2016 Volvo XC60 T6 Drive-E AWD First Test Review: AWD Makes All the Difference

The 2016 Volvo XC60 T6 AWD’s thoughtful design and understated execution had us wondering why the little brother to our 2016 Motor Trend SUV of the Year got such a harsh rap in our luxury compact crossover comparison last year. Fifth place out of five contenders? Could the switch from front-wheel drive to all-wheel drive really make much of a difference? The short answer is an emphatic yes.

Our tester was a Platinum model that rang in at $52,505, which included $4,400 for the Platinum package and $1,550 for the Climate & Child Booster Seats package. Notable added features include a Harman Kardon sound system, power tailgate, auto-dimming mirrors, and the Technology package that adds all the active safety systems we associate with Volvo.

	2016 Volvo XC60 T6 AWD	2015 Volvo XC60 T6 (FWD)
0-60 MPH	6.3 sec	6.3 sec
QUARTER MILE	14.8 sec @ 94.5 mph	14.8 sec @ 95.4 mph
BRAKING, 60-0 MPH	125 ft	117 ft
MT FIGURE EIGHT	26.6 sec @ 0.66 g (avg)	27.3 sec @ 0.64 g (avg)

The big news with the 2016 Volvo XC60 is that the revised engine, which is a supercharged and turbocharged 2.0-liter inline-four that puts out 302 hp and 295 lb-ft of torque, has now been packaged with Volvo’s all-wheel-drive system. With 295 lb-ft of torque available at just 2,100 rpm thanks to the instant-on boost of the supercharger, it’s understandable why we said, “torque steer makes the inline-four feel like there’s too much engine” when we first drove the front-wheel-drive XC60 with the Drive-E engine. The addition of all-wheel drive erases the torque steer we experienced when the power was routed to the front wheels alone. We tried nailing the throttle on straightaways, curves, and a few tight corners to no avail: We couldn’t get the steering wheel to even wiggle in our grip.

The straight-line performance of the all-wheel-drive model is nearly identical to the front-wheel-drive model we tested during the comparison. The 0.9-mph slower trap speed in the quarter mile, and the longer stopping distance, are both explained by the 93-pound weight difference between the two versions, as we’d expect from the extra hardware needed for the all-wheel-drive system.

We also want to draw your attention to this finding: the all-wheel-drive XC60 is a significant 0.7-second faster on the figure-eight course than the front-drive model. What does this mean out on the road? The XC60 was a willing companion when we started pushing a bit faster. Body roll was minimal, and the all-wheel-drive system easily put the power down even when we were quick to get back on the throttle coming out of a tight corner. The eight-speed automatic got a bit confused at times, though. We found ourselves wishing it would hold gears a little bit longer while in Sport mode, and the lack of paddle shifters dictated we use the manual shift gate on the transmission. When we got our speeds up a bit on the twisty bits, we really appreciated the nicely bolstered driver’s seat. The extra padding in the seats kept us from sliding all over the place but still afforded the spectacular comfort we’ve come to expect of Volvo.

Now, these seats aren’t just good when the roads get mildly twisty. A back injury a few years ago has left me a bit more sensitive to bad seats in vehicles. If they’re not good, I’m feeling it when the drive is over. After a few hours through the hills and highways of Southern California, though my back was fine; Volvo nailed it the driver’s seat’s near-perfect balance of sportiness and comfort.

What about “regular” roads? The eight-speed knew exactly when to hold a gear, but while slowing down normally, we did notice the downshifts as the eight-speed gently bumped through the gears. Little odd in a luxury-aiming crossover. We took the XC60 up a pretty healthy grade and found nothing to complain about. The automatic maintained our speed at 55 mph easily, and when we prodded the accelerator a bit, the Drive-E engine just tapped into the available boost, giving us immediate power without the multiple downshifts a naturally aspirated V-6 would have needed.

In heavier traffic, we tried out the adaptive cruise control and lane departure warning systems. For the latter system, keep your hands on the wheel as it just warns without providing corrective steering input. The adaptive cruise control worked flawlessly, slowing the XC60 easily for traffic, and it even remained smooth and composed when set to the closest following distance. We’ve found that some systems (cough, Mercedes, cough) become far more abrupt when asked to follow another vehicle at the closest allowable following distance.

As we’ve come to expect of Volvo, the 2016 Volvo XC60 earns top marks from NHTSA (five stars out of a possible five) and IIHS (Top Safety Pick+, the agency’s highest distinction). When we dug into the results, we noticed that although the XC60 avoided a collision in IIHS’s low-speed autobrake test (12 mph) it only slowed the SUV by 13 mph in the high-speed autobrake test (25 mph). In comparison, Subaru’s EyeSight active safety technology stops the Forester completely in both tests.

We like the 2016 Volvo XC60’s design. We’re not going to call it “timeless” because vehicles like the Jaguar E-Type typify that better, but suffice it to say we think the exterior styling especially has aged well. Inside, you’ll find elegant Scandinavian styling cues. A chrome strip on the front doors seems to trace around in a spiral that terminates at the interior door handle. Natural wood, instead of heavily lacquered veneer, is found throughout as well. It’s classy.

Then you get to the center stack. Remember when the XC60 debuted in 2008? Yup, not much has changed. The infotainment screen is a bit bigger, and some of the buttons have been rearranged, but this is largely the same center stack. This would only be a problem if not for the Volvo XC90, which is the iPhone 6S Plus to the XC60’s flip phone. The perfectly functional XC60’s Sensus infotainment system is better than a few of the new systems we’ve used, but after spending 60 seconds in an XC90, we can’t wait for a fully redesigned XC60.

Dated center stack aside, the interior is a nice place to spend time. At highway speeds we didn’t have any trouble holding a conversation at a normal volume. Wind and tire noise are present, but unobtrusive, parts of the Volvo’s driving experience. You can hear a little supercharger wine when the engine’s at lower rpms, but that fades to a not-unpleasant but certainly not-sporty exhaust noise when the engine speed increases.

In the day-to-day, the Volvo XC60 performs well. A rear-facing toddler car seat fits easily in the middle seat of the second row, and though we didn’t have any bigger children to test them on, we appreciated the integrated outboard second-row booster seats. Those booster seats were part of the $1,550 Climate Package and Child Booster Seat package on our tester, which also included a heated steering wheel, front windshield, windshield wiper nozzles, and front seats as well as an advanced interior air quality system and power child locks. In the cargo area, we enjoyed the nifty grocery bag holder; a panel flips up to expose an elastic strap and a pair of cargo hooks.

Back to the comparison we mentioned at the beginning of the review: Would all-wheel drive have changed the front-drive 2015 XC60’s fifth-place finish? It’s possible. If safety is high on your priority scale, and you’re somewhere in the stage of “young family,” the XC60 has the right distinctions to serve you well and to adapt to your needs as the kiddos get bigger. Just consider getting all-wheel drive to make the most of that Drive-E engine.

2016 Volvo XC60 T6 AWD (Drive-E Platinum)
BASE PRICE	$48,745
PRICE AS TESTED	$52,505
VEHICLE LAYOUT	Front-engine, AWD, 5-pass, 4-door SUV
ENGINE	2.0L/302-hp/295-lb-ft supercharged + turbocharged DOHC 16-valve I-4
TRANSMISSION	8-speed automatic
CURB WEIGHT (F/R DIST)	4,171 lb (58/42%)
WHEELBASE	109.2 in
LENGTH x WIDTH x HEIGHT	182.8 x 74.4 x 67.4 in
0-60 MPH	6.3 sec
QUARTER MILE	14.8 sec @ 94.5 mph
BRAKING, 60-0 MPH	125 ft
LATERAL ACCELERATION	0.81 g (avg)
MT FIGURE EIGHT	26.6 sec @ 0.66 g (avg)
EPA CITY/HWY/COMB FUEL ECON	20/28/23 mpg
ENERGY CONS, CITY/HWY	169/120 kW-hrs/100 miles
CO2 EMISSIONS, COMB	0.85 lb/mile

The post 2016 Volvo XC60 T6 Drive-E AWD First Test Review: AWD Makes All the Difference appeared first on Motor Trend.

from Motor Trend http://ift.tt/1NVRTv2