Volvo XC60-a classy performance

 Volvo XC60-a classy performance. It comes as a surprise to non-car passengers in Volvo’s XC60 that the Swedish carmaker produces an even bigger SUV.

The reason is that the XC60 feels spacious enough to host a modest public meeting (socially distanced), with enough room in the boot to cater for their hunger and thirst too.

Mounting miles at the wheel will shrink the car for those not used to its size, whereupon it is merely large in a good way; generous with its space and comfort. Smaller, in a surprisingly good way, is the car’s thirst for petrol. Its engine is backed up by an electric motor which takes power from a battery charged when you plug it in and also when you brake (a plug-in hybrid, in other words), and the result was an impressive 5.5l/100km (51mpg) over a mixed driving week.

The secret is plugging in when you can, and for most a home and work charger will be the answer. Our public charge point network is shameful. With a claimed range of 33 miles on pure electric the best I achieved with the XC60 was 29 miles, but still sufficient for a reasonable one-way commute. In a car this big and one that pulls with real purpose when overtaking, and in near silence, it is very impressive.

The 4-cylinder, 2.0-litre turbocharged and supercharged engine doesn’t disappoint. Perhaps even more impressive, and rather harder to build into a car is the sense that everything you see or touch is there to make your progress just a little more comfortable and keep you calm when all around are feeling flustered. The big touch screen is a model of logical clarity even if features like heating and ventilation still work better as knobs you grasp; not symbols you stab with an outstretched finger.

There’s more serenity on display in the very upmarket version of the XC60 you see here, with an interior finished not in the black that seems to come as standard these days but in soft, light nappa leather. And very good it looks too, backed up by grey driftwood inlays, adding a crisp and modern feel to the interior. If that makes the XC60 sound potentially expensive, you’d be right. The Inscription Pro costs €64,962 (£58,920) but packs enough standard kit to keep most of us happy and, being Volvo, a plethora of safety features. A very classy act.

Facts at a Glance

Model: Volvo XC60 T8 All-Wheel-Drive Inscription Pro

Engine:2.0-litre, 4-cylinder, turbo charged & supercharged petrol-electric plug-in hybrid

Gears: 8-speed automatic

Performance:0-100kmh(62mph) 5.2seconds/ Maximum Speed 230kmh(143mph)

Economy:2.5l/100km(113mpg) combined driving-WLTP

Emissions:56g/km-WLTP

Model tested was UK-specification and equipment levels and prices may vary in other markets.