Comments on: Volvo XC60 Revealed

By: cretinx

cretinx — Mon, 18 Feb 2008 16:16:27 +0000

I refuse to use the word “Crossover”

Bimbo box is far more appropriate.

By: Mirko Reinhardt

Mirko Reinhardt — Mon, 18 Feb 2008 12:04:01 +0000

Since neither the Freelander/LR2, Acura RDX, or BMW X3 sell well, what makes Ford think that this cute ute will?

Um… Maybe it’s different in other markets, but the X3 is the best selling compact SUV in Germany.

By: Landcrusher

Landcrusher — Mon, 18 Feb 2008 05:44:32 +0000

Driver,

I am not sure there is an official definition of crossover, but I believe many people have started using it for any uni-body SUV. IOW, if it is not body on frame, then it is not an SUV.

This usage actually has the advantage that it makes “crossover” a less nebulous term.

By: Driver23

Driver23 — Mon, 18 Feb 2008 05:22:42 +0000

XC90 is not a crossover, it is full size SUV. And neither is X3 or RDX – they are small SUVs. Classic crossover is XC70 (i.e. AWD wagon with high clearance).

One benefit of crossovers is that one does not have to worry about cracking low plastic bumper when parking. It is also convenient to own a AWD CAR with high clearance (as opposed to a huge unstable TRUCK) when one has to go skiing or fishing or hiking once in a while.

By: Landcrusher

Landcrusher — Sun, 17 Feb 2008 23:31:33 +0000

Haven’t seen figures for the X3, but it seems we see another one all the time. Of course, around our swamp the idea of a tall wagon makes perfect sense. We don’t see that as being an insult, it’s a feature.

What we think is stupid is having a car that is low to the ground and STILL doesn’t get good mileage or performance. YMMV

By: carguy

carguy — Sun, 17 Feb 2008 21:42:34 +0000

Since neither the Freelander/LR2, Acura RDX, or BMW X3 sell well, what makes Ford think that this cute ute will? The oversize grille and the oddly proportioned lights I can take but the interior looks like its straight out of an IKEA nightmare.

By: pb35

pb35 — Sun, 17 Feb 2008 17:01:54 +0000

I like it. I probably wouldn’t buy one, but. I like the cockpit style dash especially; it reminds me of Saab.

By: alexdykes

alexdykes — Sun, 17 Feb 2008 16:04:28 +0000

No, it is Ford EUCD based, whith is Volvo P24 based which is intself Volvo P2/P1 based. It’s such a muddy area that I think FoMoCo calls it whatever they want to be at the moment. Want some off-road cred? It’s LR based, want some safety cred? All of a sudden the LR2 is S80 based…

By: Justin Berkowitz

Justin Berkowitz — Sun, 17 Feb 2008 13:13:04 +0000

@alexdykes:

I thought the LR2 was CD2 based, no?

By: alexdykes

alexdykes — Sun, 17 Feb 2008 06:40:20 +0000

Well, calling it Land Rover LR2 based is somewhat misleading since the LR2 is Volvo S80 based. I think that the marketing guys at Volvo are just trying to play the Land Rover connection to make is sound better off road. In reality it uses the Volvo designed I6 engine, the same Asin 6 speed transmission Vovo as used since 2005, the same Haldex AWD system as the other Volvos and the interior is from the same Swedish parts bin as the others as well… Depensing on how it is priced, I could see it as beeing a good vehicle for Volvo’s Euro market, and possibly an OK seller in the USA.

By: 6G74

6G74 — Sun, 17 Feb 2008 05:11:51 +0000

I don’t see any reason this and the old S80-based XC90 should exist side by side. Volvo doesn’t need more than one SUV, and they certainly don’t need two similar-sized, similar-powered, similarly-equipped SUVs intercompeting. Leave that schtick to the masters – GM.

By: kovachian

kovachian — Sun, 17 Feb 2008 03:04:12 +0000

Turbosaab: Shared styling cues is known as Brand Cohesiveness. It may seem out of place to you, but history shows that wildly varied and unpredictable styling from one model to the next hurts brand recognition.

By: offroadinfrontier

offroadinfrontier — Sun, 17 Feb 2008 02:57:36 +0000

Don’t you people know anything? The higher up you are, the safer you are in a wreck. And if you get an SUV and you get hit by an SUV, you are safer than those fools driving cars (that could have avoided the wreck in the first place).

And I thought this site was about the truth…

By: turbosaab

turbosaab — Sun, 17 Feb 2008 01:25:50 +0000

I believe the shared platform is LR2, not LR3. Is it just me, or do all these Volvos look the same? (save the C30/V50, perhaps)

By: UnclePete

UnclePete — Sun, 17 Feb 2008 01:22:00 +0000

I’m with you Justin – the sooner the CUV craze dies the happier I’d be. I’ve owned a couple of Volvo wagons, including a last generation XC70, and don’t understand the appeal of the XC90, much less this thing. Where does this niche in the product space anyway? I am confused.