New vs old Volvo XC60: what are top 3 differences?

By Farzana Chaumoo

The latest Volvo XC60 gained a more relaxed look. But does this prestige SUV still have what it takes to live up to its hugely popular predecessor? And does it offer enough to justify its higher price?

 

Styling 

While adopting some of Volvo’s current design themes, the new XC60 has retained some of its familiar looks from its predecessor as the old XC60 was very popular. The XC60 has stylish yet conservative looks despite playing in a segment where there are some aggressively designed cars such as the Audi Q5 and Jaguar F-Pace.

The most noticeable changes can be seen at the front of the car. The new XC60 has a more upright grille while the headlights flow out of it, similar to the larger XC90.

 

Engines and Driving

Air suspension is optionally available for the new XC60. It delivers a soft and supple ride, especially at high speeds.

On a different note, critics have said that the XC60’s claimed sporty handling is a tad misleading and that you shouldn’t expect the XC60 to change direction as enthusiastically as say a Porsche Macan, or an F-Pace. Not to take away from its good driving dynamics though, the new XC60 grips sufficiently well and feels more controlled in corners than its predecessor.

Engine refinement has also been improved on whereby the D4 and D5 diesels are now quieter and smoother than the engines they replace. The new eight-speed automatic gearbox is also a big leap forward for the brand.

 

Find Volvo XC60 Car Reviews here

 

Interior and Equipment

Volvo has kept to their tradition of offering airy-feeling cabins, as opposed to the business of the German rivals. While the window line is moderately higher in the new XC60, you still get a good view and ample light.

The old XC60 was very classy for its price point and the new model is no different. Volvo’s standard of finish and the materials used are first-class.

New models now come fitted with keyless start, heated leather seats, climate control, cruise control, and automatic lights. What’s left as an option for you to decide on is metallic paint.

 

Infotainment

The old XC60’s dash was filled with buttons and in moving with the times, Volvo’s new XC60 has grabbed most of these functions and put them into the infotainment system which can be accessed through the large portrait touchscreen. It functions much like an iPad with swipe, pinch and scroll movements.

However, this system has been said to be fiddly and distracting when you’re driving as flicking through menus becomes tricky. When compared to rival’s systems, Audi and BMW have a supplementary controller along with some shortcut buttons.

 

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