Review
Our Volvo XC60 R-Design Pro plug-in hybrid has more than 60 items of specification as standard, before the option packs are added, as pointed out in April.
The ones that immediately stand out are its advanced driver assistance systems, which combine to make the buyer more aware of their surroundings than ever before.
Volvo has a vision of no-one being killed in its new cars from 2020 and declared it will soon limit the top speed of its cars to 112mph (180kph), and the Swedish brand’s long-held reputation for taking safety seriously is certainly upheld by the XC60.
AM’s car has the Intellisafe Pro pack, which minimises the chance of hitting something and maximises protection should another vehicle hit it.
For just £40 extra on the buyer’s monthly payment, this pack gives them systems that alert the driver and automatically brake the car when detecting cars, cyclists and pedestrians pulling out in front of it and vehicles crossing behind when it’s reversing out of parking spaces.
It also includes adaptive cruise control, which works in partnership with road sign alert to slow the car accordingly if the road’s speed limit changes, and the clever Pilot Assist which helps the driver keep the car centred in their lane.
Volvo is trialling fully autonomous cars and the technology already available proves the benefits of such thinking, even if widespread use of fully self-driving cars is years away yet.
And while safety has long been a selling point for Volvo, the XC60 shows it does style too.
An award-winning journalist and editor, with two decades of experience covering the motor retail industry, and accredited by the Institute of Leadership and Management (ILM) plus the National Council for the Training of Journalist (NCTJ)
As editor of AM since 2016, Tim is responsible for its media content, planning and production across AM's multiple channels, including the website, digital reports, webinars, social media and the editorial content of AM's events, Automotive Management Live and the AM Awards. His focus is on interviewing senior leaders of franchised dealer groups and motor manufacturer national sales companies to examine latest developments in UK motor retail.
