Volvo means safety, right? After all, they invented the modern seat belt, and then gave away the design. They’re the image of “Sensible Dad” with the kids in the car, and all the sexy appeal of durability. Volvos are the cars of choice for third world rebels to arm up and drive into skirmishes – you just can’t break them. Yep, good, old, dependable, rock-hard Volvo.
But a sports car? And a good one at that? From Volvo?
Yes, the 2010 Volvo XC60 is a sports car, and not just a good one, but a luxury one as well. But this is Volvo, so it is also the safest luxury sports car on the road. So fear not, Volvo is still Volvo – they’ve just given you a new toy to consider.
In the looks department, Volvo has turned up the volume with an expressive shape. The grille is pronounced, becoming more outstanding with angled parking lights and up-swept head lights. The XC60 has a low wide body, and the tail lights seem to cascade off the back of the car with a glass tailgate.
The whole package is sporty and fun – not two adjectives typically associated with Volvo, but there it is. Pigs will be taxiing for take-off and the Devil has ordered a new pair of ice skates.
But a sports car is about looks and performance, and the XC60 has both in spades. There’s almost too much fun to be had slaloming this car through turns and whipping through traffic. Overall road handling is good and goes easily from corner to corner. Add to that the XC60’s minimal body roll and you have one tightly performing car.
But, as mentioned before, this is a Volvo, so you can still expect to find top of the line safety features. The XC60 comes with “City Safety,” a unique feature from Volvo that will help you avoid low speed accidents that are common risk of stop and start driving in cities. Basically, if the car is about to strike another car in front, and the driver doesn’t react, the car will apply the brakes on its own.
Of course, the best safety feature is the same one it always has been – the safe driver behind the wheel. Systems like this are designed to help drivers to avoid wrecks, as even the best of us can become distracted at an inopportune moment. Volvo’s feature will serve as a seamless reminder to refocus your attention on the road, while preventing you from having to deal with the expensive repairs of an accident.
As to cost, this car comes in at over $37,200 – a bit of a sticker shock for drivers used to standard Volvos. And, yes, that’s more than the Infiniti EX35, which is priced in the neighborhood of $33,000. But for that on paper savings, you’ll get less amenities, fewer safety features and half the cargo space found in the XC60. Don’t be deterred by the Volvo name – it’s definitely worth a test drive.
