Hoovey689

iTrader: (16)

2012 Volvo XC60 R-Design

Gallery:
http://www.autoblog.com/photos/2012-...photo-4910979/

BMW has its M Division. Mercedes-Benz has AMG and Audi has a range of S- and RS-badged models. Volvo has... well, what does Volvo have, anyway? Yes, we're all familiar with the brand's sterling reputation for safety, and in recent times, for attractive Swedish design. Not long ago, with the introduction of the latest S60 sedan, Volvo even took a stab at injecting some so-called naughtiness into its machinery. And while all those adjectives are welcome, Volvo's reputation in the United States has never really included performance, despite some credible offerings like the 240 Turbo, 850R and S60R.

Interestingly enough, that's not necessarily the case in its home market of Sweden, where Volvo has been racing and winning in competition for years, oftentimes with the assistance of a tuning company known as Polestar. Since 1996, Volvo has been working with Polestar in an official capacity, and for 2012, the automaker is introducing its United States customers to a slew of Polestar-infused models.

Volvo's entire range of five- and six-cylinder models have been bolstered with performance updates from Polestar, and for the purposes of this article, we'll be taking a closer look at the XC60 crossover. As it turns out, this Swedish 'ute offers up plenty of reasons for consideration, even in the face of stiff opposition from Volvo's formidable competition in the entry-level luxury segment.


Styling on the XC60 remains typically crisp in the recent Volvo tradition, with just the right amount of edgy character lines to break up the monotonous two-box crossover shape. The R-Design gets a few bodywork updates to spice things up a bit, including a more aggressive front fascia and side sills. You might also notice the silver side mirrors that match the roof rails and faux rear skid plate with cutouts for the sporty-looking dual exhaust tips.

Inside, occupants are greeted with a beautiful cabin appointed in soft two-tone leather, with a simple and well-laid-out dash ahead. Volvo's trademark waterfall-style center console is present and accounted for, as are the watch-like gauges the company uses for its sporty models, each inset with its own LCD information screen.

All the surfaces and textures used in the XC60 R-Design are attractive and impart a high-end Scandinavian feel inside. We've long been fans of Volvo's climate control system, which allows you to quickly direct cool or warm air to whatever part of the body you'd like in a different, intuitive and attractive way. The steering wheel, too, deserves praise for its nice leather wrap with aluminum trim and thick, meaty rim. We do take some issue with all the little plastic buttons in the center of the console, but the four dials that surround them are large, easy to use and house the most important functions.


We're happy to report that you can get around the frustrating in-dash key system used in the Volvo XC60 by opting for either the Premier Plus or Platinum trim levels. We highly recommend ditching the standard key for the Personal Car Communicator system that includes a more traditional proximity key. It's also worth mentioning that the navigation system used in the XC60 isn't a touchscreen, and it requires use of buttons on the steering wheel or the dash, though it can also accept voice commands.

The power-adding Polestar updates to Volvo's six-cylinder models basically add up to a reflash of the engine's electronic brain, and it results in more power without adversely affecting fuel mileage or driveability. In fact, for the first half of the engine's rev range, power remains at factory levels; it's not until the upper reaches of the tach that the driver will notice any significant increase in horsepower or torque.

All told, Volvo's three-liter inline six is bumped up to 325 horsepower with Polestar tuning, a useful gain of 25 horses over standard models. Torque makes a similar jump to 354 pound-feet, an increase of 29. According to Volvo, those figures are good enough for a 6.6-second run to 60 miles per hour – more than acceptable for a vehicle of this ilk, and .3 seconds quicker than non-Polestar models. Better yet, it feels about that quick from behind the wheel, with a surging midrange and a strong pull to redline. Fuel mileage on regular gas comes in at 17 miles per gallon city and 23 highway – right in line with competitors like the BMW X3, Audi Q5 and Mercedes-Benz GLK.


Polestar tuning comes standard on the XC60 R-Design, which resolves one of our complaints about the 2011 model, which saw no boost in power over other XC60 models. In a nod to past buyers of Volvo's turbocharged machine, the Polestar tuning can be added at the dealership to previous-year models that use the T6 engine at a cost of $1,495. While that sounds pretty spendy for a software update, we think most performance-minded enthusiasts would jump at the chance to add such worthwhile gains in horsepower and torque for that sum.

Fully electronic all-wheel drive comes standard on the XC60 T6 R-Design, and it works flawlessly. Power is automatically diverted to the wheel with the most traction, and, while we can't see anybody taking the XC60 R-Design on any hardcore off-road trails, it provides an added dose of confidence when the roads get wet or slick. Brake performance, too, feels solid, safe and secure.

Ride height is unchanged, but the suspension is said to be about 10-percent stiffer, and the steering ratio is cranked up a similar degree. Those efforts pay off when the roads get twisty, keeping the somewhat high-riding crossover's 20-inch 255/45 Pirelli Scorpion tires well planted and secure on the pavement (20s are exclusive to R-Design models). We noted good control of body roll and the steering felt tight and direct – a noteworthy trait in today's age of sometimes off-putting electronic power steering technology.


On the flip side, though, we found the ride on uneven surfaces a bit harsh, and by more than just 10 percent. This makes sense, as the standard XC60 can be a bit stiff on broken pavement. In any case, we'd almost always prefer a ride and handling scale skewed a bit toward the less comfortable range if it means better road feel and grip, and that is indeed the case with the 2012 XC60 R-Design. At highway speeds on smooth asphalt, there's a good bit of wind noise that seeps into the cabin, but nothing we found too objectionable.

Volvo has priced the XC60 R-Design to go up against the mainstream players in the premium crossover segment. That means, in addition to the already mentioned Audi, BMW and Mercedes-Benz CUVs, it has to do battle with the likes of the segment-leading Lexus RX along with the Acura MDX and Cadillac SRX. That's a lot of competition, but the Volvo manages to stand toe-to-toe with its international foes on just about every level, all while offering a different blend of style and performance than any of those combatants.

Plus, Volvo boasts a well-earned reputation for safety innovations that carry over to the XC60. Indeed, the number of safety acronyms affixed to the window sticker number well into the teens. There are technologies designed to keep occupants safe in a crash, such as an inflatable curtain airbag as well as rollover- and whiplash-protection systems. But there are also innovations designed to keep you from getting into an accident in the first place – notably including Volvo's City Safety system that can detect an obstacle and autonomously stop the vehicle before an impact. It all adds up to the 'ute earning a Top Safety Pick rating from the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety and Five-Star designation from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration.


Volvo has priced the 2012 XC60 R-Design at $43,700 to start, but a heavy-handed swipe at the options tab will bring that price up quickly. Our test car was nicely equipped with heated seats, in-dash navigation and all the safety tech you can shake a stick at for a sum of about $53,000, but it's possible to push an XC60 R-Design past $55,000 with every single box checked. That's certainly not cheap, but it compares rather favorably with its German counterparts and is about on par with the offerings from Lexus and Cadillac.

That said, we highly suggest you also take a look at the 2012 Volvo XC70 T6, which we drove back-to-back with the XC60. For our money, the XC70 is the best crossover-minded vehicle Volvo makes, and it offers pretty much everything the XC60 does for slightly less money. It's very attractive inside and out, is available with the same Polestar-tuned engine, six-speed automatic gearbox and all-wheel drive, and it features every safety innovation Volvo can cook up. Plus, it is quieter, boasts a better ride, handles at least as well and offers more practical room inside.

Bottom line: If you're in the market for a premium crossover, the 2012 Volvo XC60 R-Design deserves your consideration. No, we're not going to be mentioning Polestar in the same breath as AMG and BMW's M division – at least not yet anyway – but that hardly seems to matter. Those looking for a bit more poke from their stylish Swedish models finally have options from the factory, and for that, we're thankful.

http://www.autoblog.com/2012/03/22/2...-drive-review/

Hoovey689

iTrader: (16)

one of my favorite CUVs on the market today!!

LT. LEX

Yeah, I've looked at this one too. Going back and forth between the XC60 and the Audi Q5.

bitkahuna

iTrader: (20)

oh my that interior is ugly.

pbm317

Volvo just has some of the weirdest navigation interfaces ever... the older cars used a weird toggle on the back of the steering wheel. And this one uses the top right **** you see on the dash to rotate through and select items. Why the one farthest from the driver??

venom21

Actually the nav controls are on the Steering Wheel now.

VIPG35

iTrader: (6)

Exterior looks great but I must agree with others interior is pretty crappy looking.

whoster

I was trying for better words,

but couldn't.

venom21

The interior is fine, just bad color on that example.

I have both an xc60 and Rx and they are both luxurious.

Och

iTrader: (3)

Looks cheap and awful.

03 ES

Wow that's pretty refreshing for a CUV.
Volvo is stepping it up. I really like the S60 R-design as well.

GFerg

Mine as well. I have two close friends with an XC60 and I love them!

I actually preferred this set up to other i-drive, command systems. Keeps your hand on the steering wheel, screen is very high up on dash (older models pop out on very top of dash) very intuitive, and incredibly easy to enter Navi destinations while driving.

LexFather

I actually like the exterior design a lot, looks great in red to me.

Blackraven

Yup Volvo is definitely going up up up. Gone are the days where Volvo cars are only associated with soccer moms, boxy refrigerators on wheels and cars for average and boring people.

Volvo is taking a newer and more radical direction and it's making them better than ever

Hoovey689

iTrader: (16)

2012 Volvo XC60 R-Design

Gallery:
http://www.autoblog.com/photos/2012-...photo-5185830/

There are injustices in the auto industry just like in life. Sometimes the right person gets passed over for a job, the best player doesn't get to start or the wrong verdict is reached by a jury. And sometimes a good vehicle just doesn't get bought. That's what is happening with the Volvo XC60, which ended last year at the bottom of the sales list compared to luxury crossover competitors from Lexus, Cadillac, BMW, Mercedes-Benz, Audi, Lincoln and Acura.

While it's certainly true that luxury segments are packed with qualified candidates on which to spend your capital gains, the XC60 has compared favorably with the lot of them since its inception back in 2008, and so we're continually befuddled by its comparatively low sales numbers.

The blame could fall on a lack of marketing dollars behind it, a dearth of dealerships to sell it, or simply because some are wary of Scandinavian brands after what happened to Saab.
Whatever the reason, the XC60 has gone largely unnoticed by U.S. consumers. In response, Volvo is executing a plan that it hopes will attract new eyeballs not only to its attention-starved CUV, but the entire brand as well. That plan's name is Polestar, and it's already begun making its way across the entire Volvo lineup. The XC60 is one of the first models to receive Polestar's performance infusion, and we're going to find out if it's enough to make buyers take notice.



Polestar is far from a household name, but those who look it up will discover that the company is anything but new on the block. Founded in 1996 in collaboration with Volvo, Polestar has since been responsible for the automaker's works touring car racing teams. It began tinkering with production Volvos in a big way back in 2010 with the debut of a 450-horsepower Polestar C30 concept, and then stepped further into the role of becoming Volvo's AMG-like in-house tuner last year when it found an extra 25 horsepower and 29 lb-ft of torque in the company's T6 engine with a clever ECU reflash. That power bump debuted in R-Design models like this XC60 and the S60 before being offered as an $1,295-$1,495 upgrade for all T5- and T6-equipped models.

And then this summer came, and with it a 508-hp Polestar Volvo S60 concept aimed right at segment performance leaders like the BMW M3 and Mercedes-Benz C63 AMG. Does Volvo have your attention now?

While the Swedish brand considers whether production is even a possibility for the Polestar S60, plans continue to mold Polestar into Volvo's official performance tuning arm, and the XC60 R-Design is an example of Polestar's influence making one of the brand's best products even better.


Fortunately for Polestar, Volvo's R-Design trim already takes care of the visual primping required of a performance vehicle. For our money, the XC60's basic shape is one of the most attractive crossover designs in its class, anyway. The R-Design package enhances things with color-matched lower body moldings; a silk metal finish trim on the side mirrors, door moldings, skid plates and twin tailpipes; and the largest set of wheels available for the XC60: 20x8-inch "Cratus" five-spoke alloys. Taken as a whole, the R-Design's visual elements add just a little bit more edge to the XC60's shape, like pairing driving gloves with a fine tailored suit. Far from overtly aggressive, it's nonetheless the XC60's most attractive form.

What's missing, however, is any visual evidence that Polestar has been here. We expected to find at least a Polestar badge somewhere, either on the grille, front fender or rear liftgate, but the only badging other than Volvo's own logo is the "R-Design" badge on the grille. Indeed, we initially weren't even certain our tester had the performance boost from Polestar until double-checking that it's included with all 2012 and newer R-Design models. Other models that carry the Polester Performance Package get a blue, square badge affixed to the left of their engine identification on the rear of the vehicle, but the S60 and XC60 are the only two models with available R-Design trims, and Volvo doesn't seem to have an answer yet for how the branding of these two performance packages will co-exist.


Much like the exterior, the inside of this XC60 R-Design is the same as it was before anyone began talking about Polestar. That's far from a bad thing, though, as we've long been fans of the XC60's unique, elegant and (for the most part) functional interior design. Those who've never experienced a Volvo interior will find the design refreshingly simple and the brand's trademark floating center stack a unique touch. R-Design models are set apart with the addition of blue-ringed gauges; aluminum inserts in the doors, steering wheel and dash, and an attractive two-tone leather seating package with "R-Design" embossed in the seat backs. While we wouldn't call the cabin warm and cozy, the modern design is attractive and communicates a sense of premium quality.

Not all is perfect inside the XC60, though. While the controls are as logically laid out as Einstein's sock drawer, the navigation system is a difficult thing to operate. Lacking a touchscreen, inputs must be made via a single **** on the center console. As if that bottlenecked user interface weren't enough, the **** that controls the nav system is placed on the far side of the center console (and at a glance looks nearly identical to the center console's other three *****), so any operation requires a reach from the driver. The system is still better than the old one that accepted inputs only from a remote control or hidden steering wheel nub, but as infotainment systems begin to weigh more in the decision to buy one vehicle over another, Volvo will find itself out of the running more often if it doesn't begin offering the latest tech paired with a user-friendly interface.


No one, however, can fault the XC60 when it comes to functionality. Not only can it carry 30.8 cubic feet of cargo behind its second row of seats, but fold those forward and the rear opens up to accept 67.4 cubes. That's greater cargo-carrying capacity than the BMW X3, Audi Q5, Acura RDX and Cadillac SRX. Best of all, the second row of seats fold flat to make a completely smooth and level surface over which to slide objects as they're loaded.

But we're not interested in this crossover for how many boxes can be loaded in the back; we want to know if Polestar's power bump will help it stand out among the top trims of its premium competitors. To be clear, what Volvo bills as the Polestar Performance option that comes standard with R-Design models is not an overhaul of all the car's systems to increase overall performance. That's what an M badge does and Polestar just isn't there yet. Rather, Polestar has applied a little know-how earned from running these engines on the track to increase output in the production versions without taking a hit to fuel economy.

The numbers speak for themselves: Horsepower from the turbocharged 3.0-liter inline six-cylinder engine increases from 300 to 325 and torque from 325 to 354 pound feet. Peak horsepower arrives a little earlier than before at 5,400 RPM, while the top of this higher torque curve moves back from 2,100 RPM to 3,000. The engine's redline remains the same 6,500 RPM as before. With all that, fuel economy doesn't budge at 17 miles per gallon in the city and 23 on the highway. We observed a range of 18-21 mpg – right in the middle of official estimates.


Even in pre-Polestar times, the XC60's 300-hp T6 engine was among the most powerful in this class. With 325 hp, however, it is the most powerful in this class, handily outstripping the next three most powerful competitors: the 308-hp Cadillac SRX, 305-hp Lincoln MKX and 300-hp BMW X3. What that translates to on the road is a crossover that feels unburdened by its own 4,225-pound weight (and yours). The engine is undeniably strong with an aggressive pull, and power delivery is so linear that we barely felt the turbocharger's presence while the six-speed automatic was resetting the tachometer with each shift. The Polestar upgrade simply makes this good engine better.

And the XC60 R-Design is already arranged to take excellent advantage of this upgrade. The R-Design trim adds a 10-percent stiffer suspension, a quicker steering ratio and those larger wheels wearing 255/45-R20 Pirelli rubber. Body control is excellent during cornering, particularly for a crossover, and while some lean is to be expected, the combination of Volvo's all-wheel-drive system and those meaty tires tells your frontal lobe that it will stick where other CUVs would be begging for a reprieve. The steering, too, is also surprisingly good with an accurate and nicely weighted feel that never felt over-assisted in our hands – a welcome experience in this age of overly numb electric power steering systems.

These performance enhancements, however, also contribute to the main criticism of this crossover: a stiff ride. It's certainly the case that the XC60 lets more of the road through than some other luxury crossovers, and the R-Design additions, particularly the stiffer suspension, larger wheels and lower-profile tires, only accentuate that trait. At no time, however, did we feel the ride was unbearable or an unacceptable tradeoff for the level of handling that was delivered in return. Any driving enthusiast would agree, and those looking only for luxury and a cush ride should look in a Lexus showroom.


And that's exactly what they do. While the XC60 was last year's least popular mid-size two-row luxury crossover with sales of just 12,932 units, the Lexus RX was the segment's runaway leader with 82,595 units sold. As we mentioned earlier, that disparity exists exists for reasons like Lexus' larger marketing budget and dealerships that just get the job done on every level (though curiously, Lexus operates just 231 dealerships in the U.S. compared to Volvo's 315). And it's not just the segment's heaviest hitter: The 2013 Acura RDX received a ground-up redesign on account of the previous model's slow sales, which in 2011 still exceeded the XC60 by 2,264 units.


But we've also heard criticism that Volvos are overpriced, come with a built-in premium and are only appealing to those willing to pay extra for the privilege of being different. While that may be true of some Volvo models (C30, we're looking at you), the XC60 doesn't support that stereotype; it is priced right in line with the competition and in some cases offers more for your money.

Take our loaded-up example of the most expensive trim you can buy. We begin with an XC60 that starts at a reasonable $33,300. Standard at that price is the attractive Scandinavian design inside and out and enough standard safety equipment to support Volvo's well-earned reputation for leading the industry in occupant protection. The all-wheel-drive R-Design model raises the price to $43,700 and then we check off the top-of-the-line Platinum trim that adds a navigation system, premium sound system, rear-view camera, power tailgate and other premium features for another $4,450. The Climate package costing $1,000 includes heated front and rear seats, heated windshield washer nozzles, rain-sensing wipers and an air filtering system, and the Technology Package for $2,100 adds Volvo's full suite of optional safety technologies: Adaptive Cruise Control (ACC), Collision Warning with Full Auto Brake (CWAB), Pedestrian Detection with Full Auto Brake, Distance Alert (DA), Driver Alert Control (DAC), Lane Departure Warning (LDW) and active high beams. The cherry on top is our tester's optional Electric Silver Metallic paint for $550. The damage to your wallet at the end of the day is an MSRP of $52,675, which includes an $875 destination charge.



While by no means cheap, let's see how that price compares with Lexus' latest offering. A 2013 Lexus RX 350 has a base MSRP of $39,310, while its most expensive model, the RX F Sport, starts at $47,000. If we option up the RX F Sport to similar equipment levels as the XC60 R-Design, its price would reach $55,645, which also includes an $875 destination charge. That's $2,970 more for 55 fewer horsepower, 106 fewer pound-feet of torque and 285 more pounds of vehicle to move around – not to mention a performance sport package that more looks the part than drives like it. To its credit, the RX is larger on the inside than the XC60, but we doubt winning that particular column on the comparison chart is the sole source of its sales lead.

Why, then, are so few people buying the XC60 compared to its competition? The reason really does have more to do with exposure than how the XC60 actually rates among its peers, particularly when comparing this XC60 R-Design to the best the other brands have to offer. Be it a lack of marketing or the nearest dealer being too far away, the majority of luxury-crossover-buying-populace doesn't appear to be thinking to include the XC60 among its options.

Polestar may be able to improve Volvo's visibility with buyers one day just like M does for BMW and AMG for Mercedes-Benz, but it won't get there with just an ECU reflash, no matter how welcome the rearranging of ones and zeros is from behind the wheel. While Volvo figures out how to make that happen, buyers can take heart in the fact that their XC60 purchase has reduced the amount of injustice in the world, if only by a little.

http://www.autoblog.com/2012/08/01/2...lestar-review/