Test drive Volvo XC 60: warm ice

The massive Volvo HS 90 has a smaller counterpart in the form of the new HS 60, with which the Swedes are invading the compact SUV segment.

Volvo has long made safety its number one priority. When a company with such an image announces the safest product in its history, it is perfectly normal for the public and professionals to increase their interest. The test version is a 2,4-liter five-cylinder turbodiesel with 185 hp. village and furniture of the highest level, we will try to check as objectively as possible how the Scandinavians coped with the implementation of their ambitious promises.

Elegant

At over BGN 80, the Summum variant is not cheap by any means, but on the other hand, for that amount the company's new SUV has fantastic standard equipment, including a high-quality audio system with CD, climate control, electrically adjustable seats and upholstery. Genuine leather, bi-xenon headlights and a respectable array of safety systems look like a short representative sample of the full list of standard auto parts. It is equally important to pay attention to the fact that even if it is “crowded” with all possible offers from the list of additional equipment, the HS 000 remains a slightly cheaper purchase than its direct competitors from BMW and Mercedes, or rather their X3 and GLK models.

Volvo also outperforms its main rivals in other important metrics such as cabin size. The interior of the HS 60 proves to be a welcoming place even for people who are six meters tall, including when it comes to the rear row of seats with its slightly raised amphitheater - this is how we are used to feeling in the upper segment, such as the Mercedes ML and BMW X5. This is partly due to the width of almost 1,90 meters, which is one of the record figures for the class and has a positive effect on the interior, but on the other hand, it logically becomes an obstacle to complex maneuvers in urban conditions. Limited maneuverability due to the large turning radius is also a disadvantage when parking in narrow spaces.

These shortcomings are easy to forgive if you immerse yourself in the atmosphere of an elaborate interior, which is an encyclopedic example of classic Scandinavian design. Without trying to give their creation a technocratic or modern look, Volvo stylists have tackled the talent of creating simple and clean forms and, above all, choosing and combining the right materials. Buyers can choose from three main decorative finishes on the center console and other key areas of the cab: aluminum, polished walnut veneer and specially treated oak wood with an open porous surface and a matte sheen. The interior of the HS 60, especially when combined with the latest décor and a mix of beige and dark brown for the upholstery and plastic surfaces, creates an atmosphere that embodies the best of the brand's traditions and shows Volvo exactly the way the public expects.

An innovator

However, we'll have to get used to the logic of ergonomics in this car - the navigation system is especially confusing to operate via the central controller on the back of the steering wheel, with the typical trend lately of piling up lots of small buttons on small surfaces. To compensate, the vast array of standard and optional electronic safety assistants is intuitive to operate, with a dedicated row of clearly labeled buttons on the center console. Volvo

Perhaps the most interesting innovative technology in the HS 60 is the City Safety system, which is automatically activated when the engine is started. Its function is as simple as it is useful - using a radar in the front grille, it detects the dangerous approach of obstacles on the road (a stopped object or an object with a lower speed) and initially at speeds from 3 to 30 kilometers per hour. an alarm with a red light on the windshield, and then arbitrarily stops the car unless the driver does it himself. Of course, Volvo does not offer an absolute guarantee to prevent collisions at low speeds, but in this way the risk of collisions and subsequent damage is significantly reduced - a clear indication of this is the decision of insurers in many countries to set insurance premiums of HS 60, which are the lowest in the segment, it is possible that Something similar will happen in our country in the future.

Another interesting proposal of this type is the blind spot monitoring assistant, which warns of the appearance of objects on the sides of the car. Of course, you should not dull the observation in the presence of such equipment, but objectively, the electronic assistant does its job well and avoids unpleasant surprises. Scanning road markings and warnings with a light and (rather intrusive) sound signal when leaving a lane without turning on the turn signal is known from many other manufacturers, but according to most colleagues, its use makes real sense mainly during long night walks. but not under “normal” conditions. Hill Descent Control is borrowed directly from Land Rover, and interestingly, it can automatically maintain a speed of seven kilometers per hour, regardless of whether the car is going up or down. However, it goes without saying that the dual transmission system, based on the classic Haldex clutch, and the overall design of the HS 60 are aimed at providing more safety in adverse weather conditions than classic off-road performance. Coincidentally, the test of the car was completed in rather harsh winter conditions and it should be emphasized that the car demonstrates more than decent behavior on snow and ice, good cornering stability and smooth starting - only a slight slip of the front wheels when applying more gas . on very slippery surfaces indicates that the four-wheel drive is not permanent.

Equilibria

On the road, the HS 60 has a very smooth driving style - with a few minor exceptions, the chassis manages to neutralize the effects of almost all types of bumps on the pavement. The optional adaptive suspension with three modes of operation is not among the must-have items that this car should be equipped with, but with sufficient free funds, the investment is worth it, as the system provides more harmonious comfort in just one idea, but mostly stability at a fast pace. driving. Cornering behavior is safe and smooth, but overall the HS 60 is not a car that invites you to stay behind the wheel as a racer and, quite appropriately, its image is much better suited for a relaxed ride.

The rare-cylinder drive works very well - accompanied by a growl of the throat, the HS 60 accelerates evenly and dynamically, there is no weak start or a nasty turbo hole, the traction is impressive. Both transmissions offered for the D5 have six gears, one manual and one automatic. The choice of which of the two is better for the car depends on the taste and personal needs of each buyer, but in both cases one cannot go wrong, since the boxes are ideal for the drive. Fuel consumption is relatively high compared to direct competitors from competing brands, but this is perhaps the only serious drawback of the HS 60 D5 powerplant.

In conclusion, the HS 60 is truly one of the safest and most comfortable compact SUVs, offering harmonious drive as well as pure Scandinavian styling and remarkable workmanship in its spacious interior.

text: Boyan Boshnakov

a photo: Hans-Dieter Zeufert

Evaluation

Volvo D60 xDrive 5 XNUMX

In this segment, you can find more economical SUV models as well as models with more dynamic road behavior. Nevertheless, the HS 60 offers an extremely harmonious combination of safety, comfort, huge interior volume and a beautifully designed interior, for which it receives five stars from auto motor und sport.

technical details

Volvo D60 xDrive 5 XNUMX
Working volume	-
Power	136 kW (185 hp)
Maximum torque	-
Acceleration 0-100 km / h	9,8 with
Braking distances at a speed of 100 km / h	39 m
full speed	205 km / h
Average consumption fuel in the test	10,1 l / 100 km
Base Price	83 100 levov