £1500 and the Winter pack £525. As for the Sensus Connect system matched to the Bowers and Wilkins audio system, that added a whopping £2500, and there was more.
The boot is huge especially with the rear seats folded and towing capacity was an impressive 2400 kgs. That made it ideal for rally service barge duty, but for the fact that it had a luxury interior, so no dirty wheels and trolley jacks!
The end result is a superbly equipped motor carriage with the added attraction of the Volvo badge. Ideal for a country gent like me.