A winner and not just with awards. . .

By Gary S. Vasilash

The Volvo XC60 is a compact luxury SUV, although some characterizations have it as a midsize.

I’d opt for the latter. (The EPA is the arbiter of what goes where. On the Monroney for the vehicle driven it is described as a “Small Sport Utility.”)

Think of it as something that competes with the Cadillac XT5 and the Lincoln Nautilus—or maybe that would be the Lincoln Corsair, as the former is the midsize and the Corsair compact.

Moving on.

The XC60 did rather well in 2024 in terms of garnering awards from consumer outlets.

There were the “2024 Newsweek Auto Awards.”

The XC60 was “Best” for both “Suburbanites” and “Single, Powerful Women.”

It was “Top Pick” for “Empty Nesters.”

While a single, powerful woman could live in a suburb, the “Suburbanites” category was actually for people who have families that need to be transported. Or people who at some point will become “Empty Nesters.”

The XC60 seats five. Which is likely a sufficient number for any of those categories.

Good Housekeeping, in its “2024 Best New Family Cars Awards,” picked the XC60 as its “Best Luxury Compact Crossover SUV” (which brings us back to that category question).

Whether you simply eyeball it or follow the documented categorization, know that the XC60 has lots of competition. Not only the aforementioned Cadillac and Lincolns, but the BMW X3 and the Mercedes GLC, among others.

What is truly a distinctive difference is found in the interior.

If you go to a furniture store there is likely a section that is dedicated to and labeled as “Scandinavian.”

There is likely not one that says “American” and really not likely “German.”

And when you enter the cabin of the XC60 you know from the execution of the leather, wood and metal on the instrument panel (well, keep in mind this is the Ultra, top-of-the-line model) and from the comfort and support of the seats that this is a Scandinavian product.

(For those wondering: Yes, this vehicle was built at the Volvo plant in Torslanda, Sweden.)

The vehicle has a Bowers & Wilkins audio system that features 15 speakers and 1,400-W output, such that you might want to just sit in the leather-covered seat for a while after your trip is complete simply to listen

Volvo has a commitment to electrification. The XC60 is part of it. Albeit a small one.

The XC60 is powered by a 2.0-liter turbocharged four. And supplementing it is a 48-Volt hybrid system. This is a “mild hybrid” system. It permits regenerative braking to recharge the battery and provides a boost when accelerating. It also adds 13 hp to the output so the total horsepower is 247.

It is a more-than ample amount. When first driving the XC60 I was pleasantly surprised by the throttle response.

The vehicle is stickered at 26 mpg combined. In my experience that was, um, optimistic as I generally got more toward the city number of 23 mpg rather than the highway 30 mpg—even though I had a mixed drive.

If we go back to the “Suburbanites” or simply “Family,” odds are that cargo is a key consideration when selecting a vehicle. So to that end know that with the rear seat I place there is 22.4 cubic feet of space and with the seatback folded 63.3 cubic feet.

Volvo uses Google for its maps and the Google Assistant. There is a 9-inch infotainment touchscreen. (The Assistant is accessed via voice.) Even though this is Google-centric, there is Apple CarPlay and, no surprise, Android Auto.

The vehicle driven was not only Ultra, but it was loaded with other things—like that audio system, which adds $3,200 to the sticker. The Ultra alone has an MSRP of $57,000. The add-ons for the model driven—like the 22-inch five-double spoke matte black diamond cut alloy wheels—and other things, as well as the $1,295 for destination, kicked the bottom line up to $68,245.

But for a lux vehicle in whichever category you consider it, that really is reasonable.

(Image: Volvo)