Buying, Owning & Improving
Ian Cushway searches out new and used parts prices
Space, comfort and safety are the plus points of this stylish, supremely capable and now affordable mid-sized SUV. So, what are you waiting for?
Posh, off-road looking compact SUVs are still all the rage these days – and there’s plenty of choice out there. In fact, the used marketplace is awash with possibilities, ranging from the capable and versatile Range Rover Evoque to the Audi Q5 and BMW X1.
An often-overlooked contender in the mid-size SUV class, and a car that easily equals any of the above when it comes to kerbside kudos, is the stylish and refined Volvo XC60. It’s a car that does everything its rivals do, albeit in an altogether less showy and more understated package.
As one of the pioneers in this category, the XC60 broke cover in 2008, at about the same time as the Audi, a year before the X1 and three years prior to the Evoque and received a largely cosmetic refresh in 2013. The second-generation XC60 arrived in 2017 and having been treated to a facelift in 2021 remains the current model.
Suffice to say, the Mk2 further bolstered the success of its predecessor making the XC60 one of the Swedish firm’s best-selling models to date.
As well as being admired by family car buyers, the motoring press liked it too. Indeed, they were quick to extol the XC60’s many virtues, commenting on its refined, comfortable and controlled ride, the good level of fit and finish inside, its big boot and generous amounts of rear passenger legroom.
They particularly appreciated one of its unique safety features – City Safety – which was able to detect a potential collision and activate the brakes automatically if travelling at less than 20mph. That said, they were less keen on the sluggish performance from the 2.4 diesel, its slow steering and fiddly switchgear. Needless to say, issues such as this were addressed and largely ironed out on newer models so are unlikely to be a major niggle for bargain hunting buyers today.
