2018 Volvo XC60 T6 AWD Inscription Does it With Class

This is not your father’s Volvo. Many remember Volvos as being boxy wagons that had the styling of a tank. But those days are long gone as the Swedish automaker has family-friendly vehicles that are stylish on the outside and the inside too. They are both adult and kid-friendly, and if you are looking for safety, Volvo is still one of the industry leaders.

This week, we drove the top of the lineup 2018 Volvo XC60 T6 AWD Inscription.

What’s new for 2018?

The Volvo XC60 has been completely redesigned for 2018.

Features and options

The 2018 Volvo XC60 T6 AWD Inscription ($44,900) comes standard with a load of features like LED headlights and taillights, automatic high beams, automatic wipers, integrated roof rails, and a power lift-gate with programmable height.

Inside, there's leather upholstery, aluminum interior trim, a panoramic sunroof, automatic dual-zone climate control, an auto-dimming mirror, 10-way power-adjustable front seats, driver-seat memory settings, 60/40-split folding rear seats (with rear under seat storage), a 9-inch touchscreen infotainment system, a 10-speaker audio system, satellite radio, Apple CarPlay/Android Auto smartphone integration, and Bluetooth connectivity.

The Inscription trim has different exterior and interior trim and gets 20-inch wheels, four-zone climate control, a leather-wrapped dash, ambient interior lighting and a cooled glovebox. It also came with a digital gauge cluster, navigation system, interior ambient lighting, and keyless entry.

Options

This Inscription tester came with the optional Convenience Package ($2,000) adding adaptive cruise control, power-folding rear seat and headrests, heated wiper blades, power child locks for the rear doors, HomeLink, and an additional 12-volt power outlet.

The Vision Package ($1,100) included auto-dimming and folding side mirrors, blind-spot monitoring with rear cross-traffic alert, and front and rear parking sensors with semiautonomous parking assist.

Luxury Seat Package ($3,000) is offered exclusively on Inscription models, and it helps elevate the XC60's amenities above the competition. Included is premium leather upholstery, upgraded front seats (heated, ventilated and massaging with power lower cushion extenders and adjustable lateral support), heated rear seats and a heated steering wheel.

Advanced Package ($1,900) equipped this model with turn-adapting LED headlights, a 360-degree parking camera system, headlight washers and a head-up display. Total MSRP including destination: $63,290.

Interior highlights

Volvo’s Scandinavian interior design is on full display in the 2018 XC60. It’s simple, yet elegant. The first thing we noticed was the unique “waterfall” center stack that gracefully joins the dash and center console. The center stack houses all the XV60’s controls along with a small infotainment screen. All the controls are easy to locate, but the infotainment system can be a bit confusing as it’s controlled via a multifunction knob on the center stack, rather than a traditional touchscreen.

The quality of the interior materials and fit and finish is what you would expect for the class. The cream interior with dark trim is especially attractive and there’s plenty of soft-touch materials throughout the cabin. The panoramic sunroof with a power shade offers plenty of light in during the darker, winter months.

Seat comfort is exceptional and the front seats are perfectly designed for long trips in mind. The 8-way power front seats with memory offer a full range of adjustments ensuring all drivers in the family a comfortable driving position. Out back, two adult passengers will find the rear seats equally accommodating, offering up plenty of leg and head room.

For families with very young children, Volvo is one of the only automakers offering integrated child booster seats that fold out of the rear bench. Behind the rear seats, cargo capacity is average with 30.8 cubic feet, and 67 cubic feet with the seats folded flat. There’s also a convenient power lift-gate making it easy to open the rear hatch.

Engine and fuel mileage specs

The Volvo XC60 T6 Inscription is powered by a newly-updated 2.0-liter four-cylinder engine. The engine develops 316 horsepower and 295 lb. ft of torque with a turbo- and supercharging. It sends power to all four wheels by way of an eight-speed automatic transmission. EPA/DOT fuel economy comes in at 21/27 city/highway mpg, and gets a combined 23 mpg. We averaged 23.6 mpg for the week, but we were giving it a good run too at altitude.

Driving dynamics

We were concerned the XC60 would be underpowered with the new 2.0-liter four cylinder engine, but those doubts were erased quickly after pushing the crossover hard into the mountains west of Denver. Volvo increased horsepower over the outgoing model, and could tell immediately as we were able to get up to highway speed quickly, and it never felt like we needed more power at anytime during our week-long drive.

The sweet eight-speed automatic transmission delivers smooth shifts and it never had to hunt for a gear as we pushed it hard up the mountain roads. The all-wheel drive option is a must for those who live in cold climates, making this crossover a capable handler in any weather.

In the city, the XC60 offers up a comfortable ride and absorbs the bumps to deliver you relaxed and ready for the day. The suite of safety features keeps you safe on the road; a unique sound alerts you when you drift off your path and across the white lines. The one thing we don’t especially like, is the tug on the wheel when you do cross the line. Safety is definitely a strong point for the brand and the XC60. When you shut the door, you feel a security unmatched by most SUVs.

Conclusion

The 2018 Volvo XC60 T6 AWD Inscription is a family-friendly hauler that will handle a small family’s needs and does it with class. It comes with the latest safety features that will keep you feeling secure. The cabin is comfortable and there’s plenty of options to chose from too. If you do load up the XC60 with options like our tester, you can add another $20,000 on quickly.