About the Volvo XC60
Alex M purchased this Volvo XC60 used for $33,000 (including all on-road costs) in 2020. Alex M would buy this car again because: “The XC60’s grunty D5 engine has a great balance of power and economy, the family-friendly packaging means there is plenty of space and functionality (even for a family of five), the safety technology is convenient and reassuring, and like most Volvos it’s aging like a fine wine!”
How reliable has your car been? Tell us about any issues.
This car has been very reliable, save for one or two niggles. I did plenty of research prior to buying and knew the D5 was generally a bulletproof drivetrain with proper maintenance. This is my family’s main hauler and we plan on keeping this car for a long time, so I am very methodical with the maintenance.
Outside of routine servicing via a Volvo specialist, I’ve also had the gearbox serviced at 80,000km as a preventative measure (not unheard of for issues to arise).
I’ve had the following two issues:
1. Air conditioner compressor failed around 90,000km and required replacing. Extended warranty partially covered the costs.
2. The tailgate switch has stopped working. I have to open the boot via the interior or key switch. This has only just happened and is apparently a common occurrence (according to my mechanic and Google). I plan on sourcing the part and fixing by myself.
What do you think of the ownership experience with your car?
It’s been a fantastic car to own. I plan on keeping it a long time. Volvos are one of the very few makes that get cooler the older they are (I keep telling myself that anyway).
We’re a family of five, and the packaging and space belies the comparatively small SUV dimensions. The amount of storage and space Volvo have packaged into a small car is outstanding. Family friendly favourites features include the inbuilt booster seats and general robustness of the build quality.
We’ve done many interstate trips fully loaded quite comfortably. The retractable cargo barrier helps in this regard.
The R-Design sport seats are very supportive and comfortable – great for longer trips, although the sports bolstering might be a little tight for more rotund folks. Friends often comment how comfortable they are. Road noise is pretty low around town and on the open road, however the larger wheels do throw up a bit of noise on bad highways.
Are you happy with the price and features of your car?
Fortunately for me as the second owner, the original purchaser ticked quite a few option packages. Outside of the standard inclusions, it has the Driver Support Pack which has lots of safety and convenience goodies like adaptive cruise control, active high-beam, and road sign information. It also has the upgraded optional Harman Kardon sound system including the sub-woofer – a separate option again. The only feature or tech that I would like from the current generation of cars is Apple CarPlay so that I could use native apps like Spotify and or Google Maps.
What do you think of the performance and economy of your car?
I equate the D5 engine to a gruff but handsome footy player in a tuxedo. It’s smooth and grunty, but it does on occasion exhibit the diesel noise and roughness that most modern German diesel engines hide so well.
It’s a charismatic performer with that five-cylinder thrum, and it can really boogie when you need it to. The six-speed automatic is a very smooth operator around town, but it doesn’t always have the engine in the sweet spot when you want it during more spirited driving.
Economy wise, we get 10L/100km around town and 7.0 on the open road. I’m pretty happy with that given we live inner city with lots of stop-start traffic and I’m not the most economical driver.
What do you think of the technology in your car?
The convenience and safety technologies are well integrated and works seamlessly. I’m a regular user of the radar cruise control in traffic, and the Harman Kardon stereo (with sub-woofer) is an absolute thumper that gets a good work out.
The Sensus system works well given its age and all the HVAC and audio controls are well laid out, and have a solid feel to them.
I also love the TFT adaptive digital display – it’s super crisp, quite informative, and I like that you can customise the colour and display. Some small gripes include dual zone climate control without a sync option and erratic auto-high beams that can be easily fooled.
What do you think of the ride comfort and handling of your car?
The R-Design might be the “sports” model of the range, but it’s certainly not a sports car.
You can feel the weight around bends and it’s not as fluid as an old Forester I had when driving around the Adelaide Hills. Where this car excels is on long drives with it’s power and sure-footed open road dynamics. It eats up the long flowing bends of the Fleurieu Peninsula with ease.
With 20-inch alloys and lower and stiffer suspension, the ride around town is on the firmer side, but it’s never uncomfortable.