Create successful ePaper yourself
Turn your PDF publications into a flip-book with our unique Google optimized e-Paper software.
<strong>The</strong> <strong>Star</strong> 49<br />
Driven<br />
FrEE WEEKLY MAGAZINE<br />
in stands every Friday<br />
Volvo’s XC60 hits<br />
SUV market by storm<br />
• By Ross Kiddie<br />
VOLVO XC60: High values for safety and comfort.<br />
VOLVO’S XC90 has long<br />
been regarded as the<br />
perfect mid-to-large sport<br />
utility vehicle.<br />
<strong>The</strong>re are no arguments<br />
there, it is the quintessential<br />
seven-seater and its success<br />
globally speaks for itself.<br />
However, its little brother<br />
also stands up to be counted,<br />
the XC60 represents<br />
much of what its stablemate<br />
commands, but is packaged<br />
as a five-seater only.<br />
<strong>The</strong> XC60 would be the<br />
car for me, and in its latest<br />
iteration it is an absolute<br />
stunner. In saying that, I’m<br />
not really an SUV buyer,<br />
but sometimes a car just<br />
screams out perfection, and<br />
for that reason it’s hard to<br />
ignore the XC60.<br />
<strong>The</strong> Volvo distributor<br />
here has taken the XC60’s<br />
arrival seriously. <strong>The</strong> range<br />
is comprehensive, there<br />
are five variants on offer,<br />
including a hybrid, and<br />
a huge range of colours.<br />
Prices range from $84,900<br />
to $94,900.<br />
<strong>The</strong> test car was a badged<br />
D5 and carried R-Design<br />
specification extras. In<br />
this form the XC60 is an<br />
absolute gem, it has build<br />
quality, features and performance<br />
to envy. Sure, its<br />
price tag of almost $95k is<br />
a little prohibitive for the<br />
family buyer, but what you<br />
get on the series is stunning.<br />
Over the years I’ve<br />
written many times of my<br />
affection for air suspension,<br />
and the way the XC60 rides<br />
and drives is spectacular. It<br />
has that float-on-air feeling<br />
along with the other<br />
benefits of that system –<br />
ride-height adjustment and<br />
the ability to absorb uneven<br />
surfaces.<br />
I’m not saying the XC60<br />
is an off-roader, but it does<br />
get four-wheel-drive and<br />
it will tackle gentle crosscountry<br />
tracks with dignity<br />
and aplomb.<br />
Under the bonnet sits a<br />
twin-turbocharged, 2-litre<br />
diesel. Don’t let the D5’s<br />
nomenclature fool you,<br />
this engine isn’t one of the<br />
legendary five-cylinder<br />
designs of years gone by, it<br />
is, in fact, a four-cylinder<br />
unit and makes up for any<br />
disappointment with its<br />
amazing power outputs –<br />
177kW and 500Nm.<br />
Volvo also claims a 5.5-litre<br />
per 100km (51mpg)<br />
combined cycle fuel usage<br />
average.<br />
<strong>The</strong> latter is not surprising,<br />
most modern diesels<br />
of this size will present you<br />
with figures in that area,<br />
and that is reinforced by<br />
the 7l/100km (40mpg)<br />
figure showing on the<br />
evaluation car’s fuel usage<br />
readout during my time<br />
with the vehicle. That along<br />
with a 5l/100km (56mpg)<br />
instantaneous figure sitting<br />
at the legal limit with the<br />
engine turning over freely<br />
at 1600rpm.<br />
• Price – Volvo XC60<br />
D5, $94,900<br />
• Dimensions – Length,<br />
4688mm; width,<br />
1902mm; height,<br />
1658mm<br />
• Configuration<br />
– Four-cylinder, fourwheel-drive,<br />
1969cc,<br />
177kW, 500Nm, eightspeed<br />
automatic.<br />
• Performance –<br />
0-100km/h, 7.1sec<br />
• Fuel usage –<br />
5.5l/100km<br />
While these figures<br />
are impressive, take into<br />
account the areas where<br />
peak power is realised<br />
(4000rpm) and the flat<br />
torque curve – 1500rpm to<br />
2500rpm – and you have an<br />
engine which delivers solid<br />
power from anywhere in<br />
the rev band.<br />
Drive is channelled<br />
though a conventional<br />
eight-speed transmission,<br />
and together the two elements<br />
provide immediacy<br />
and fluid drive.<br />
As a guide to performance<br />
the XC60 in this form will<br />
lunge to 100km/h in 7.1sec<br />
and will complete a highway<br />
overtake in 5sec, the midrange<br />
boost is something<br />
wonderful; at road speed<br />
the XC60’s diesel engine is<br />
stroppy and forceful.<br />
That’s the reason why I<br />
like the traditional 2-litre<br />
diesel, it has boost and<br />
torque like nothing else,<br />
it is vibrant to drive yet<br />
Latest Christchurch news at www.star.kiwi<br />
doesn’t lose sight of the<br />
need to promote healthy<br />
fuel usage statistics. It is<br />
also wonderfully quiet in its<br />
delivery.<br />
Why I remarked earlier<br />
about the suspension is<br />
that the XC60 has handling<br />
manners other manufacturers<br />
must envy. <strong>The</strong> XC60 is<br />
wonderfully balanced for<br />
a 1.65m-tall vehicle, body<br />
movement is negligible<br />
and the suspension always<br />
seems composed.<br />
<strong>The</strong> R-Design model<br />
has huge wheels and they<br />
are fitted with some of<br />
the world’s most desirable<br />
tyres – Pirelli PZero. At<br />
255/40 x 21in, there is a lot<br />
of rubber on the road and<br />
there’s never a point where<br />
you feel like the tyres are<br />
struggling, corner turn-in<br />
is accurate and steering<br />
feedback delightful.<br />
While the XC60’s allround<br />
performance is<br />
remarkable, it must be<br />
remembered it is built with<br />
the Volvo values for safety<br />
and occupant comfort. It<br />
is also a true champion<br />
in that area with a high<br />
level of fitment and a layout<br />
which is clean aesthetically.<br />
I particularly like the large<br />
central screen which is a<br />
hugely intuitive iPad-like<br />
device and is the driver for<br />
most of the in-cabin functions.<br />
<strong>The</strong> XC60 range is quite<br />
extensive, not only do you<br />
get conventional engines<br />
and transmissions, the<br />
hybrid will be the basis for<br />
when the company scales<br />
back production of internal<br />
combustion engines<br />
and focuses on hybrid and<br />
electric vehicles sometime<br />
after 2019.<br />
In the meantime, it’s<br />
fantastic cars like the XC60<br />
and others from the Volvo<br />
stable which will continue<br />
to lure buyers, simply<br />
because of its quality and<br />
rewarding driving experience.<br />
Best<br />
Motorbuys<br />
TM<br />
2001 ford falCon xr6<br />
4.0, rare 5 speed manual, alloys,<br />
ABS, twin airbags.<br />
$9,990<br />
12 Mth Warranty<br />
jordies<br />
wheels<br />
2006 ToyoTa caldina z<br />
Hi Spec 2.0 sportwagon,<br />
only 51,665kms.<br />
"low kms!"<br />
Neat cars<br />
WAS<br />
NO DEPOSIT<br />
$11,990<br />
2 litre, i-Stop, 5 door hatch, 17” Alloys, push<br />
button start, body kit, sporty hatch!<br />
2006 ford falCon xr6<br />
Auto, alloys, ABS,<br />
twin airbags.<br />
$11,990<br />
12 Mth Warranty<br />
$7,999 $15,595<br />
2007 NissAN wiNgroAd<br />
rider AuTeCh<br />
1.8 tiptronic/paddleshift, aero kit, climate air,<br />
alloys, 81,000kms.<br />
$91.96<br />
pw<br />
Thursday <strong>January</strong> <strong>18</strong> 20<strong>18</strong><br />
2002 Holden Commodore S<br />
3.8 auto, alloys, ABS,<br />
twin airbags.<br />
$8,990<br />
275 Colombo St, Christchurch.<br />
Cnr Colombo & Milton Sts. Ph: 337 9629.<br />
jordies wheels | CNr wilsoNs & shAKesPeAre rd, ChCh<br />
PhoNe PAul jordAN 021-121-1472 or 365 0972<br />
CARZ & VANZ<br />
www.carznvanz.co.nz<br />
ToyoTa WiSH X aERo SPoRT<br />
A lovely example, only<br />
50,000kms.<br />
NEW<br />
NO DEPOSIT<br />
2010 mAzdA AxelA 2.0s<br />
I-stop, auto tiptronic/paddleshift, smart key<br />
push button start, fog lamps, 17” alloys.<br />
"low kms!"<br />
ON<br />
ROAD<br />
$10,990<br />
www.neatcars.co.nz<br />
$158.99<br />
pw<br />
John Cooper Works, 17”alloys, turbo, manual,<br />
ABS, airbags, sports exhaust, VVti.<br />
niSSan XTRail 4Wd<br />
Sparkling condition,<br />
many extras.<br />
"look"<br />
ON<br />
ROAD<br />
$11,890<br />
301 Main South Rd<br />
Hornby Christchurch<br />
03 349 9298<br />
$15,990 Now $13,990+ORC ARRIVAL Now $<strong>18</strong>,990+ORC $22,990 Now $21,990+ORC<br />
2009 mazda axela 20S 2009 BmW mini Cooper S 2012 Toyota Hiace dx diesel<br />
sale<br />
2006 HONDA ODYSSEY<br />
7 SEAtEr<br />
7 seater, facelift model.<br />
oNLY $6,995<br />
NOW $10,995<br />
2011 FORD FOCUS 2.0 litRe hatCh<br />
Automatic, p/steer, remote lock,<br />
factory alloy wheels.<br />
No Deposit FiNaNce. $43pw<br />
sale<br />
2016 mitSUbiShi aSx hatCh<br />
Sporty styling, bluetooth, alloy<br />
wheels, reverse camera, 3974km, still<br />
NEW smells new. Compare!<br />
ARRIVAL<br />
2004 MItSUBISHI<br />
OUtLANDEr<br />
2.4 Automatic, leather seats.<br />
oNLY $8,995<br />
NOW $21,000<br />
Quality vehicles at<br />
competitive pricing<br />
No Deposit FiNaNce. $53pw<br />
12 Mth Warranty<br />
$8,999<br />
2001 ford fAlCoN xr6 Auii<br />
4.0 auto, cruise control, air cond, boot spoiler,<br />
alloys, outstanding condition, unique vehicle.<br />
Only 86,000km.<br />
WAS<br />
OVEr 1000<br />
VEHICLES<br />
FOr<br />
SALE<br />
Below is a small<br />
selection of our<br />
great deals!<br />
To advertise in Best Motorbuys, phone Lea Godfrey 021 277 3086<br />
NO DEPOSIT<br />
$142.17<br />
pw<br />
3 litre, auto, turbo, twin sliders, central locking,<br />
stereo/AUX option.<br />
247 Main South Rd, Hornby, Chch.<br />
(03) 341 8973<br />
christchurch@carznvanz.co.nz<br />
2011 meRCeDeS C350 DieSel<br />
AMG Sportswagon, 3.0 litre diesel,<br />
52,000kms, awesome drive, very clean.<br />
2003 MAZDA 6 GSX<br />
SPOrtSHAtCH<br />
2.3 engine, tiptronic transmission, low km's.<br />
oNLY $9,995<br />
NOW $24,000<br />
sale<br />
31 Moorhouse Ave<br />
Christchurch<br />
03 3770980<br />
No Deposit FiNaNce. $58pw<br />
265 Colombo Street, Christchurch<br />
(opposite Beckenham Mitre 10)<br />
Phone 03 337 9933
Change language