Volvo XC60 boasts safest crossover

Fulfilling its decades-long reputation for safety innovation, Swedish carmaker Volvo debuts the safest crossover sport utility vehicle on the road and stocks it with desirable features.

Arriving at U.S. dealerships in time for spring, the 2010 XC60 is a stylish five-passenger, tall-riding crossover with turbocharged engine and a safety first — a high-tech system that can apply the brakes and even stop the vehicle when sensors detect an impending slow-speed, front-end collision.

Called City Safe, the system works at speeds between 2 and 18 miles per hour and uses an infrared laser to monitor the closing rate of the XC60 to the vehicle just ahead. If the driver takes no action, the system applies the brakes abruptly before a crash occurs.

Volvo officials say that up to 9 mph, City Safe may be able to stop the XC60 in time to prevent a collision. At higher speeds to 18 mph, City Safe should at least lessen the force of a collision and reduce vehicular damage — not to mention damage to a driver’s pocketbook for repairs.

The new system, the first of its kind in a production vehicle, joins an already lengthy list of standard safety features in this newest Volvo. The list includes electronic traction control and stability control, curtain air bags, antilock brakes with emergency Brake Assist and a body structure that’s reinforced on the sides for improved crash protection. There’s even an optional booster cushion for children for the back seats that is height-adjustable. No other integrated child seat provides height adjustment.

All this safety isn’t cheap. Starting manufacturer’s suggested retail price, including destination charge, is $38,025 for a base 2010 Volvo XC60 with 281-horsepower, turbocharged six-cylinder engine and standard all-wheel drive.

The test XC60, with many of the optional safety items such as a blind spot alert that beeps to tell a driver that another vehicle is nearby, topped out at more than $46,000.

Competitors include the 2009 Acura RDX with starting retail price of $34,655 for a base model with 240-horsepower, turbocharged four cylinder and standard all-wheel drive and the 2009 Infiniti EX35 with starting retail price of $32,765 for a base model with 297-horsepower V-6 and two-wheel drive.

Standing 5-feet-6-inches tall, the sizable-for-a-compact XC60 has a beefy appearance, despite the nicely styled lines. And it’s heavy, too, weighing nearly 4,200 pounds, or nearly as much as a 2009 Lincoln Town Car. It’s also 250 pounds heavier than an Acura RDX.

The heft was evident during the test drive as riders’ heads moved to one side and then the other side as the XC60 took right- and left hand curves on twisty roads.

I just wish the otherwise comfortable and leather-covered seats had more lateral support because I slid around a lot while driving on curvy roads. I also had to get accustomed to the sizable front head restraints that sat very close to the back of my head — closer than what’s typical in other SUVs.

In the city and on the highway, the XC60 shines, providing good views out over most traffic. Note that the 9.1 inches of ground clearance under the vehicle are more than what’s found in most other crossovers.

Crossover SUVs generally are styled with SUV appearance cues but they are built on modified car platforms, which give them a more car-like ride, rather than a truckish one.

The XC60 is no exception. Underneath is a platform using parts from the Volvo S80 sedan as well as XC70 SUV and V70 wagon.

The ride is firm but not punishing, compliant to a point, but not plush.

The XC60 uses a MacPherson strut suspension in front and a multilink configuration in back, and tires are large, 18-inch Pirellis that convey some road noise but look great.

Other countries will get more than one engine, but U.S. dealers will sell only the XC60 with Volvo’s 3-liter, overhead cam, turbocharged and intercooled, gasoline-powered, inline six cylinder. The engine is mated to a six-speed automatic transmission and works well, despite the XC60’s weight. Most drivers aren’t likely to notice that 0-to-60-mph acceleration of 6.8 seconds is a tad off from that of lighter-weight crossovers.

Torque peaks at 295 foot-pounds at a low 1,500 rpm, thanks to the turbo.

But fuel mileage is ho-hum at a government-measured 16 miles per gallon in city driving and just 22 mpg on the highway.

The interior overall is handsome. Gauges are well-arranged and easy to understand, and the tactile feel of buttons and other controls is excellent. While the 41.2 inches of front-seat legroom is less than what’s in Infiniti’s EX35 crossover, the XC60 has more rear-seat legroom: 36.4 inches.

I did feel self conscious about the thick, metal pillars around the windshield, and I made sure to take a gander around them whenever I was making left turns because these pillars can block views of pedestrians in crosswalks.

Front-seat headroom of just 38 inches is less than what’s in many crossover competitors. Rear-seat headroom of 38.1 inches is a bit less than many others, too.

But cargo space with the rear seats folded down is a commendable 67.4 cubic feet, and it’s nicely finished back there. The power liftgate became a favorite feature, though I needed to lift items high to get them inside because the cargo floor is positioned high above the ground.

The optional panorama moonroof provides an airy feel inside for both front and rear passengers, but rear-door windows go down only about two-thirds of the way.