2010 Volvo XC60 user reviews

5.0 stars

"Volvo For Life" on May 13, 2011 by Tuffie1220

Pros: Handles extremely well (city and highway), super responsive, great pickup/acceleration, solid drive feel, comfortable on long trips, great sound system, tons of room to pack and hull almost anything, and the interior styling and design is perfect!

Cons: navigation system needs an update (3D nav with voice and touch screen interface would be nice) but i hear they did this with the 2012 (no touch interface but they now have voice and 3D navs), gas (a given with any non-hybrid SUV), better security

Summary: I went from the 2009 Volvo C30 R Design to the 2010 Volvo XC60 R Design and will be a Volvo driver for life. I had to make this upgrade due to my German Shepherd pup out growing my brand new C30 before I did (total frowny face because it was my first car and I absolutely LOVED it!), but all in all I'm extremely happy I stuck with Volvo and with the switch to the 2010 XC60.

The XC60 is sharp and sexy to look at and I still get compliments to this day on her exterior design. The interior design, something Volvo is known for, is simplistic and very user friendly. I didn't like the dashboards in other SUVs like Honda and Infinity where there are 10 million buttons, knobs, and switches when all I want to do is turn on the AC or change the radio/XM station. Often times everything I need to do in my XC60 I can do right from the steering wheel or by a short reach without having to even think about where my hand/finger needs to go.

The seats and interior are comfortable and keep up well against wear and tear. Like I said before I have a now 95lb pure bred German Shepherd and thanks to the truck cargo linger and the back seats folding completely down when I need to go somewhere with my dog it's easy and I'm able to keep my truck relatively clean and tidy (with a full detail here and there of course ^_^).

The engine is super responsive, something I thought I would miss since my C30 R had amazing pep, but truly don't! She accelerates with precision and power making driving in a hectic city like Washington DC where I live a must since it's almost a requirement to be an aggressive driver if you want to get anywhere on time. Equally on long drives she is super comfortable, handles well on all road types, and thanks to the amazing bucket leather seats and multiple seat memory options your driving experience is almost 100 customized for your preference and body type.

Both my 2009 Volvo C30 R Design and this 2010 XC60 R Design are fully loaded, the only extras I didn't get on my XC60 are the BLIS system and the Personal Car Communicator (PCC). I don't feel shorted on the BLIS but do kick myself at times for not opting for the PCC (which I only went without because none were on the market in my area with this feature). I had this with my C30 and it was a great feature not having to insert the key into the dash every time and just having it on my person. Also the added security features, such as its ability while approaching the SUV to tell you if there's a heartbeat detected inside before you enter it is pretty kick ass and worth having for those who live in cities or for families with little ones.

The gas of course could be better but that's a given with any SUV and knowing Volvo they are probably already working on hybrids and full electric models due out within the next few years. And unlike other auto makers Volvo is big on releasing solid well designed 'finished' products so when it does hit the market it's worth the wait.

My negative about the security is something I discovered after buying my XC60. No independent security system can be installed on a Volvo. Something about the electrical and computer systems that make installers (such as the Viper system) refuse to install them because of fear they will damage some of the vehicles vital systems. The standard security system is nice, but it's just that, standard, and as anyone who owns a truck can tell you they are almost never tied to the back windows making that the prime spot for car thief's to force entry without setting off the alarm system. I wanted to install a Viper system that would account for this but then found out no one installs these systems on Volvo's for the above reasons so I've learned to live without and up'ed my insurance coverage. ^_^

All in all for the price I've been extremely happy with my 2010 Volvo XC60 R Design. My Volvo dealership has been outstanding in the level of support I got both from sales and the service department. I've taken my Volvo in for regular checkups and never have to pay a cent because of Volvo's platinum service and maintenance coverage. Also the service department has been great in answering and addressing any of my questions regarding my XC60 and its features. Because of all this and simply because I've become a loyal brand owner to Volvo, I'll probably drive them for the rest of my life and anyone who's in the market for a midsized SUV should definitely check out and test drive the Volvo XC60. You honestly will not regret it.