2018 Volvo XC60 Release Date, Interior, Review, Exterior, Engine

Jul 07, 2017 First Impressions: The XC60 has been Volvo’s best-selling model in the US, but it wasn’t the best-selling crossover in its class. In fact, the older model has been regarded as being one of, the worse cars in its class. It was dull, not that good to drive and it featured less features than the competition. This changed with the new 2018 Volvo XC60. This is a brand new car built from scratch to trump its rivals and give their customers a true premium crossover. The new model is based on Volvo’s modular architecture which also underpins the larger XC90.

In Detail

Thanks to this platform the new XC60 is slightly longer than before, it has a longer wheelbase, and it is lower too. Thanks to these new proportions the car looks, and feels, more planted to the road. The new platform also allowed Volvo to build a lighter and safer car than before too.

2018 Volvo XC60 Source: caranddriver.com

Driving Characteristics

While its predecessor was dull, the new model is far better than it. For starters, on the road, it feels more like a sedan than a tall crossover. This is mostly thanks to its highly capable adaptive suspension system which can be had as an option. Even the base models feel great as there is a minimal amount of body roll through the corners. Some people complained that the XC60 has a too fast steering rack. Even though this may be true, it is not a bad thing to have as it gives the driver a lot more control over how it does on the road. The brakes are the same as those on the larger car while the wheels are just as big. Thanks to its rather wide tires, good amount of sidewall and lightweight rims, the new XC60 has to be one of the better cars in its class regarding driving characteristics.

What It Comes With?

The 2018 Volvo XC60 comes with a good selection of engines offering between 250 and 400 horsepower. These are the same as those found in the larger car. However, this smaller XC60 has a slightly different tune for its gearbox, so it seems more eager to go fast which is very impressive from a Volvo. Regarding features, there is a really good selection of equipment which will make life inside the cabin is. The materials are also well above the average of its class while the build quality has to be one of the best we have seen in a car at this price point.

2018 Volvo XC60 Source: caranddriver.com

Mar 13, 2017 / The current XC60 has been released back in 2008, so it can’t really match its newer rivals. A new version of it has been expected for some time now but Volvo decided to focus on their flagship cars. This proved to be the correct strategy because Volvo is doing better than ever before. However, now they have plenty of time for their lower end models and it seems the next to hit the market will be the 2018 Volvo XC60.

The car has been seen testing wearing the unusual plastic camouflage a while back. Well, recently they also released a teaser for the production version and it seems to look like a shrunken version of the larger XC90. Unlike its larger sibling, the XC60 will only feature up to five seats and a regular sized trunk.

2018 Volvo XC60 Release Date and Price

The car will be based on the same modular architecture, also called SPA, as the XC90. This combined a transverse front engine with a variable length wheelbase, so the XC60 should be just as refined as its larger siblings. Even though it still is a few weeks away from release, expect it to be a completely new model over the original.

Source; motortrend.com

It will actually have nothing in common with its predecessor which is always interesting to see in the automotive world. The car will likely hit showroom floors by the end of the year and its price should still be similar to the older model. Expect a starting point of around $42,000 which is quite a bit less than some of its direct rivals.

Design

Like we said, the 2018 Volvo XC60 was first seen a few months ago looking pretty much like a camouflaged, but smaller, XC90. However, because it sported that plastic camouflage, its lines were hidden so we couldn’t tell how the result will look. Well, after they released the teaser the full picture can be drawn. It is quite clear that the Volvo XC60 2018 will share not only its platform but also its design scheme with its larger brother. For starters, it gets an arched roof line which makes for a slightly more aggressive look. On top of that, it seems to have a lower front end as well, so Volvo might be in fact targeting sports crossovers such as the Porsche Macan, at least when it comes to the overall look of the car. The front end features the same “Thor’s hammer” headlights as the larger cars and the grille seems to be identical to the S90 and XC90.

Source; motortrend.com

2018 Volvo XC60 Interior

So far Volvo hasn’t released anything about the interior of the XC60. Despite that, it is safe to assume they are going to have a minimalist approach when it comes to the layout and design of the cabin. This became clear with the XC90 and later with their concepts. Expect the smaller 2018 Volvo XC60 to feature a large center infotainment screen which will control most of the car’s functions. The instrument cluster might also get rid of the analog dials for a large TFT panel which will give the driver all the information it needs. Even though this is a crossover, we expect a more similar driving position to the S90 sedan. This would fall in line with Volvo’s desire to offer a sportier and more capable crossover than before.

Source; motortrend.com

Under the Hood

There will be no surprised here. The base model of the 2018 Volvo XC60, at least in the US, is going to feature a 2 liter turbocharged inline 4 with up to 250 horsepower and around 270 lb-ft of torque. A twin-charged version of the same engine is also a real possibility. This would combine the 2 liters turbocharged inline 4 with a supercharger for a combined output of more than 310 horsepower and close to 300 lb-ft of torque. However, the most impressive will remain the T8 hybrid. This is also available in the XC90 where it makes 400 horsepower and up to 480 lb-ft of torque which is very impressive for a 2-liter hybrid. All cars will come with an eight-speed automatic as standard. However, the all wheel drive system will only be an option. Diesel is unlikely, especially since Volvo is currently trying to improve their hybrid and investing in diesel for the US market would not make much sense.