Volvo Car South Africa's S90 might have finished runner up to the Porsche Panamera in the recent WesBank SA Car of the Year, but its sibling, the XC60 SUV had no trouble taking the crown of World Car of the Year 2018.
The XC60 also scooped the prestigious North American Utility of the Year Award earlier this year, while the XC40 small SUV was named European Car of the Year at the Geneva International Motor Show earlier this month. The World Car of the Year win is the first in this competition for Volvo Cars, the premium car maker.
The award was presented to Håkan Samuelsson, CEO of Volvo Cars, at the New York International Auto Show today. Samuelsson went onto say, "I am pleased to see our company's product investments paying off. We are up against some tough competition, but this award for the XC60 shows that Volvo has the right combination of design, connectivity and safety that appeals to customers across the world."
Earlier this year, the XC60 was deemed the safest vehicle on the road, based on its Euro NCAP performance, and due to its pioneering City Safety Autonomous Emergency Braking technologies.
The new Volvo XC60 will be available in South Africa from mid-2018.
Also worth a look: the 315kW of Swedish Grit: The Volvo EX30 Cross Country Revealed and the Volvo EX90: The Future of Safety Lands in SA in 2025.
FAQ
Q: What does the Volvo XC60 cost in South Africa?
The XC60 pricing starts from around R899,900 for the base T5 model, with the top-spec T8 hybrid pushing close to R1.3 million depending on options and dealership specials.
Q: Is the Volvo XC60 worth buying in 2024?
Absolutely, the XC60 remains one of the safest and most refined premium SUVs you can buy, with stellar build quality and Volvo's legendary safety tech that actually works when you need it most.
Q: How fuel efficient is the Volvo XC60?
The XC60 T5 petrol manages around 8.5L/100km in mixed driving, while the T8 plug-in hybrid can achieve as low as 2.1L/100km if you keep it charged and stick to short trips.
Q: What are the main problems with the Volvo XC60?
The main gripes are high service costs at around R8,000 to R12,000 per major service, occasional infotainment glitches, and some owners report minor electrical niggles after the 3-year warranty expires.
Q: How does the XC60 compare to the BMW X3 and Mercedes GLC?
The XC60 beats both Germans on safety tech and interior comfort, matches them on performance, but falls slightly behind on brand prestige and resale values in the South African market.
Should You Buy It?
Yes, the Volvo XC60 is absolutely worth buying if you value safety above all else and have R900,000 to R1.3 million to spend on a premium SUV. The best XC60 under R1 million in SA is the T5 Momentum with a few key options, offering world-beating safety, Swedish luxury, and that smug satisfaction of driving the World Car of the Year winner. Sure, it costs more to service than a Toyota, but when those City Safety systems prevent your first major accident, you'll forget all about the extra service bills. Skip it only if badge snobbery matters more than keeping your family safe.
