In the realms of five-seater crossovers, few stick out and even less look this good. In recent years, Volvo’s styling has taken a massive step forward, and the 2021 Volvo XC60 welcomes the styling cues with open arms.
While we are a big fan of the bricks, the latest styling cues are some of the best in the business. Take a look at our gallery below.
Now you know it looks good, but is that all the 2021 XC60 is good for? Not quite as there’s much more than a fancy dress.
As always, a huge shout out to Trading Enterprises for letting us test drive the vehicle. If you want to upgrade your current ride, sell your car faster on Dubicars.
With all that out of the way, let’s see what this hidden gem can do.
The good
- Looks
- Overall comfort
- Power
The bad
- A/c control placement
- Base price tag
- Speed sign reader is optimistic
Driving the 2021 Volvo XC60
The 2-litre super turbocharged engine delivers sufficient power when you put your foot down no matter the drive mode, and it’s a satisfying experience. It’s not only quick and stable; it’s light in the corners and agile despite its size.
If conserving fuel is your thing, you’ll be glad to know the 2021 Volvo XC60 has an Eco mode and delivers 12km/L in the city with 16km/L on the open road.
AWD is standard in the UAE as is the 8-speed gearbox. Speaking of transmission, the gear changes are smooth and its automatic shifting is a near-perfect balance between power, engine performance and fuel economy.
Outside the 2021 Volvo XC60
Of all the mid-size SUV’s, the 2021 Volvo XC60 is one of the better-looking SUV’s out there. The front end is dominated with a dark grille flanked by ‘Thor’s Hammer’ on either side.
Equipped with the R-Design package, the exterior flaunts its sportiness with silver exterior trim and an aggressive bumper.
The bonnet has muscular grooves add to the vehicles character while rear lights flow into the tailgate. Completing the package are 19-inch Diamond Cut Alloy.
Volvo’s have always been known for their boxy shape, and although the XC60 isn’t as square as the XC40, there’s a hint of boxiness.
Inside the 2021 Volvo XC60
Materials inside are soft and inviting. The aluminium trim perfectly complements the dark leather interior and the leather that covers the seats are of high quality.
It’s spacious too, with ample head and legroom for all five passengers and best of all. It’s minimalistic just the way we like to with no random button placements. Buttons and switches that are present are clearly marked, making the interior user friendly.
But in one instance, its a bit too minimalistic. Take the a/c controls for example. A crucial part for any vehicle and it’s on the touchscreen rather than physical control. We might be nitpicking, its just odd to adjust the a/c via a screen.
Safety & tech
Safety and Volvo go together like paratha and Karak. The only thing missing from the XC60 is autonomous driving, and that’s probably on the way at some point.
While we could focus on the lane keep assist, blind-spot monitoring and 360 camera all work flawlessly. The speed limit indicator on the other hand is a bit optimistic. On occasion, we found heads-up display would show the speed limit higher than it actually is.
On the tech front, the 2021 Volvo XC60 does get Android Auto and Apple CarPlay making it easier to connect, a fully digital dashboard with menu navigation and radar assisted cruise control plus many more to make your experience inside comfortable.
Final Verdict
Overall, we enjoyed the ride comfort, style and power of the 2021 Volvo XC60 and our only real gripe with the 5-seater SUV is the placement of certain controls and the engine variety.
Both the engine variety and controls are easy to get over, but the price point isn’t. If you’re looking for the safest five-seater SUV, the XC60 is a great choice if you have the budget.
Photo credit: Rajitha Perera (Dubicars)
2021 Volvo XC60 price in UAE; Starting at AED 200,000.
Dubicars has new Volvo and used Volvo for sale in Dubai.
