Yahoo Autos Long-Term 2019 Volvo XC60: New Engine, New Platform, New Factory, No Surprises
40,000-Mile Wrap-Up
Automakers use the phrase "all-new" with the same broad license that Subway applies to "fresh." True clean-sheet designs are rare in this business, and there's a reason engineers typically don't rewrite the whole recipe. Change too many variables at once and you risk breaking something that wasn't broken. But 93-year-old Volvo has spent the last six years cranking out new vehicles that are as fresh as anything made of plastic, steel, and glass can be. Owned by Chinese automaker Geely since 2010, Volvo has completely reinvented its lineup with two modular architectures, a four-cylinder-dominated engine range, and new assembly plants around the globe.
We wanted to know if Volvo could build new vehicles and assembly plants from the ground up while delivering modern reliability. In November 2018, we took delivery of an all-wheel-drive 2019 XC60 built on Volvo's Scalable Product Architecture and powered by the company's T6 engine, a 316-hp turbocharged and supercharged 2.0-liter inline-four intended to go toe-to-toe with competitors' six-cylinder models. When it arrived at our Ann Arbor office, the XC60 had traveled some 7400 miles from where it had rolled off the assembly line, in Chengdu, China. Under threat of tariffs on China-made vehicles, Volvo has since shifted the manufacturing of U.S.-bound XC60s to its home in Gothenburg, Sweden. Our XC60 is the first Car and Driver long-termer built in China.
Volvo's R-Design trim added $6850 to our car's price and brought seats upholstered in nappa leather and faux suede, aluminum mesh interior accents, LED fog lamps, heated wiper blades with integrated washer jets, power-folding mirrors, power-folding rear seats, blind-spot monitoring, rear-cross-traffic alert, and in-dash navigation. Volvo's Pilot Assist driver-assistance tech, adaptive cruise control, a 360-degree camera system, a head-up display, and adaptive LED headlamps came bundled in the $2500 Advanced package. Heating for the rear seats and steering wheel added $750 to the price, the 21-inch wheels cost $1000, and the $3200 Bowers and Wilkins audio system turned the XC60's cabin into a sound stage. As equipped, our XC60 totaled $60,840.
At least the price was counterbalanced with superb design details. "The design is amazing inside and out, and it looks and feels far more expensive than it is, even at more than $60,000," wrote senior editor Joey Capparella. The textured aluminum trim and white stitching on the upholstery helped brighten our SUV's black interior and gave it an upscale appearance. Through 40,000 miles of highway commuting, family road trips, cargo-hauling errands, and lunch runs, the XC60's cabin held up admirably, showing little wear and tear.
The Volvo's dual-boosted four-banger proved durable, too, but it was an unconvincing replacement for a well-tuned six-cylinder. Power is doled out in lulls and spurts, with sludgy throttle tip-in followed by sudden surges. Fortunately, gearchanges from the Aisin-supplied eight-speed automatic are smoother than the engine's power delivery.
When new, the XC60 managed a 5.4-second 60-mph time and a 14.0-second quarter-mile at 100 mph. That places the all-wheel-drive T6 powertrain closer in line with the four-cylinder Mercedes-Benz GLC300 and Audi Q5 than its intended competition. The six-cylinder BMW X3 M40i, for instance, delivers a brisk 4.3-second dash to 60.
The Volvo's performance declined a bit with 40,000 miles on the odometer. At the end of our loan, the XC60 posted slightly slower 60-mph, 100-mph, and quarter-mile times, indicating the engine lost some power after we had broken it in.
The four-cylinder engine did live up to its billing as a more efficient alternative to a six-cylinder, but by the thinnest margin. We averaged 23 mpg in mixed driving, beating the EPA's combined estimate by 1 mpg. This puts the XC60 ahead of our six-cylinder Mercedes-Benz E450 wagon and Honda Passport long-term vehicles, which are currently averaging 22 and 20 mpg, respectively. The Volvo also surpasses our long-term Infiniti QX50, which is managing just 22 mpg despite its novel variable-compression inline-four engine.
The XC60's suspension needs more polish. We initially attributed the stiff-legged ride to our car's optional 21-inch wheels, but switching to 19-inchers and winter tires with taller sidewalls did little to soften the impacts. This hard-riding character seems to have found its way into many new Volvos, and yet this compromise doesn't pay off with especially agile handling dynamics. The XC60 corners like any other tall utility box, and it rides like a track-tuned sports car.
A few of our staffers complained about Volvo's Pilot Assist driver-assistance system, saying it isn't great at keeping the XC60 centered in its lane. Testing director Dave VanderWerp noted that the vehicle drifted too close to the center line, causing him some anxiety during a family getaway to northern Michigan. Others praised Pilot Assist, saying it relieved fatigue over long journeys, and on at least one occasion, it made two hours of bumper-to-bumper traffic bearable by taking on the monotony of stop-and-go driving.
"While the XC60 occasionally bounced around in its lane, the system is one of the better examples I've experienced," wrote staff editor Eric Stafford. "It kept the car steady and made my several-hundred-mile road trip much easier."
By far, the most frequent complaints pertained to the XC60's infotainment stack. Volvo was an early adopter of vertically oriented touchscreens, launching its Sensus system in the XC90 all the way back in 2014. With few physical controls and a user interface that mimics a tablet, the screen adds to the cabin's characteristic Scandinavian minimalism. But in the 11 months we spent with the XC60, we found the system to be consistently slow to respond, particularly within the first few minutes after twisting the ignition knob on the center console.
Editor-in-chief Sharon Silke Carty criticized a quirk with the XC60's seat-adjustment menu, which hijacks the entirety of the infotainment display anytime the driver or front-seat passenger uses the lumbar or extension controls on the side of the seat cushion. "Not a big deal when you don't have a bored squiggly teenager sitting next to you," Carty wrote, "but it seemed like my teenager would adjust his seat every time I was about to change the radio station or look over to see what song was on. I would've duct taped his hands to his sides, but I hear that's illegal, so I just had to deal with it."
Despite our quibbles, the XC60 hit 40,000 miles sooner than most long-termers, as our staff frequently requested it for long-haul road trips to faraway places such as Georgia, New York, Virginia, Wisconsin, and Michigan's Upper Peninsula. Along the way, what impressed us most about the XC60—and what undoubtedly accelerated the accumulation of miles—was how well rounded the package is. The XC60 is stylish and easily accommodates four people packed for an overnight trip. Most of us found its seats to be plush and supportive, among the best in any vehicle on sale today.
"I took this to Chicago a few different times, and it is a great car for that type of trip," wrote staff editor Annie White. "It's big enough to seat four adults if you decide to drive to dinner but small enough that it's easy to park in the city. Comfortable for the ride there and attractive enough to impress the people you're visiting, it's one of the few crossovers in our fleet that I was never disappointed to be assigned."
Concerns about the reliability of an all-new vehicle built in a new assembly plant in China proved meritless. Our maintenance history was largely uneventful. At the XC60's 30,000-mile service, we requested a four-wheel alignment, which set us back $95. And we had to make one unscheduled stop at the dealer to replace two warped brake rotors and balance the wheels, which cost us nothing. The first three oil changes, at 10,000-mile intervals, involved no out-of-pocket expense thanks to Volvo's three-year/36,0000-mile scheduled maintenance program. But our fourth, at 39,863 miles, provided a glimpse of costs to come: For an oil change, a tire rotation, new engine and cabin air filters, a brake-fluid flush, and a multipoint inspection, we had to shell out $584 to the Volvo dealer.
For those who see a "Made in China" label and immediately assume the product is subpar, the Volvo XC60—much like the Apple iPhone—proves that quality is the product of rigorous engineering and disciplined processes, not the country of manufacture. Volvo pulled off the difficult aspect of its transition to new ownership. The company engineered thousands of new parts and assembles them into luxurious and stylish vehicles in plants around the world, all without compromising quality. Fixing the Volvo XC60's biggest faults—the surly engine calibration, the flinty ride, and the slothlike infotainment system—should be easy by comparison.
Rants and Raves
The touchscreen takes its sweet time booting up. Also, it's maddening to try to get it to do seat heat and then nav or any set of multiple inputs. —Tony Quiroga
The XC60 R-Design is all about style and luxury. It's supremely pleasing, and "pleasing" is probably what most buyers in this segment are seeking. They will not be disappointed. —Rich Ceppos
The XC60 falls right in the sweet spot of my driving Venn diagram. Not the best at one thing, but it's very strong as a package. —Nathan Schroeder
The design and interior are artful. Hard to believe this is the company that got famous for making boxes on wheels. —Rich Ceppos
I like that the SiriusXM interface shows the channel, artist, and song currently playing as you browse. Makes for very productive channel surfing. —Dave VanderWerp
I'm not in love with the ride or handling. It feels about 10 percent too underdamped, and I expect a certain sense of solidity from a Volvo. —Joey Capparella
The infotainment system boots up pretty darn slowly. I counted 34 seconds before the main-menu tiles went from loading to actually displaying data. —Austin Irwin
30,000-Mile Update
With a little more than 30,000 miles on the clock of our long-term Volvo XC60 R-Design, we're still quite sweet on this little Swedish slice of blåbärspaj. Our ventures with this attractive and refined SUV have taken us as far away as northern Wisconsin, but the rest of our trips this summer have been to popular vacation destinations within the Mitten State, such as Houghton Lake, South Haven, and Saint Ignace, in Michigan's Upper Peninsula.
Our editors have been quite complimentary in the XC60's logbook following these long drives, with most of the praise focused on the Volvo's polished interior and smooth controls. "The design is amazing inside and out, and it looks and feels far more expensive than it is, even at $60,000," wrote one driver. Senior editor Rich Ceppos agreed, commenting that while the XC60 isn't a sporty SUV in the same vein as the Mercedes-AMG GLC43, it is a "pleasing" offering that seems targeted at the heart of the compact-luxury-SUV segment. "It's hard to believe this is the company that got famous for making boxes on wheels."
"The XC60 is endlessly more compelling than the Infiniti QX50 that's also in the long-term fleet," added Dave VanderWerp, director of vehicle testing. He also noted that, besides the creaky center console and the driver's seatback that rocks slightly back and forth, the Volvo hasn't shown any additional signs of aging.
We still have our criticisms, though, notably about Volvo's Sensus infotainment system and its unresponsive nature, particularly upon startup. When we took the XC60 to the dealership for its 30K-mile service, the technician performed a software upgrade, but it seems to have done nothing to address the system's lagginess. We've also found that when a front passenger adjusts the seat's power lumbar support or lower cushion extension, a graphic showing the seat controls dominates the infotainment display, temporarily locking out the ability to adjust the radio or climate controls.
What's more, gripes have cropped up regarding the XC60's Pilot Assist semi-autonomous driving mode. Although we've praised the system in the past, VanderWerp reported after completing a long trek that he was more fatigued attempting to use the system than when it was off. Specifically, he said that the Volvo wouldn't center itself in the lane well enough, instead favoring one side and drifting too close to passing traffic for comfort.
Other than the 30,000-mile service—an oil change, tire rotation, and inspection, all of which was covered for free under Volvo's three-year or 36,000-mile complimentary scheduled maintenance—the XC60 required a front-wheel alignment that set us back $95. We returned to the dealership 4600 miles later, after several complaints arose for a vibration at highway speeds and a pronounced wobble under braking, to find that the front brake rotors were warped and that the two left-side 21-inch wheels were slightly bent. After the dealer replaced the front brake rotors at no charge, the Volvo is back to its mostly smooth and stable self. We will continue to monitor the wheels and decide if they need to be replaced or fixed. Despite a few hiccups, we'll be sad to see the XC60 depart our fleet once it reaches the 40,000-mile mark, which is fast approaching.
Months in Fleet: 11 months Current Mileage: 34,612 miles
Average Fuel Economy: 23 mpg
Fuel Tank Size: 18.8 gal Observed Fuel Range: 430 miles
Service: $0 Normal Wear: $0 Repair: $95
Damage and Destruction: $0
20,000-Mile Update
Our Bursting Blue XC60 R-Design has seen plenty of road-trip use over the past three months, racking up more than 12,000 miles and venturing to mostly eastern locales. Editors visited Boston, Connecticut, Montreal, and rural Virginia for our annual Lightning Lap event, with stops along the way in Ohio, Pennsylvania, and Vermont. The Volvo also made a quick trip to Wisconsin; luckily, no cheese curds were left inside.
The staff seems particularly fond of the XC60 for these long-haul driving stints because of its comfortable and supportive front seats and its suite of driver-assistance features that truly reduce driving fatigue. Other than one report of an unnecessary (and jarring) application of automated emergency braking, the Volvo's safety tech has been a welcome presence. Digital director Mike Magrath praised the XC60's semi-autonomous Pilot Assist feature after he piled on about 2000 miles.
"You need to pay attention, stay awake, and keep hands on the wheel, or the system disengages, but when it's engaged, it's a great backup to attentive driving," Magrath said. "I'm a fan."
The system also impressed design director Nathan Schroeder, who said it provides enough assistance to lend a feeling of calmness on a long drive without being overactive and annoying. If you're considering buying an XC60 and long highway slogs are on the menu, we'd strongly suggest springing for Pilot Assist.
Unfortunately, not everything is as rosy and glowing. We still take issue with the Sensus infotainment system's laggy startup, and assistant online editor Daniel Golson ran into an infotainment hiccup at a particularly inconvenient time. The system's Apple CarPlay functionality crashed while he was attempting to follow its spoken directions on his way back to Michigan from Connecticut. Pulling over and cycling the ignition to restart Sensus didn't fix the problem, but Golson was able to use the native navigation system to make his way home. The next morning, Apple CarPlay was working fine. The issue remains a mystery.
We're an office divided when it comes to the XC60's ride: some staffers have commented on its refinement, while others have complained about its flintiness. Switching back to the Volvo's 21-inch wheels with all-season rubber from its 19-inch winter-tire setup in early April did nothing to quell the complaints. Several drivers have also reported high noise levels at highway speeds, and the squeaks and rattles that developed before our last update have persisted.
The XC60 has been otherwise bulletproof. At 19,752 miles we took it to our dealer for its 20,000-mile service, which consisted of an oil change, a new cabin air filter, a multipoint inspection, and a software update. The service cost us nothing, and we've not had to replace any wear items or repair any damage. Our observed fuel economy of 23 mpg is slightly improved over the last update and 1 mpg higher than the EPA's combined estimate.
As the summer road-trip season gets underway, we're expecting to take the XC60 on even more adventures. If the last three months are anything to go by, we'll be back soon with another update as the XC60 enters its final months in our long-term fleet.
Months in Fleet: 8 months Current Mileage: 25,779 miles
Average Fuel Economy: 23 mpg
Fuel Tank Size: 18.8 gal Observed Fuel Range: 430 miles
Service: $0 Normal Wear: $0 Repair: $0
Damage and Destruction: $0
10,000-Mile Update
So far, our long-term Volvo XC60 has proved to be a popular choice among our staff, racking up more than 13,000 miles in its first five months with us. During that period, it has ventured to Toronto twice, made a jaunt to Chicago, and also visited upstate New York from our home base of Ann Arbor, Michigan.
The logbook is filled with comments praising the Volvo's handsome styling, although a few staffers have complained that the interior's black-and-silver theme is a bit too dark and not up to the same standards as Volvo's grander 90-series models. Others, however, have praised the Volvo for its attention to detail, with one commenter comparing the XC60's cabin to a well-tailored sport coat. Dave VanderWerp, director of vehicle testing, called the R-Design's sport seats "extraordinarily comfortable."
Volvo's supercharged and turbocharged 2.0-liter inline-four continues to hum along with the predictability—and character—of a Husqvarna sewing machine. Its power is satisfactory for highway merging and passing maneuvers, and it's proving to be reasonably fuel efficient; the 22 mpg we're averaging is spot on with its EPA combined estimate. The engine's somewhat lazy throttle response in Comfort mode has irked some less-patient drivers, but we've found switching the drive mode to Dynamic sharpens that up nicely.
Our long-termer's hearty initial duty cycle has unfortunately resulted in evidence of wear and tear, though. Several squeaks and rattles have developed inside, perhaps as a consequence of the rough ride quality in our R-Design model on its optional 21-inch wheels. We stand by our wheel selection from a styling standpoint, as the larger rollers fill out the wheel wells nicely. But even swapping on a set of 19-inch wheels wrapped with winter tires—a package from Volvo that retails for $3250—did little to smooth out the impacts of Ann Arbor's crumbling roads.
We're also still not entirely satisfied with the Sensus infotainment system's lengthy boot-up time and the lag that persists for the few minutes after startup. This is especially infuriating when trying to give the system several different commands in succession before getting underway, such as adjusting the heat and then setting a destination in the navigation system. On the other hand, we love the simplicity of the system once it's up and running, as well as the sound quality of the optional Bowers & Wilkins audio system.
Our only dealership visit thus far has been for the XC60's 10,000-mile service—an oil and filter change plus a multipoint inspection—which cost us zero dollars out of pocket, thanks to Volvo's three-year or 36,000-mile complimentary scheduled maintenance program. While the Volvo was in the service bay, the dealer also performed a recall for faulty power-liftgate struts that could potentially fail in freezing temperatures.
If the first five months are any indication, the Volvo's mileage will continue to tick up quickly. Especially now that the spring sun is finally shining here in the Midwest, which will soon draw us out of our cozy homes to shake off the winter doldrums with road trips and visits to the beach.
Months in Fleet: 5 months Current Mileage: 13,480 miles
Average Fuel Economy: 22 mpg
Fuel Tank Size: 18.8 gal Observed Fuel Range: 410 miles
Service: $0 Normal Wear: $0 Repair: $0
Damage and Destruction: $0
Introduction
Starting with the launch of the all-new XC90 SUV in 2016, Volvo has been on a roll, enjoying soaring sales from its now completely renewed lineup of sedans, wagons, and crossovers. We've largely been impressed with the luxurious, stylish, and safety-focused offerings, but we have yet to experience what one of these latest crop of Volvos is like to live with over the long haul. So, we've recruited the compact XC60 crossover to come and stay for a 40,000-mile trial.
Our 2019 XC60 is a T6 model. The T6 name denotes the supercharged and turbocharged version of Volvo's 2.0-liter inline-four, which pumps out 316 horsepower. An eight-speed automatic transmission handles gearchanges, and all-wheel drive is standard with this engine. The T6 powertrain sits between a turbo four called T5 and a plug-in-hybrid T8, and it's plenty potent for bopping around town and merging and passing at freeway speeds. At our test track, the XC60 managed a brisk 5.5-second run from zero to 60 mph. Despite its somewhat soft pedal feel, the brakes provide above-average performance, hauling the XC60 down from 70 mph in a short-for-the-class 169 feet.
We also opted for the mid-spec R-Design package, which is a $6850 upcharge. Naturally, then, ours has plenty of goodies, including a 9.0-inch infotainment display with navigation, dual-zone automatic climate control, heated windshield-wiper blades with integrated washers, powered and heated front seats, and a Harman/Kardon audio system. Volvo also throws in driver-assistance features such as blind-spot monitoring, rear cross-traffic alert, adaptive headlamps with automatic high-beams, lane-keeping assist, and automated emergency braking. Plus, the R-Design's exterior and interior styling makes it the sportier-looking XC60 with silver exterior mirror caps and window trim, a more aggressive front grille and bumper, aluminum interior trim, and unique black sport seats covered in leather and microsuede.
We couldn't resist adding a few additional extras to our example. For $2500, the Advanced package brings all of Volvo's latest driver-assistance tech including a head-up display, a 360-degree-view camera, and the Pilot Assist adaptive cruise-control system with traffic-jam assist. We opted for the Bowers & Wilkins premium audio system ($3200), which sounds fantastic, as well as heated rear seats and steering wheel ($750) and 21-inch wheels with black-painted inserts ($1000). Capping it off is Bursting Blue Metallic paint for $645; altogether, our XC60 carries a $60,840 price tag.
Handling is more than agile enough for a luxury crossover, and the XC60 feels solid and stable on long highway drives. The 21-inch wheels put a sharp edge on the ride quality, however, especially on the pitted and crumbling roads here in southeastern Michigan. We hope we don't regret upgrading from the standard 19-inch wheels or skipping the optional air springs ($1800). The R-Design's high-style cabin is a great place to spend time, and staffers have clamored to get behind the wheel.
Will the XC60's chic interior continue to charm us after the new-car smell is gone? Will its super-turbo engine hold up without costing us an arm and a leg in service or repair? Will its big wheels cause big regrets? These questions—and more—will be answered after 40,000 miles of road trips, grocery runs, and service visits.
Months in Fleet: 2 months Current Mileage: 4650 miles
Average Fuel Economy: 22 mpg
Fuel Tank Size: 18.8 gal Observed Fuel Range: 410 miles
Service:$0 Normal Wear: $0 Repair: $0
Damage and Destruction: $0
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