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Volvo XC60 DRIVe

Expert Rating: 4 out of 5

Introduction

An environmentally friendly SUV might sound like a contradiction in terms, but the Volvo XC60 DRIVe is exactly that. Relatively speaking of course, as Volvo offers greener machines elsewhere in its line-up; but if you want and need the space the XC60 delivers then you can at least own and drive it with a clearer environmental conscience.

What is it?

An SUV without four-wheel drive. That does mean that it's not going to get you very far off the beaten track, but as very few SUV owners tackle anything more testing than a nasty pothole or a high sleeping policeman it's not really that important. What it does mean is that this XC60 offers an official combined consumption figure of 47.1mpg and CO2 emissions of 159g/km. Those numbers are comparable with a family saloon's, in a chunky SUV package.

How does it drive?

Unless your route to work takes you via a slippery, un-surfaced track then you'll not miss the DRIVe's four-wheel drive system. You'll be just as stuck as your neighbours when it snows, but even four-wheel drives are pretty useless unless they happen to be wearing winter tyres. The XC60 DRIVe's tyres are designed for low rolling resistance rather than mud-plugging traction, helping the Volvo achieve its impressive economy and emissions figures.

Traction control takes care of any wheel spin as the 2.4-litre turbodiesel engine's 309lb.ft of torque fights to break traction exiting slippery junctions, the XC60 DRIVe feeling remarkably lively for a car that puts economy above everything else - 62mph arriving in a respectable 9.3 seconds.

Volvo's emphasis on fuel efficiency has done little to the driving characteristics of the XC60 at all. It rides comfortably, is refined and goes around bends convincingly for something so tall and soft. There's little incentive to push it hard, as you might expect from an SUV, the easy power from the turbodiesel engine making the XC60 DRIVe a nice place to pass time at a cruise. There's not a great deal of feel from the steering, and the manual gearbox isn't the slickest out there - a non DRIVe automatic model is offered, but it raises the combined consumption figure to 40.9mpg and also adds 24g/km to the CO2 output.

Planet hugger or planet mugger?

Not much in the SUV class can get near the Volvo's combined consumption figure of 47.1mpg and CO2 emissions of 159g/km. That's family car levels of emissions and consumption, in a car that while not offering four-wheel drive brings all the other advantages of an SUV - things like a high seating position and plentiful space.

Verdict

A clean SUV? That's effectively what Volvo is offering. You might spend a lot of time explaining to friends that for all its chunky looks and raised ride height the XC60 DRIVe betters a Ford Mondeo 2.2 TDCI Estate on emissions and economy. That's pretty remarkable, the XC60 DRIVe the perfect machine for the savvy environmentally conscious driver who doesn't necessarily want to shout about their green credentials.

Kyle Fortune

Tuesday August 18