Volvo XC60 concept (2007) CAR review

Volvo already has a couple of off-roaders. What does it need another one for?

The Swedes claim that people who want to do off-roady things like driving down dirt tracks and towing horseboxes will go for its XC70 and XC90 models. The XC60 is being aimed at design-conscious townies who want an on-road vehicle with a tiny bit of off-road ability. So it’ll have permanent all-wheel drive and Hill Descent Control as standard, but it doesn’t have the lofty ground clearance of a pukka off-roader. And that shows when you’re on the road in the XC60.

Does the XC60 drive like a car then?

Well the first thing to remember is that this is a concept vehicle and it hasn’t had its chassis tuned much at all. It’s based on Volvo’s big car platform that underpins the V70 and S80 and although our test drive was speed limited, the car felt remarkably perky. It didn’t have the leaden steering that’s usually a feature of prototype cars like this. And body roll round corners was remarkably well controlled although perhaps unsurprisingly the ride was a touch on the firm side.