XC60: Safe, Stylish and Practical

Volvo’s sleek and stylish new XC60 is making its global production debut at the upcoming Geneva auto show, ready to face the likes of the Acura RDX, BMW X3 and Infiniti EX in the compact luxury crossover arena.

The XC60 is one of the best looking vehicles to emerge from Volvo’s design studios, packing a visual punch that’s true to the brand’s trademark styling cues with details such as the curved shoulder line and the broad, egg-crate grille without the associated boxiness. Inside, the XC60 is yet another interpretation of modern Swedish interior design, showcased in these photos featuring two-tone earthy color schemes and a new console-mounted navigation system.

As of right now, the XC60 will only be sold as a single model, the T6, which comes equipped with a 281 horsepower turbocharged inline-six that should make it very competitive with other entrants in the segment. A six-speed automatic is also standard, as is all wheel drive.

The XC60 also debuts Volvo’s brand new City Safety low-speed collision mitigation system, which provides braking assistance at lower speeds should the vehicle determine a pending accident. Unlike standard collision mitigation that kicks in only when a crash is determined unavoidable, this system will be active to help prevent traffic-jam type bumps and knocks. Combined with the BLIS blindspot camera, radar-based cruise control with collision mitigation, as well as Volvo’s excellent passive safety repertoire, the XC60 is looking to be the safest vehicle Volvo has ever built.

It’ll still be some time before the Belgian-built XC60 arrives here in North America, however. After its European launch late this fall, it’ll go on sale here during the first quarter of 2009.