This generation of XC60 is undoubtedly a work that makes Volvo turn over, compared to the old model, it has removed the "old-fashioned" label and turned into young and energetic, which is undoubtedly to make it more suitable for the current consumer market. As can be seen from the monthly sales list, in addition to the BBA, the Volvo XC60 is second only to them. It can be seen that Volvo has been recognized to a certain extent in the domestic market. Three years after its launch, the car has also reached the time of mid-term restructuring, so let's see how it maintains its advantage in a highly competitive market.
Two kits, each taking what you need
In terms of appearance, volvo's design is not very colorful, but it is absolutely recognizable when driving on the road. That's largely because of its iconic "Quake" daytime running lights and the few vertical taillights available today. After the mid-term redesign, still provide the sport version and the deluxe version of the two appearance kits, our test drive for several years belongs to the latter, the net uses a straight waterfall chrome decoration, the style is more low-key luxury, the front bumper also contains a lot of chrome elements, the overall top-to-bottom visual style is more unified.
The side of the body is still dominated by simple lines, with the concave shape under the door panel, the sense of hierarchy is still more prominent, and the lower window line near the C pillar has an upward trend, creating a body posture of low front and back, bringing a stronger sense of movement. The hubs are in a ten-spoke style that complements the Deluxe Edition kit.
The rear of the car is also full of multiple elements, in addition to the previously mentioned taillights, the lower bracket uses a through-section chrome trim to further stretch the transverse visual width. It is worth noting that the tail mark in the lower right has changed from the past "T5" to "B5", and in response to the general trend, the double exhaust on both sides of the old model has been changed to a hidden design. For the luxury version, this exhaust layout better matches the tone of the whole vehicle, but compared with the sports version of the main personality, the hidden exhaust is not good news.
The introduction of crystal elements embellishment, the car machine system localization
Entering the car, the interior of the XC60 is biased towards the Nordic minimalist design style, and the entire center console is mainly outlined in a straight line, broadening the visual space sense of the entire interior. In terms of materials, the center console and the door panel position are wrapped in leather, and with a large area of wood grain panels, it brings a better luxurious atmosphere.
The 12.3-inch full LCD dashboard is standard and features a new display theme, navigation mode and standard mode, but I prefer the old design because the colors are richer and look more direct.
It is worth noting that this new crystal electronic gear is undoubtedly to take the luxurious atmosphere of the carriage to a higher level, after all, there are not many models that can use crystal gears now. The crystal gear on the XC60 is also a big deal, originating from the Swedish brand Orrefors, which is undoubtedly an extra "show off" to others. At the same time, the sense of grasp of this crystal block is also quite outstanding, that is, it is easy to stain fingerprints, the gloss will be discounted, and it needs to be cleaned frequently to maintain a sense of high-quality.
The built-in car system of the 9-inch display is based on the native Android, integrates many localized applications, including Huawei, Ali, Tencent and other ecosystems, and can be downloaded and expanded through the built-in mall. The ease of functionality has indeed improved compared to the previous generation, but the highly acclaimed Carplay has also been eliminated.
The seats are fine-tuned and the ride meets expectations
In terms of seating space, volvo XC60 length, width and height are 4708*1902*1658mm, wheelbase is 2865mm, except for the length due to the slight adjustment of the appearance kit, the other data has not changed. Therefore, the performance of new cars in the riding space is likely to maintain the status quo.
However, the new model still made some details changes, such as the softness of the seat is much higher, the padding inside is thicker, and there will not be too much fatigue during a long ride.
Because the rear row is a standard axle body, it naturally does not have many advantages for the BBA that has been extended, but it is completely no problem to cope with home use. At the same time, the rear row not only has the air conditioning outlet of the central handrail, but also the B-pillar is also equipped, which is definitely an important plus for consumers in southern cities, greatly improving the rear cooling efficiency.
48V light mixing blessing, driving connection is stronger
The power system is the focus of this redesign, not that a complete set of powertrains has been replaced, but a set of 48V light mixes has been added to assist, which is also the reason why the tail label has been changed from "T5" to "B5". The 2.0T engine has a maximum horsepower of 250 hp and a peak torque of 350 Nm, which is a regular performance in this class.
The main function of this light mix system is to improve the vibration generated when the engine starts, and the starting sensation is really very close to that of the electric vehicle, and it is undeniable that there will still be a gap, but it is definitely a leap forward for fuel vehicles. In the past, when I drove any car, the first time I got on the car was to turn off the start-stop function, but on the new XC60, I did not dislike this function.
The power performance will not be particularly grumpy, but it will not make you feel crazy when overtaking acceleration, after all, it is also a car with a 7-second acceleration time of 100 kilometers. But when I wanted to dig a little further into its character, I found that the driving mode switching wheel behind the start knob had disappeared, which made me realize that this feature had been canceled. In fact, it is normal to think about it, after all, as a home SUV, the so-called driving mode is more for the throttle sensitivity to change, giving people the illusion of speeding up faster. However, in order to adapt to the habits of different drivers, Volvo still retains a two-stage adjustable steering feel.
The elimination of the choice of driving mode undoubtedly increases the difficulty of the system's analysis of the driver's intentions, and this 8AT gearbox does a good job of this work. Whether it's understatement or intense driving, it understands what you really think inside and gives policies accordingly. The power output is very coherent, all in one go, compared to the old model to improve significantly.
The chassis is equipped with a front double wishbone rear multi-link independent suspension, while the test drive is also equipped with an optional air spring. It has a good inhibition effect on the vibration from the road surface, and the damping of the suspension is also in a moderate degree of softness and hardness, and it can also drag the body when cornering or changing lines at high speed, so that it will not produce unnecessary shaking and cause discomfort.
summary
On the whole, although the new XC60 does not look like there are too many obvious changes at first glance, the upgrade of the details brings outstanding perception in the process of using the car, the appearance is more in line with the current consumer aesthetics, the addition of the interior electronic gear and the localized car machine system make it more easy to use, and the 48V light mix system gives full support in the starting power connection, and the opening is smoother. To sum up, the competitiveness of the new Volvo XC60 is still there.