Volvo shakes up its popular XC60

VOLVO has given its top-selling XC60 SUV more equipment, greater safety, broader range and improved diesel performance and efficiency for the 2012 model year, just four months after its 2011 XC60 shake-up.

Prices also have been hiked, but Volvo Car Australia says the rises are more than offset by improvements in standard equipment that now includes a rear-vision camera, power-operated tailgate and upgraded multi-media systems on all models.

The range has been expanded from six variants to 10, with the optional ‘Teknik’ pack now becoming a full-fledged permanent model offered with each of the four engines – the entry-level front-drive four-cylinder turbocharged petrol T5 that arrived in March, the normally aspirated 3.2-litre inline petrol six, revised turbo-diesel five-cylinder D5 and range-topping 3.0-litre turbo-petrol inline-six T6.

The Teknik becomes the mid-range specification, with R-Design – previously just a styling and handling upgrade – continuing as the flagship, but with the Teknik gear that includes satellite-navigation, ‘bending’ headlights that turn with the steering and a blind-spot warning system.

Diesel buyers benefit from engine tweaks that not only deliver more power and efficiency, but also slash the tax bill on each vehicle.

Fuel consumption has been improved by 10 per cent, to 6.9 litres per 100km, bringing it under the 7.0L/100km threshold for the luxury car tax and qualifying it for exemption.

Despite this, the prices of D5 models still go up, by between $540 and $4340, depending on the spec, but that is because of a raft of technical and equipment improvements that Volvo says lifts value by up to $13,770.

D5 prices start from $60,990 for the base model, stepping up to $65,990 for the new D5 Teknik and $68,990 for the top-shelf D5 R-Design.

The 2.4-litre five-cylinder direct-injection turbo-diesel engine gets a lighter camshaft and crankshaft and more efficient coolant pump to reduce engine losses and enhance performance, lifting power from 151kW to 158kW and torque by 20Nm to 440Nm.

Prices for the new XC60 D5 now start from $60,990 for the base model, while the D5 Teknik is $65,990 and the D5 R-Design is $68,990. The latter price is $4340 more than the previous D5 R-Design, but the new model gains $13,770 of extra equipment.

The XC60 range continues to open with the recently released front-wheel-drive T5 model powered by the 2.0-litre four-cylinder turbocharged petrol GTDi (Gasoline Turbocharged Direct Injection) engine producing 177kW of power at 5500rpm and peak torque of 320Nm.

This Euro 5 engine – a close relative of Ford’s EcoBoost engine that is set to be introduced on the Ford Falcon – returns combined fuel consumption of 8.7L/100km and CO2 emissions of 207g/km in the XC60. Mated with a dual-clutch six-speed transmission, it propels the T5 from zero to 100km/h in 8.1 seconds.

The stalwart naturally aspirated 3.2-litre six-cylinder engine of the XC60 3.2 remains unchanged at 179kW and 320Nm, and is available in standard 3.2 and enhanced Teknik guises for $58,990 and $63,990 respectively.

The range-topping T6 has the acclaimed 3.0-litre turbocharged six-cylinder petrol engine banging out 224kW of power and an impressive 440Nm. Fuel consumption remains unchanged at 10.5L/100km.

Like the D5, the XC60 T6 comes in three specs – the standard $67,990 T6, the $72,990 Teknik and flagship $75,990 R-Design.

The T6 variants gain a 12-speaker premium sound system with surround sound and Bluetooth audio streaming.

Other models get an upgraded multimedia system with DVD – replacing the CD – and a bigger, seven-inch screen.

This year, Volvo has sold 970 XC60s, easily making it the Swedish brand’s most popular model, ahead of the large XC90 SUV (635 units) and S60 sedan (349).

Launched in Australia in 2009, Volvo XC60 sales are up almost 30 per cent this year, helping to lift Volvo sales 14.4 per cent in a market that is down 6.6 per cent.

In the luxury SUV segment, the XC60 is the sixth best seller behind vehicles such as BMW X5 and X1, Audi Q5, Mercedes M-class and Land Rover Discovery.

Volvo Car Australia managing director Matt Braid said: “The XC60 continues to be our top-selling model, and with the MY12 versions we had the opportunity to make it even better value for money so we did.”

2012 Volvo XC60pricing:&nbsp
T5	$54,990
T5 Teknik &nbsp &nbsp &nbsp &nbsp &nbsp &nbsp &nbsp	$59,990
3.2	$58,990
3.2 Teknik	$63,990
D5	$60,990
D5 Teknik	$65,990
D5 R-Design	$68,990
T6	$67,990
T6 Teknik	$72,990
T6 R-Design	$75,990