First Drive: 2010 Volvo XC60

Story and photos by John LeBlanc SAUSALITO, Calif.–There's no guarantee that eating high-fibre foods or taking the stairs instead of the elevator will lead to a long, healthy life. Similarly, buying a new vehicle based on its outstanding safety credentials in no way guarantees accident-free driving. But try explaining that logic to the well-intentioned folks at Volvo. Officially, the brand's noble mission is to design cars that should not crash. The goal is that by 2020 no one should be killed or injured in a Volvo. (Rumours that Volvo's also working on a cure for the common cold and getting rid of income taxes are purely speculative.) As Jan Ivarsson, head of safety strategy at the company, said, "We don't accept that people lose their lives in airplane accidents, so why should we regard car accidents as inevitable?" But airplane pilots don't have to deal with rush hour on Hwy. 401. And Thor help us all if pilots are allowed to fly with the same level of meagre training it takes to get a driver's licence. But now we have the new 2010 five-passenger Volvo XC60 crossover, a vehicle the company boasts is the safest Volvo ever – a bold statement considering the automaker's status as a leader in safety. Based on a shortened S80 luxury sedan chassis, it fits below the larger five- to seven-passenger XC90 in Volvo's crossover lineup. Where other markets get front-wheel drive, manual transmissions and diesel engines as options, Canada gets only one well-equipped all-wheel drive XC60 model. Ours has a 3.0-litre turbocharged inline-six-cylinder gas engine that produces a healthy 281 horsepower and 295 lb.-ft. of torque matched to a six-speed automatic. Competing against the likes of the BMW X3 xDrive30i, Infiniti EX35, Land Rover LR2, Lexus RX 350 and Mercedes-Benz GLK 350 (and Audi's forthcoming Q5), the newest Volvo goes on sale in April. Despite having the new luxury cute-ute on the block, Volvo Canada feels it can get away with pricing the XC60 up against the well-established X3, which starts at $45,300 (but can easily get into the mid-$60,000 range with the options). Volvo says some of the XC60's standard equipment – leather seating, a healthy dose of safety and audio kit – adds to its value. Much of the new XC60's psyllium-packed goodness is based on yet another arrow in the company's quiver of preventive safety features: a new-to-Volvo low-speed accident avoidance system called City Safety. Volvo says City Safety will "either completely prevent or reduce the severity of an impact." When activated, laser sensors in the windshield decide if a collision with a vehicle ahead is imminent. If the driver does not react, the system independently applies the brakes to reduce the severity of the impact. Keep in mind cellphone/BlackBerry/makeup fans: City Safety only works below 20 km/h. And to ensure XC60 drivers don't become too comfortable and rely on the system too readily, City Safety's braking action is decidedly jarring and very last-second – as we found out in a parking-lot test under the Golden Gate bridge. Travelling at 18 km/h, the XC60 managed to stop all by itself only a couple of metres behind of a stationary big blue Volvo balloon reminiscent of an old 240 wagon. Infiniti has a similar system called Intelligent Brake Assist. But Volvo says the XC60 is the first vehicle to make such a feature standard. The U.S. industry-funded Insurance Institute for Highway Safety has said preventative forward crash systems like these could help in the 2.3 million frontal impacts that result in 7,200 annual fatalities in the U.S. – or about one in six people killed in or by vehicles. Both the insurance institute and Volvo conclude, however, that no amount of technology can help inattentive or careless drivers. City Safety is the unique selling point for a vehicle that's entering an already crowded and competitive compact luxury crossover segment. Beyond that, though, the XC60 excels in some key areas, starting with an interior that's right up there with the Mercedes GLK in blending room, function, comfort, style and build quality. The XC60's tautly drawn upper body might suggest close-coupled interior accommodations like Infiniti's cramped EX35. But head, shoulder and leg room for all five on board are class competitive. And the Volvo's 872 litres of cargo capacity places it only behind the more voluminous RX 350, rated at 1,084 litres. While nobody buys a Volvo to go Bimmer hunting, a day spent driving European-spec pre-production XC60 prototypes on some of the twisty mountain roads north of San Francisco revealed the new Volvo's surprisingly refined and athletic driving manners. Compared to vehicles with lower centres of gravity, there will always be a layer between the driver and the road in a tall vehicle like the XC60. However, when pressed, it corners flat without feeling overly harsh on bad pavement. The only negatives are front seats that could use more side bolstering to match the car's cornering capabilities, and a bit of turbo lag at revs below 2500 r.p.m. As the bran cereal of carmakers, no firm has consistently touted its safety standing like Volvo. The XC60, though, has plenty to offer new-car buyers looking for the troika of added utility, luxury features and comfort – and maybe the hope of a long and healthy life. 2010 VOLVO XC60 PRICING: (est.) $45,000 - $65,000 ENGINE: 3.0 L turbo I6 POWER/TORQUE: 281 hp/295 lb.-ft. FUEL CONSUMPTION: (est.) City 14.7 L/100 km (19 mpg); hwy.10.7 L/100 km (26 mpg) COMPETITION: BMW X3, Infiniti EX35, Land Rover LR2, Lexus RX 350, Mercedes-Benz GLK WHAT'S BEST: Industry-leading safety kit, balanced ride and handling, tasteful interior design WHAT'S WORST: Blinking and beeping safety warnings can be more distracting than helpful WHAT'S INTERESTING: Volvo claims the XC60 is the safest Volvo – so far

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