Test Drive: 2016 Volvo XC60 T6 AWD Drive-E

Published 12:00 am Friday, May 13, 2016

The 2016 Volvo XC60 T6 AWD Drive-E was recently named Best Premium Outdoor Activity Vehicle by the Northwest Automotive Press Association. The award came after two days of testing on paved and off-road courses at Mudfest 2016, the annual head-to-head competition of AWD-equipped crossovers and trucks organized by the organization of profession automotive journalists.

In winning the award, the midsize Volvo crossover beat out several vehicles costs tens of thousands more. After participating in the competition and then driving the XC60 T6 for an additional week, it’s easy for me to see how. The AWD Drive-E version is one of the most refined vehicles with serious off-road abilities on the planet, and it benefit from the optional addition of Volvo’s newest engine, a 2.0-liter inline four that is both supercharged for additional power off the line and turbocharged for even more power under heavy acceleration.

Although the concept is complicated, Volvo engineers pulled it off with ease. The transition from the belt driven supercharger to the exhaust driven turbocharger is so flawless, you don’t even know when it happened. The result is simply a smooth flow of power that continues building toward the redline, aided by the sublime shifts of the 8-speed Geartronic automatic transmission. And, thanks to the Instant Traction AWD system, the XC60 is remarkably stable at all speeds — or able to work its way up steep dirt slopes and along muddy trails without undue slipping.

Inside, the driver and passengers are pampered by a full leather interior, a premium sound system, dual temperature controls, and available real wood trim. And, because of Volvo’s traditional and ongoing commitment to safety, they are also protected by some of the most advanced safety systems available today. Standard is Volvo’s City Safety system with automatic braking to prevent or mitigate low-speed crashes. Options include a Blind Spot Information System (BLIS) package that adds a blind-spot warning system, a rear cross-traffic alert, and front and rear parking sensors. The Technology package adds pedestrian and cyclist detection, a driver-inattention warning system, and lane-departure warning system, and an upgraded frontal collision warning system with fully automatic braking.

The XC60 received a top five-star rating in government crash tests for overall, frontal and side crash protection. It also received the best possible rating of “Good” in all of the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety’s crash tests, and a rating of “Superior” for its frontal crash prevention technology.

The Volvo XC60 is not a new vehicle, having first been introduced in 2010. But it has aged remarkably well, thanks to its sleek exterior lines and contemporary interior styling. The overall design is very clean, which makes it hard to date. It’s far removed from the earlier boxy Volvos, however, except in spirit.

The XC60 is offered in front wheel drive versions available with a turbocharged 2.0-liter inline 4 or the Drive-E engine in our tester. A turbocharged 2.5-liter inline 5 is the base engine in AWD models. Options include the Drive-E engine and two versions of a turbocharged 3.0-liter inline 6, the most powerful being in the performance-oriented R-Design model.

Our test 2016 Volvo XC60 T6 AWD Drive-E was the Platinum version, which piled the luxury, comfort and safety features on even thicker. It included over $8,000 worth of options, which raised the price to just over $52,000. But it still prevailed over vehicles costing more than $71,000, $82,000 and $97,000 at Mudfest 2016, which helps prove it is a good value in such a competitive field.

2016 Volvo XC60 T6 AWD Drive-E

Base price: $43,350

Price as tested: $52,506

Type: Midsize crossover

Engine: Supercharged/turbocharged 2.0 inline 4 (302 hp, 295 ft-lbs)

Transmission: 8-speed automatic

EPA estimated mileage: 19/27

Overall length: 182.8 inches

Curb weight: 4,041 to 4,277 pounds

Final assembly: Ghent, Belgium