The Volvo XC60 deserves to be considered one of the best D-SUVs on the market. Although Volvo seeks to be electric, with diesel engines like the B4 there is little reason to make the leap. A purchase loaded with reasons that you do not have to fear.
Are you crazy, why buy a diesel if they’re going to ban them? That interrogative comment that many people throw today has several arguments that can be considered valid, but it is also a double-edged sword. We should not have to choose between one or the other. Technology has evolved so as not to depend on a single option, and having cars like the Volvo XC60 B4 DieselIt is hard to believe what we are seeing.
Buying a diesel today is having a couple of flats. Those who go to the dealership and say they want a little more diesel than are looked at in a strange way. A diesel, yeah what’s up? Its evolution has been as magnificent as that of the electric ones, and both still have a long way to go. The new and the traditional can go hand in hand as in the case of this Volvo XC60. A diesel with an ECO label that frees you from many problems.
Although it may not seem like it at first glance, the XC60 B4 is a relatively modern car, introduced in 2019. It doesn’t look like it because his shell is older. The current XC60 was launched in 2017. The Swedes are very prone to stretching the life of their cars beyond the industry average. A German brand would have already released a restyling and would be about to release a new generation, but those of Gothenburg are of another paste.
The creators of IKEA and the Bauhaus movement have a lot of confidence in their products, and they do well. The XC60 may be five years old, but its style and design never go out of style. It is a car that remains undaunted by the passage of time and fashion. The BMW X3, the Mercedes GLC and the Audi Q5, its greatest rivals, do not have that quality. The format of the XC60 we already know, but that does not mean that it is bad or outdated. It still looks like a stylish and contemporary SUV.
The same happens inside, where we are greeted by an excellently presented cabin. They say the Germans have the best interiors, but that’s because they haven’t been in a Volvo. It may not have the flash of a Mercedes, but If you ask me, I would say that the XC60 has more quality than an Audi and a Mercedes, and that it is on a par with a BMW.. As simple as that. No trap or cardboard.
In addition to great attention to manufacturing, the materials used are good. Premium leathers and soft surfaces that give a pleasant feeling of quality. It doesn’t matter which Volvo you take, the same thing happens in all of them. Not so spectacular is the technological presentation. A format that presented the second generation of the Volvo XC90 and that today has hardly changed except for the incorporation of a digital instrument panel.
Once again I resort to the fact that nothing happens either because what was good before is still good now. Minimalist style in a well presented technological display. The digital instrumentation does not give rise to customization, and the central screen with 9 inches in size is almost the same as we have known over the last 7 years. Although something does change and not for the better.
Volvo has signed an agreement with Google whereby the technology company becomes the main partner and the one in charge of the operating system of the multimedia system. Android Automotive is responsible for creating a clean and clear interface ideal for Android mobile devices, but not so much for Apple. In my case, I use a manzanita phone and it has been impossible for me to connect Apple CarPlay, today essential in any self-respecting modern car. I admit that it is something that I did not like.
In similarly cut German models we see a wide and exaggerated display of menus, submenus, screens and modes that actually do nothing but mislead. In the XC60 we see very few elements, and when we start the march most of them are blocked for safety. The Google Play Store allows us to download the apps we want, having a whole catalog to choose from. That is fine.
The technology is not as flashy as in German models, but the XC60 makes up for it with more quality
The main screen is fully customizable with just a few taps. Smooth, simple and uncomplicated system. Rare in these times. In the rest of the selectable equipment, elements such as: Full LED headlights, sunroof, Head-Up Display, electric and heated seats, three-zone climate control, keyless access and start, Harman/Kardon sound system and the usual security deployment stand out. from Volvo with a five-star Euro NCAP rating.
The XC60 is the intermediate SUV of the house, located above the Volvo XC40 and below the XC90. In terms of space, it offers a very habitable interior for up to five passengers. Three adults can be relatively comfortable in the rear seats, although the ideal is not to exceed the barrier of four passengers. Special mention deserve boosters for children in the rear seats. An exclusive system of Volvo and approved that allows not having to depend on a child seat for children older than 4 years.
The Volvo XC60 can be considered as a family car. Its proportions indicate this, as does the interior space. It also proves it with a generous trunk with a minimum capacity of 483 liters, a figure that can be increased to 1,410 liters if the second row of seats is folded down in a 60:40 ratio. It is curious that a spare wheel can still be integrated, the only drawback is that it eliminates the double bottom of the trunk.
Volvo aspires to be a 100% electric brand in a few years. Sooner than later it will end up being, but he knows that at the moment there are many buyers who do not want or are not determined to take the leap. The range offers multiple options, but in an SUV like this, the most logical thing is to bet on the usual thing, dieselif we do not want to go too often by the gas station. That’s the variant we’ve tested, the four-wheel drive diesel B4.
At the wheel
This is the most recent block to join the mechanical portfolio. A diesel engine that arrives combined with a 48-volt Mild-Hybrid system. The electric block is not capable of driving the wheels, so it is not a hybrid, but it is. has its advantageous DGT ECO label. A good argument in its favour. It behaves and works just like a conventional diesel with the exception that the electrical part helps to reduce consumption and emissions minimally.
The main block is a turbocharged four-cylinder engine with 1,969 cubic centimeters of displacement. It develops a power of 197 horsepower and 420 Nm of torque between 1,750 and 2,750 revolutions.. An automatic torque converter transmission is responsible for distributing the force between the four wheels through an all-wheel drive scheme designed more to increase safety than to face complicated off-road terrain.
With a ground clearance of 20.9 centimeters and a wading depth of 40 centimeters, the XC60 is not a particularly adventurous car. It arrives limited by the tires and by quite discreet off-road dimensions: 23m1 degrees of entry angle, 25.5 degrees of breakover angle and 20.8 degrees of departure angle. The optional all-wheel drive is recommended for driving mostly through mountain passes or in areas where the cold can quickly surprisealthough once again the tire will be the one that makes the difference.
It is clear that the field is not the terrain where the XC60 feels most comfortable. Its natural habitat is highways, open roads and some urban environments where it handles relatively well. thanks to the height In all scenarios, the behavior is more or less the same since, unlike other cars, there are no driving modes. What there is, there is always, and what there is is quite good. Neither the driving modes nor the paddles behind the wheel are missing.
Without annoying driving modes that affect performance, the XC60 B4 diesel always shows the same character
The evolution of the engine has been tremendous, so much so that I consider it one of the best diesel engines of the moment and therefore an excellent alternative. With excellent performance and thrust, the B4 diesel engine fits like a glove in the XC60 format. When circulating, it gives the sensation of advancing with great ease, making the changes at a correct 2,200 laps. If at any time we need strength, just step on a little to receive a quick and forceful response.
You can’t fault the behavior of the engine, because all this is achieved with very low consumption. The approved figure is 6.3 liters per 100 kilometers and it is a real figure. Throughout the week the final consumption after many and different routes has been 6.4 liters per 100 kilometers. An excellent data for the benefits, the size and the response. As I said before, I consider it one of the best diesel engines of the moment with which we can overcome the barrier of 1,000 kilometers of autonomy without breaking a sweat.
In everything else the XC60 is very Volvo. Comfortable in its walk, refined, soft and pleasant. Just what is asked for. And put to ask, you should know that the minimum invoice to buy a diesel Volvo XC60 B4 is 56,250 euros, 2,350 euros more for the all-wheel drive that you can save unless you meet the aforementioned requirements. It is the access model since the gasoline B4 is more expensive, so it makes no sense to take the leap. The diesel B4 is the good buy.
Conclusions
I must confess that I liked the Volvo XC60 B4 diesel much more than I expected. In the past he had already tried the intermediate SUV from the Swedish house, but not the mechanical evolution. Remarkable high for him for more than justified reasons. Although I did not like the multimedia system or the price, its positive points perfectly make up for the negative ones. It is a very good quality, comfortable and spacious SUV that has an excellent engine in terms of performance and consumption.