Volvo meandered its way to a crossover. First it introduced the XC70, essentially a V70 wagon that had been given the Outback treatment (a suspension lift and cladding). Next it offered the much more truck-like XC90, which enjoyed initial success as the first three-row SUV with the prestige of a European badge. Then, for the 2010 model year it introduced the XC60 into the suddenly crowded premium compact crossover segment. More of an SUV than the XC70 but more of a car than the XC90, does the XC60 hit a sweet spot? No better way to find out than in the new R-Design variant.

Volvo XC60 R-Design design

Proportioned more like an SUV than the wagon-based XC70 but lower and more car-like than the larger XC90, the XC60 seeks out a happy medium between the two vehicle types. A diagonally bisected trapezoidal grille, sizable shoulders, and tall twisty tail lamps mark it as a Volvo. In standard form the XC60 looks interesting but also a bit odd, with a pinched midsection and overly long nose. Volvo clearly tried to break further out of its traditional box with this one, and the results seem mixed...until you see the R-Design.  Add body color, silver-accented rockers and attractive 20-inch five-spoke alloys, and suddenly the crossover's curves and proportions work. So transformed, the XC60 T6 R-Design looks tight and athletic. I hadn't realized that the regular XC60's black lower body cladding and smaller wheels were doing the underlying form such a disservice. 

Volvo didn't do as much to transform the interior. The instruments have blue faces, the leather seats have contrasting inlays, and textured aluminum replaces brushed aluminum on the center stack. Tastefully restrained Scandinavian design, floating center stack, semi-premium materials with no untoward glitz-you're in a Volvo. 

Volvo XC60 R-Design room and comfort

Another sign you're in a Volvo: the front seats. Neither too hard nor too soft and shaped for long-distance comfort, these seats probably trail only safety among the reasons to buy a Volvo. This said, those in the last true R cars were larger, even more comfortable, and provided more lateral support. There's not a lot of room in the front seat, but the driving position is about perfect, and the A-pillars are thinner than most these days despite Volvo's safety emphasis. The back seat is high enough off the floor and smartly contoured to provide adults with lumbar and thigh support, but knee room is in short supply. The XC60 is truly a compact crossover. You might find large-car quantities of rear legroom in mainstream cute utes like the CR-V and RAV4, but not here. Cargo room is similarly just adequate. If you want more, there's always the XC90.

Volvo XC60 R-Design performance

Not so long ago Volvo attempted to poach some customers from BMW by offering high-performance R variants of the S60 sedan and V70 wagon. Then it decided these weren't selling well enough to justify the expense of developing them. So now we're offered "R-Design" variants instead. These involve larger wheels, a mildly stiffened suspension, and a slew of styling tweaks. Not part of the recipe: additional horsepower. Though the R-Design is at least available only with the regular XC60's stronger engine,  a 281-horsepower turbocharged 3.0-liter inline six.

It seems odd, a transversely-mounted inline six. But the turbo 3.0 feels so smooth and sounds so delightful, you wonder why anyone bothers with a V. Or with an inline five for that matter. If only Ford's EcoBoost 3.5-liter V6 sounded or felt nearly this good. Thrust with the Volvo turbo six isn't nearly at EcoBoost levels, but there's more than enough for all but the most enthusiastic drivers, and this engine makes a great case for quality of power delivery over quantity. Though no DSG in terms of responses, a manually-shiftable six-speed automatic mates well with the boosted six.

On the topic of boost: in typical Volvo fashion the steering has a bit much. Effort isn't overly light, and weighting is decent, but there's an omnipresent syrupy numbness that has characterized Volvo steering for as far back as I can remember. On the other hand, even with the XC60 T6 R-Design's huge low-profile tires the suspension strikes an excellent balance between handling and ride comfort. So why bother with the standard suspension that underpins other XC60s? The R-Design certainly has none of the feel of a sports car, but it doesn't feel large or bulky and takes curves with commendable balance and poise. There's no plow, no float, and no harshness. Relative to the competition, this is Volvo's best handling vehicle. The quantity and quality of noise in the XC60's cabin provides ample cues that you're in a premium vehicle, if not quite a luxury vehicle.

Volvo XC60 price comparisons and pricing

With a base price of $42,400, the XC60 T6 R-Design starts $3,750 higher than the regular T6. But the R-Design's standard xenons and sunroof account for two grand of that. $1,750 seems a more than reasonable amount to pay for the R-Design's larger wheels, massaged suspension, and styling tweaks. Total seem high? Well, a similarly equipped Audi Q5 runs about five thousand higher, according to TrueDelta's car price comparison tool.

Prices change frequently, and differences will vary based on feature level. To quickly generate these and other comparisons with the specific features you want, visit my Web site, TrueDelta.com. (It's the only site that provides true "apples-to-apples" price comparisons.) 

TrueDelta's page for the XC60:

http://www.truedelta.com/models/XC90.php

Volvo XC60 R-Design conclusions

So, the XC60 T6 R-Design might be no R inside the engine compartment, but it looks good, drives well, and isn't priced badly. The exterior styling alone makes it a must-have upgrade over the regular XC60. What's not to like if you don't need more room? Well, Volvo reliability isn't always the best. The XC60 is about average so far, based on responses to TrueDelta's Car Reliability Survey. Will it age well? Too soon to tell. 

Then there's the dragon in the room: are luxury car buyers ready to buy from a Chinese-owned company, especially when there are so many alternatives available?  

A note on Volvo XC60 reliability

I cannot practically cover reliability within the context of this review. However, many people are interested in such information, so I've been collecting my own data. Results are posted to TrueDelta.com, with updates every three months. Unlike other sources, TrueDelta clearly identifies what difference it will make if you buy a Volvo XC60 rather than another vehicle by providing "times in the shop" stats. 

To report results, TrueDelta needs reliability data on all cars--not just the XC60--from people like you. To encourage participation, those who help provide the data will receive free access to the site's reliability information. Non-participants pay an access fee.

Details here:

http://www.truedelta.com/reliability.php

Alphabetized links to my other vehicle reviews can be found on my profile page.
Amount Paid (US$): 42,400