Open gallery 
by Jim Holder 21 April 2012 Follow @Jim_Holder Share
How we test cars
For a long time Volvo has been trying extremely hard to bury its reputation as a maker of boxy, conservative and dull saloons and estates.
It all started in the late 1990s with former Volvo design boss Peter Horbury’s sleek C70 coupé, but the real breakthrough was with the XC60 – the car that the current crop of sexy Volvos owe their DNA to.
The XC60 puts Volvo into the heart of the competitive small premium SUV market segmentJim HolderEditorial director
The striking details and flowing curves are about as far removed from a traditional three-box Volvo saloon as possible, and the concept behind it even further distanced. For although the XC60 is a compact SUV, Volvo wants you to see it more as a cross between coupé, 4×4 and estate that majors on Scandinavian style and good taste rather than conservative solidity.
Practicality is taken care of with a spacious and intuitively designed cabin, while the range of engine and drivetrain options means there’s an XC60 to suit everyone. And while it’ll never challenge a Land Rover Defender in the rough stuff, the Volvo’s Haldex four-wheel drive system should prove more than capable for most situations.
However the XC60 places Volvo right into the heart of the extremely competitive small premium SUV market segment. Tough competition comes in the form of the Land Rover Discovery Sport, BMW X3, and Audi Q5 as well as cheaper but equally stylish options like the Kia Sportage, Hyundai Santa Fé and Ford Kuga. The question is this: can the XC60’s unarguably different approach is enough to make it stand out from this very able crowd?
Advertisement Back to top
Since the XC60 was first launched, the mid-sized SUV has been given a facelift with changes left a number of minor exterior tweaks, including a restyled front grille and bumper, and a more rugged, imposing on-road stance, but as the Volvo reaches nine years on the market, the Swedish manufacturer is readying the next generation XC60, which will take styling cues from the bigger Volvo XC90 and will be the prelude before the Volvo XC40 joins the range.
Related Volvo XC60 2008-2017 reviews
Volvo XC60 D4 first driveVolvo XC60 D5 AWD first driveVolvo XC60 T5 R-DesignVolvo XC60 2.4D DRIVe SVolvo XC60 2.4D SE first drive
To find out what our sister site, What Car? thought of the Volvo XC60, watch the video below.
Verdict Model tested: Rating:
Volvo XC60 2008-2017
GoodComfortable rideSpacious cabinFine ergonomicsBadHandling could be sharperDisappointing economyNoisy diesel engine