Volvo XC60 D5 AWD SE Premium Start/Stop Geartronic 5dr Car Review - January 2012

The Volvo XC60 D5 AWD SE Premium is actually a pretty decent drive. Built-to-last and with top-quality materials, the automatic, 6-speed gearbox will get you from A-B with ease and comfort, not to mention a little speed.

The 20 valve, 5-cylinder, 2400cc diesel engine is quite fierce considering the 4x4’s size, even if it is relatively small when compared to the XC90 range (it’s about 4627mm in length). With a combined mpg of 41.5, the Volvo XC60 D5 AWD SE Premium drives smooth and handles well, except the occasional vague steering on busy city roads.

With a top speed of 127 mph, it’s not the most powerful of the XC60s, but it does reach rest to 60 in 8.8 seconds which is faster than over half of the Volvo’s in the XC60 range, with the T6 AWD SE models being the fastest.

Furthermore, generating 324 lb-ft at 1400-2850 rpm, its torque power equals that of Mercedes R Class 300, and has an impressive 212 bhp at 4000 rpm.

Unlike most Volvo’s, the XC70 D5 AWD SE Lux’s engine is surprisingly refined, not at all ‘boomy’ as expected from most 4x4s when driving down the motorway.

From the outside the Premium version of the XC60 Volvo looks sleek and classy, yet at the same it is clearly visible how strong the body actually is.

In terms of comfort, the Volvo XC60 D5 AWD SE Premium has a very airy and light interior with plenty of room for extra baggage; in fact the boot has 1,455 litres space with the seats down. The XC60 is furnished with five leather seats that are both supportive and comfortable. The rear seats are actually positioned higher than the front two so that the rear passengers have better visibility, adding to their comfort.

It also has a surprisingly quiet engine, making it of more relaxed drive on long journeys than if you were driving say a Volvo XC70, whose engines tend to be rather vocal. The interior of the five door is elegant and stylish: it is beautifully trimmed with a lavish palette of colours, and furnished with five comfortable leather seats.

In addition to the premium interior, the Volvo XC60 D5 AWD SE Premium is well equipped with several gadgets including Bluetooth, MP3 connectivity, a CD system, and a fairly decent SAT-NAV. Also featuring as standard is the XC60s power-steering, alloy wheels, DSTC stability control, central locking, climate control, electric door mirrors, electric front windows, cruise control and rear-parking sensors.

With a 5 star Euro NCAP the XC60 D5 AWD SE Premium, like all most of Volvo’s designs, is extremely safe and secure, with a strong body built to withstand most weather and driving conditions.

The Premium XC60 has a tank capacity of 70 litres, and because the 4x4 has a diesel engine, the tank will last longer (diesel engines need to be refilled less frequently than petrol ones and are therefore more economical). This means that it is perfect for driving long distances and also that it helps to keep the running costs down.

It also comes with a 3 year warranty or 60,000 miles, suggesting further reliability and practicality.

The downside of the Volvo XC60 D5 AWD SE Premium is the cost. It is the second most expensive in the XC60 range: at £37,510 it falls just behind the T6 AWD SE Lux Premium Geartonic 5dr. Whether it is worth as much as the latter is questionable, when the XC60 T6 has a more lavish interior.

Insurance costs are high due to CO2 emissions of 179g/km placing the Volvo XC60 D5 AWD SE Premium in tax band I. Compared to the T6 which has 248g/km this version of the XC60 is by far more economical, but still not as cheap as other versions such as the D5 AWD SE Lux, which is 149g/km.

Depending on the type of car you’re after, it would seem that other XC60s in Volvo’s range are better options. If you’re looking for a practical car that is both classy and reliable, then the Volvo XC60 D5 AWD SE Lux may be a better choice as it has pretty much the same statistics in terms of driving performance and safety, but is more reasonably priced.