2010 Volvo XC60

The 2010 Volvo XC60 is a very good five-passenger luxury SUV, experts say. This new model doesn't boast the strong reliability history of the top-rated 2010 Lexus RX 350, and it's not as sporty as competitors from Acura and BMW. Still, reviewers say the XC60's robust safety, comfortable cabin and competitive price make it a fine choice.

"Best-driving Volvo around," Motor Trend's Ron Kiino says of the XC60. "How often can you say that about a brand's SUV?" Testers say it strikes a good balance, with a reasonably comfortable ride and reasonably taut handling, although both Car and Driver and TheTruthAboutCars.com complain of a syrupy steering feel. Off-road, the XC60 gets mixed results. In Motor Trend's 2010 Sport/Utility of the Year test, an all-wheel-drive XC60 "feels rough on battered roads" and is the only competitor to "get loose on the off-road loop … Stability control only went to full freakout once, during a fast right on the gravel." Meanwhile, TheTruthAboutCars.com's Alex Dykes spent "over 26 hours on unpaved backcountry roads in the XC60 and didn't get stuck." The XC60 spun its front wheels on an icy grade until traction control was disabled and power shifted to the back wheels, but it did "strikingly well on sand, several inches of mud, steep ruts, a few inches of snow and moderate off-roading."

Few critics test the Volvo XC60 3.2 (Base MSRP: $32,395 to $34,395). Its engine, a 235-horsepower, 3.2-liter inline-six, is "unremarkable, but it will get the job done for those who don't care too much about passing power," Edmunds.com says. With the six-speed automatic transmission, expect 21 mpg combined (18 mpg city/27 mpg highway) with front-wheel drive, dropping to 18 mpg combined (16 mpg city/22 mpg highway) with all-wheel drive.

Most sources test the Volvo XC60 T6 (Base MSRP: $37,200 to $41,550), an AWD-only model with a turbocharged, 3-liter inline-six. It delivers 281 horsepower and 1 highway mpg less than the base AWD model with the same transmission. The turbo engine is uniformly judged smooth and strong, "clearly the one to get if you're getting a Volvo XC60," says Michael Karesh at TheTruthAboutCars.com. All XC60 models can tow 3,300 pounds. Unlike most luxury SUVs, the XC60 runs on regular gas.

Safe, stylish and loaded with features for the price

Inside, critics appreciate the Volvo XC60's clean Scandinavian design and exceptionally comfortable front seats. Some testers find the backseat adequate for adults, while others find legroom a little tight. Cargo space with the rear seats folded is 67 cubic feet -- more than some other luxury midsize SUVs, but less than the 80 cubic feet you'll get in the Lexus RX 350.

The Volvo XC60 3.2 includes several standard features that cost extra on pricier SUVs, including driver's seat memory, Bluetooth and satellite and HD radio, plus cruise control, USB and auxiliary audio jacks and more. Also standard is City Safety, which brakes the SUV automatically if an infrared device detects an imminent low-speed frontal crash. Motor Trend calls it "an impressive safety technology that has worked for us perfectly in other settings," but testers couldn't get it to work when they repeatedly set up bounce boards and drove the XC60 toward them.

Leather seats, a power passenger seat and privacy glass are optional on the XC60 3.2. They come standard on the turbocharged Volvo XC60 T6, along with bigger 18-inch wheels. The T6 R-Design adds a stiffer suspension, 20-inch wheels and sporty styling touches. A long list of packaged and individual options are available for both models, including a panoramic sunroof, dual backseat DVD screens, dual rear booster seats, heated seats and washer nozzles, a power liftgate and front and rear park assist.

There's an optional navigation system, but ConsumerGuide.com complains that the small screen can be hard to read, and Edmunds.com agrees that its controls -- inconveniently located on the back of the steering wheel -- "aren't immediately intuitive." There's a remote control, Autoblog.com notes, but it will get lost, and anyway the navigation software is "dreadfully antiquated." Unfortunately, if you skip it, "you get a bizarre cubby where the screen should go that tells all your passengers you were too cheap to splurge for the nav," writes Alex Dykes at TheTruthAboutCars.com.

Safety is paramount in the XC60, experts say. Even the ill-advised nav system was created small and deep-set "ostensibly to avoid striking it during an accident," writes Chris Paukert at Autoblog.com. The XC60 has not undergone government crash testing, but it earns a Top Safety Pick award in crash tests at the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety. Antilock brakes, traction and stability control and front, front-side and curtain airbags all come standard, along with City Safety. AWD models get standard hill descent control, and optional features alert you if you're not paying attention to the road, about to drift out of your lane or if a heartbeat monitor detects someone lurking in your car.

This model is too new to have any reliability history, but Volvo's overall brand reliability ranks slightly below average in one major survey. The Volvo XC60 carries five-year/60,000 mile basic and powertrain warranties.

Research sources

Edmunds.com's comprehensive review is the only one we found that analyzes the Volvo XC60's base engine as well as the optional turbo. Other sources have tested only the turbo. TheTruthAboutCars.com tests it thoroughly both on- and off-road. Motor Trend also evaluates both on- and off-road performance, but its review is shorter. ConsumerReports.org and ConsumerGuide.com stick to the pavement and rate most aspects of the XC60. We found comparison tests at Cars.com and Car and Driver, pitting the XC60 head-to-head against its rivals. Two separate Autoblog.com testers come to similar conclusions about the XC60 and its optional navigation system. The XC60 aces crash tests at the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety. FuelEconomy.gov provides government fuel-economy estimates.