Volvo XC60 a worthy champion

The Volvo XC60 is one of the Swedish automaker’s best products. Not because it is big and with a beautiful design, but because the XC60 it is the 2018 World Car of the Year. And why shouldn’t it be? This Volvo has been nothing but a revelation in Volvo’s current portfolio and it possesses all the skillsets to really be counted among the finest vehicles to ever come from the automaker.

Volvo is not shy to endow its vehicles with a raft of technologies. It’s the same with the XC60 D5 Inscription; seeing that the SUV has an extensive list of standard features. Included in the price is City Safety: a detection system that identifies pedestrians, cyclists, large animals, and impending accidents. When any of the aforementioned is detected, a warning is displayed on the head-up display (HUD) and if the driver does not enforce the brakes, the SUV will do so automatically.

Other features include Road Sign Information Display (IDIS), Driver Alert Control (DAC) with Lane Keeping Assist (LKA), and Volvo’s new Volvo on Call (VOC).

What should get potential owners excited is the Pilot Assist. This optionally available semi-autonomous system, when activated, will help steer the SUV when drivers fail to do so. Veer slightly out of your lane and the XC60 will steer back into it. Around not-too-tight bends and corners, provided you’re doing a very reasonable speed, the SUV will navigate its own way around it. You can even take your hands off the steering wheel and allow the car to steer itself. However, given that this is a semi-autonomous system, users should not give driving duties over to the vehicle. The system acts as a driving support tool, and not the primary driving force. It operates at speeds up to 130km/h.

Nowadays, Volvo only has one capacity engine (2.0-litre) driving all of its cars, comprising both petrol and diesel, in different states of tune. In the XC60 D5’s case, power is rated at 173kW and 480Nm. An eight-speed automatic gearbox does transfer duties and sends power to all four wheels. Interestingly, the Inscription’s power delivery is very smooth and, bar a little turbo lag, instantaneous. Dab the throttle and the SUV shoots forward as if nothing can hold it back.

Overtaking is a breeze too, and covering vast distances should see you reach your destination with lots of energy in toe.

The Volvo XC60 D5 Inscription is one of those SUVs you’d want to drive. It is neither tiring, nor does it put strain on you as the driver. After more than 2000km in the space of a week, we returned the key with a grateful heart. Contentment was at a high.

Price as tested: R963 150 (R809 600 base)