| First Drive | Nice, France | Volvo XC60 T6 |
Key Facts
Model tested: Volvo XC60 T6 SE Lux Geartronic FWD
Pricing: not sold in the UK as tested (XC60 starts at £31,110 on-the-road)
Engine: 2.0-litre four-cylinder turbocharged and supercharged petrol
Transmission: front-wheel drive, eight-speed automatic
Body style: five-door SUV
Rivals: Audi Q5, BMW X3, Range Rover Evoque
CO2 emissions: 169g/km
Combined economy: 38.7mpg
Top speed: 130mph
0-62mph: 6.9 seconds
Power: 306hp at 5,700rpm
Torque: 400Nm at 2,100- to 4,500rpm
In the Metal: 
We like the SUV look of the updated Volvo XC60, with more body-coloured panels than before, a range of stylish colour options and some distinctly tasty alloy wheel options. It's certainly not put in the shade by its big brother, the XC90.
Inside, it feels of incredibly high quality, helped no doubt by the lovely leather upholstery and what appears to be a new steering wheel to house the gearshift paddles. The leather is tighter on the rim than before, making the driver feel more connected. The gearchange paddles themselves are of a tasteful design, yet much more tactile than anything the Volkswagen Group offers right now thanks to rubberised pads just where you place your hands.
Driving it:
The XC60 just does not work in this guise. Even at idle the new engine (which we'll go into detail on in our drive of the S60 T6) is too loud. We're all for sportiness, even in an SUV, but we reckon this car would be better pitched as a luxurious petrol alternative to the default diesel choice. Instead the decision was taken by Volvo to give it a sporting edge and it doesn't suit the XC60's character. Not only that, but it's just not enjoyable to drive. Sure it's quick, but the chassis seriously struggles to contain the engine's 306hp and there's laughably bad torque-steer. That's probably by Volvo UK will only offer this engine with all-wheel drive. The engine makes all manner of interesting noises, which is fun, yet the numb steering doesn't encourage you to extend it on anything other than a straight, smooth road. Making matters worse, the test cars in France were fitted with large alloy wheels, detracting from the XC60's inherent refinement and low-speed ride comfort.
We will finish on a positive though, and that's the automatic gearbox. The ZF-supplied eight-speed unit is a gem, as we may have mentioned before, and it'll make a great partner to the new D4 diesel engine in this car.
What you get for your Money:
Let's forget about the T6 petrol engine for a moment. It's available with all-wheel drive for £43,700, but we don't expect a lot of demand. The equally new D4 diesel engine will take the lion's share of sales and prices remain competitive at a starting point of £31,110. To strengthen residuals it makes sense to invest in the automatic option, bringing the realistic base price up to £32,660. That compares favourably with the rivals listed above.
Volvo's usual line-up of SE, SE Lux, R-Design and R-Design Lux specifications are offered, though be aware that it's only the front-wheel drive variants of the XC60 that come with the spanking new engine for now. The all-wheel drive versions are badged D4 (and now have the same 181hp), but they are in fact powered by the old five-cylinder engine. Likewise, the new automatic transmission is only available with the front-wheel drive models.
Worth Noting
Volvo's new 2.0-litre D4 diesel engine will slowly percolate throughout the entire range. From November this year it'll be available in the S60 and S80 saloons, V60 and V70 estates and the XC70 'soft-roader'. As with the XC60, this applies only to the front-wheel drive variants. For now.
Read our review of the new D4 engine in the updated Volvo V60 here.
Summary
Our low opinion of this Volvo XC60 is entirely due to the misfit of the (promising) T6 petrol engine with the big SUV's front-wheel drive chassis. The new automatic gearbox is good though and this car will make a lot of sense with Volvo's new D4 diesel engine. If you really want T6 power, Volvo will sell you an all-wheel drive variant.
