I was particularly impressed with the radar-enabled car, which assists you to keep to your marked lanes at speeds between 40 kmph to 160 kmph, says P Tharyan.
The all-new Volvo XC60 comes in only one variant -- the D5 Inscription -- and has a host of modern features, which not only makes driving a pleasure but also ensures top-notch safety.
The car is 44mm longer, 11 mm wider and 14mm shorter than its predecessor with a ground clearance of 230mm.
The car looks bold and imposing with its large grille, integrated roof rails and mesh front.
The large LED headlamps with Thor’s hammer DRLs become even bolder when you turn on the indicators.
It has coloured sills and bumpers with the word 'Inscription' branded on them as well as coloured door handles with illumination and puddle lights.
The fog lamps sit at the bottom of the front spoiler and the high-pressure headlight cleaning is standard in the D5 Inscription.
The front look is carried gradually through a sloping body line culminating in a well-crafted rear with large and exquisite tail lamps.
One can see a lot of chrome finishes all around the exterior which only adds to the good looks of the car.
The car has a large panoramic sun roof and sits on 235/55/R19 Michelin tyres, which are wrapped around gorgeous 10-spoke diamond-cut alloy wheels.
The vehicle comes with a lower profile temporary spare wheel of 125/80R18.
The moment you are seated inside, the quality of seats, the touch and feel of the dash area, and the design elements take you by surprise.
There is no compromise on luxury.
Driftwood decor inlays, leather upgrade on dashboard and front and rear doors, leather gear lever knob, Nappa leather upholstery, power-adjustable ventilated front seats with memory, power adjustable side and lumbar support, and back rest massage for the front seats are features that are, at least, deeply pampering.
The SUV has ample storage with charging points, power-operated tailgate and a 12V outlet in the luggage area.
It comes with 15 speakers and a 1,100-watt premium Bowers and Wilkins audio system.
The car is powered by a D5 PowerPulse engine, which essentially means that turbo lag is reduced to a great extent.
There are many drive modes like Eco, Comfort, Off-Road, Dynamic and also one with individual settings.
Full air suspension system ensures that the car soaks up uneven surfaces.
The car’s body height is adjusted according to its drive mode and speed.
In Comfort or Eco drive mode, the body is lowered 10-20mm at higher speeds.
In Dynamic mode the car body is lowered by 20mm in order to enhance handling and road holding.
When it comes to safety and convenience, the car offers a host of support systems besides features like safety airbags, inflatable curtains et cetera.
Acceleration and braking come easy while driving the D5 Inscription.
And then there are features like adaptive cruise control, pilot assist, lane-keeping aid and graphic head up display, a 360-degree camera, hill start assist, hill descent control, blind spot information system with cross traffic alert, and more.
I was particularly impressed with the radar-enabled car, which assists you to keep to your marked lanes at speeds between 40 kmph to 160 kmph.
The moment you try to change lanes without giving any indicator, the steering shudders gently as if coaxing you to get back.
