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- 2012 Volvo XC60
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2012 Volvo XC60 Review
What's New for 2012
Interior
By KBB.com Editors
KBB Expert Rating:
The 2012 Volvo XC60 does battle in the highly competitive segment of smaller luxury SUVs against stalwarts such as the Lexus RX and BMW X3, as well as other competitors like the Audi Q5, Mercedes-Benz GLK and Cadillac SRX. But the XC60 sets itself apart with the one thing that has long identified the Volvo brand: safety. In this case, every XC60 comes standard with the City Safety system, which can prevent accidents by automatically applying the brakes in certain situations where the driver is distracted or otherwise fails to stop. In addition to brains, the XC60 boasts beauty. Available in front-wheel drive (FWD) or all-wheel-drive (AWD) and with two main engine options, the XC60 boasts exterior curves that set it apart from the blocky shapes of Volvos past.
You'll Like This Car If...
If you prize safety as much as looks, versatility, power and standing out from the crowd, you'll feel right at home in an XC60. At 9.1 inches, the Volvo also boasts higher ground clearance than competitors, making it more suitable for light off-road excursions. And in R-Design form, the 2012 XC60 is the most powerful gas-powered SUV in its class.
You May Not Like This Car If...
If you want an SUV with better fuel economy than the XC60's best case of 25 mpg on the highway, consider the Audi Q5 with a 4-cylinder that rated up to 27 mpg or the Volkswagen Touareg TDI, rated up to 28 mpg. If you need to carry more than five passengers, you'll want to step up to a larger, 3-row SUV.
What's New for 2012
The 2012 Volvo XC60 has multiplied its trim forms for a total of 10, but they are based off three major ones: the base 3.2, the turbocharged T6 and the top-end-turbo R-Design. All-wheel-drive is standard for models with the turbo engine and optional on the 3.2. This year the R-Design gets a hefty power boost, rising to 325-horsepower and 354 lb-ft of torque for class-leading status. New trim forms for the XC60 are designated Premier, Premier Plus and, at the top, Platinum. The R-Design XC60 with the 3.2-liter engine has been discontinued for 2012. T6 models are available with the Dynamic Package, which includes Volvo's FOUR-C Active Chassis control, speed-sensitive power steering and xenon headlights.
Driving the XC60
Driving Impressions Not surprisingly, the 2012 Volvo XC60 offers distinct driving impressions depending on what's under the hood. The base, 240-horsepower 6-cylinder engine has enough oomph to get the Volvo SUV up...
to speed adequately, clocking a 0-60 mph time of 9.1 seconds. Moving up to the turbocharged inline-6, however, provides a much more rewarding experience. With a 0-60 mph time of just 6.9 seconds, this version of the XC60 feels downright quick, effortlessly getting up to speed on freeways or passing slower vehicles. The downside of the turbo, though, is that its improved dynamics can come at the expense of harsher ride quality. With the standard 17-inch wheels and tires, the XC60 3.2 offers a smooth, comfy and quiet ride. The larger wheels found on the more powerful versions of the Volvo, however, make for a firmer ride and a noisier cabin. On highways, all XC60s feel stable and well-behaved.
Favorite Features
City Safe
This system provides a technological safety net for distracted drivers. At speeds of 19 mph or below, the system senses stopped or slow-moving objects ahead - such as other cars in stop-and-go traffic - and automatically applies the brakes if the driver does not. Volvo says the system can avoid or at the least lessen the severity of accidents.
T6 R-Design
With increased horsepower and torque, the 2012 T6 R-Design XC60 is now the segment's crossover to beat. Fuel economy for this version isn't fabulous - 17 mpg city/23 highway - but it's not worse than the other turbo engine used in the mid-level T6, and can still run on regular unleaded.
2012 Volvo XC60 Details
2012 Volvo XC60 Details
Interior
As befitting a Swedish automobile, the XC60's interior is sleek and relatively understated. There are many controls and buttons in the dash, but they are easy to identify and use, most notably the ventilation controls in the shape of a human. To direct air to your upper body, just hit the figure's "head." Contrasting colors adorn seats and door panels, and the bucket-style front seats are very comfortable. On the downside, the manual lumbar controls are awkwardly place and hard to turn. The complicated screens on the optional navigation system are inferior to touch menus found on even store-bought units.
Exterior
Today's Volvos look nothing like the blocky models of the past, and nowhere is that more apparent than the XC60. Bucking the squared edges and boxy greenhouses of other SUVs, the Volvo has a wonderfully curved and shapely rear that is highlighted by bright taillights. Lovely in form, the 2012 Volvo XC60 is still functional. The vehicle's roof rails are low to reduce wind noise, and an optional crossbar system can be attached to carry bikes, kayaks, skis and more. R-Design models have larger, more stylish wheels that lessen the XC60's off-road abilities. If you regularly traverse snow or mud or mud, we recommend the base 3.2 or T6 trim.
Notable Equipment
Standard Equipment
A base 2012 Volvo XC60 comes with a 3.2-liter 6-cylinder engine, 6-speed Geartronic automatic transmission, skid plates on the front and rear, the City Safety system, a 5-year/50,000 mile warranty, complimentary factory scheduled maintenance for five years, and five years of roadside assistance. Also standard are steering wheel-mounted audio controls, power windows, Bluetooth hands-free phone interface with audio streaming, a 160-watt, 8-speaker sound system with CD/DVD player and HD Radio, and a tilt/telescoping steering wheel.
Optional Equipment
Additions to the XC60 include in-dash navigation, dual-screen rear entertainment system, 12-speaker premium sound system, heated rear seats, panoramic roof with power sunshade, and a walnut steering wheel. On the safety front, more options abound, including adaptive cruise control, blind-spot monitoring, and a pedestrian detection system with full auto braking capability.
Under the Hood
The 2012 Volvo XC60 3.2 is powered by a modest 3.2-liter in-line 6-cylinder. T6 models employ a turbocharged 3.0-liter in-line 6-cylinder engine that puts out 300 horsepower. R-Design models give a further boost to the turbo engine, improving output to 325 horsepower. All XC60 models can run on regular unleaded gasoline and are mated to a 6-speed automatic transmission. Towing capacity for all models is limited to 3,300 pounds.
3.2-liter inline-6
240 horsepower @ 6,200 rpm
236 lb-ft of torque @ 3,200 rpm
EPA city/highway fuel economy: 19/25 mpg (FWD), 18/24 mpg (AWD)
3.0-liter turbocharged inline-6
300 horsepower @ 5,600 rpm
325 lb-ft of torque @ 1,500-4,800 rpm
EPA city/highway fuel economy: 17/23 mpg
3.0-liter turbocharged inline-6 (R-Design edition)
325 horsepower @ 5,400-6,500 rpm
354 lb-ft of torque @ 3,000-3,600 rpm
EPA city/highway fuel economy: 17/23 mpg
Pricing Notes
The 2012 Volvo XC60 3.2 has a Manufacturer's Suggest Retail Price (MSRP) starting just over $34,000, including destination charge. An XC60 T6 starts at $40,325, while a top-of-the-line T6 R-Design comes in at $44,575. When fully-optioned, an R-Design model can approach $57,000. With a price range this wide, the Volvo XC60 can compete at the low-end with crossovers like the Acura RDX at just under $34,000 and the Infiniti EX35, which starts closer to $37,000. At the high-end, an XC60 T6 R-Design with all the options is close in price to an equally loaded Mercedes-Benz GLK350 ($58,000) and Audi Q5 3.2 ($59,000), and higher than a fully loaded Lexus RX 350 ($53,000). To make your best deal, be sure to check the Kelley Blue Book Fair Purchase Price which reflects what others in your area have paid for their XC60. As for resale, we expect the 2012 Volvo XC60 to retain slightly-better-than-average values over a 5-year period, outperforming the Land Rover LR2 and Mercedes-Benz GLK350, but falling below the Audi Q5, Acura RDX and Lexus RX 350.
To compare current market prices, check out KBB.com's car classifieds to view the new and used Volvo XC60 vehicles for sale near you.
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2012 Volvo XC60 Consumer Reviews
Based on 50 Ratings for the 2010 - 2013 models.
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ValueQuality
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ReliabilityPerformance
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ComfortStyling
Safe car with exceptional handling
By Uwe (CA) on Tuesday, April 02, 2013
I own this car - My approximate mileage is 32,000
overall rating 9 of 10rating detailsReviewer Ratings
- Overall Rating
- Value
- Reliability
- Quality
- Performance
- Styling
- Comfort
Pros: "Good value, exceptional handling"
Cons: "Nothing major"
Likely to recommend this car? (1-10): 10
"We bought the XC60 3.2 (no turbo, 2WD) as a commuter car for my wife's 50+ mile commute. Main reason was safety. Volvo's always had the reputation for being safe and looking bad - this one actually looks good too. We got a 60.000 mls free maintenance and repairs and that means we don't pay anything - even wiper blades are free. There are two issues with the car: the software has a few glitches and it took the dealer a few visits to finally make it work properly. All the glitches were minor, i.e. it wouldn't beep when locking. The second issue is really bad design on the seatbelts in the front. The angle of the slot where the seatbelt goes in is off, thus kinking the belt and sometimes not really rolling it up properly. Also minor, but it's odd to see such a flaw on an otherwise well designed car. That all said, if you want a vehicle you can pull off the road onto a soft gravel shoulder at 70 mph and have no problem controlling the car, the XC60 is the car to go. I had to do that on I5 when someone pushed me off the road and I would be in the hospital if not dead had I driven our second car (ford escape). The chassis is incredibly stiff for an SUV - it's more like a porsche or other high end sportscar. So don't wonder when your inner rear wheel lifts off when you pull into an elevated driveway. The stiff chassis gives you exceptional handling in corners and emergencies. The mileage is pretty good for a car that weight. We average close to 26 mpg with around 80/20 highway to city. It's a safe fun car to drive and for the price it outperforms pretty much all of it's more expensive competitors."
10 people out of 11 found this review helpful
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Transmossion problems
By tpohil80 (IL) on Monday, March 25, 2013
I owned and sold this car
Reason: Transmission problems - My approximate mileage is 12,000
Reviewer Ratings
- Overall Rating
- Value
- Reliability
- Quality
- Performance
- Styling
- Comfort
Pros: "It's a beautiful car very luxurious."
Cons: "Transmission problems, terrible GPS"
Likely to recommend this car? (1-10): 1
"After a week of driving the XC60, I noticed a problem with the transmission, a hesitation when accelerating from a complete stop/speeding up to pass etc. Like driving manual transmission in the wrong gear. Took it for service repetedly. Volvo wouldn't admit a problem and told me to use premium fuel. One mechanic said it's a 5000lb car you have to gun it (!!). Finally they said they knew what was wrong and to wait for a software update, that took 6 months. It helped but the problem was still there. Volvo went back to saying there was nothing wrong with the car. After a year, I had had it and asked how much they would give me for the car to end this, Carmax gave me more. The GPS stinks too. I didn't have the time or energy to persue the lemon law."
7 people out of 10 found this review helpful
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Nice cross over!
By Joe (NY) on Friday, January 25, 2013
I own this car - My approximate mileage is 50,000
overall rating 10 of 10rating detailsReviewer Ratings
- Overall Rating
- Value
- Reliability
- Quality
- Performance
- Styling
- Comfort
Pros: "Power is nice with the T6"
Cons: "Never use the tiptronic transmission or CD, waste"
Likely to recommend this car? (1-10): 10
"I got 50K on this with no problems. The T6 is the way to go..nice! The CD payer is a waist. Who uses CD's? The tiptronic transmission is not needed. Just push on the peddle that’s on the right (its fast), no need to change gears or try to make it into stick shift, just going to mess up the trans. Arm rest in the door is small and not in the correct location and I could really use a remote starter (Buffalo NY). I had no other problems! Picked up snow tires and it holds the road, summer tires do not do it for the winter. Safty Safty is the key feature. Third Volvo for me. Good size with power and speed!"
5 people out of 8 found this review helpful
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A Luxury drive in the lap of safety
By tracey (NJ) on Sunday, June 10, 2012
I own this car - My approximate mileage is 10,000
overall rating 10 of 10rating detailsReviewer Ratings
- Overall Rating
- Value
- Reliability
- Quality
- Performance
- Styling
- Comfort
Likely to recommend this car? (1-10): 10
"This car is an exhibit in practicality, safety, luxury and speed! Gorgeous interior, sound system amazing. Honestly, I realized the true value of this car when a few days after my purchase, I drove about 750 miles in horrific storms. It was raining sideways, visibility was very low and there was flooding on I-95. This car handled the road so securely as cars slid off to the side in droves. While it is beautiful, nothing compares to the feeling of confidence developed when a vehicle is truly tested in dangerous conditions and performs well beyond expectations. Don't think twice, by the way, insurance companies LOVE this car and you see it in your rates."
36 people out of 36 found this review helpful
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Best car I have ever owned
By 1911dan (CA) on Sunday, February 19, 2012
I own this car - My approximate mileage is 17,000
overall rating 10 of 10rating detailsReviewer Ratings
- Overall Rating
- Value
- Reliability
- Quality
- Performance
- Styling
- Comfort
Pros: "Great value for the money."
Cons: "Wish it was about 4 inches higher."
Likely to recommend this car? (1-10): 10
"I have owned quite a few cars in my lifetime, "60 plus years of driving," including 7 different Jaguars. This Volvo is really the best car I have ever owned. Picked it up at the factory last year and drove around Europe for month. Car handles well, rides great, visibility is good. Found out the wipers worked well the first few days. Averaged 26.6 MPG for the 3500 miles I put on in Europe. I really can't find fault with anything about the car. By the way, this is my first Volvo. Drove Jeep Grand Cherokees before buying this Volvo. Was looking to duplicate as close to the overall size that I found I really liked in the 1998 to 2004 Grand cherokees. Didn't like the newer Jeeps, they just looked fat."
21 people out of 21 found this review helpful
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My first Volvo
By Cyndee (NC) on Sunday, February 19, 2012
I own this car - My approximate mileage is 1,205
overall rating 10 of 10rating detailsReviewer Ratings
- Overall Rating
- Value
- Reliability
- Quality
- Performance
- Styling
- Comfort
Pros: "Comfortable, feels solid and safe."
Cons: "Center (wave) open console annoys me."
Likely to recommend this car? (1-10): 10
"After having gotten into a potentially life-threatening accident in my boyfriend's Volvo, I realized how safe they were-we all came out without a scratch--even the 2 dogs! I've owned about 20 new cars in my life, the last three were a Honda Accord V-6 Ex-L, with navigation. I loved my last Honda and kept it the longest of any of my other cars, so it was difficult for me to change, but I'm glad I did. The Volvo XC-60 sits higher up, is more comfortable, and has the hands-free feature for my Blackberry phone. I am used to having more power, though. My commute is 40 minutes each way every day, so to save gas, I didn't get the Turbo version. I don't like the open area under the center console. The flip down back headrests are a nice feature for visibility and it is easy to put the seats down for loading large items. I feel safe in this car and as an older lady, who would heal a bit slower than younger people, I'm glad I made the change. I've owned the car about a month and put 1200 miles on it."
13 people out of 14 found this review helpful
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