It’s only the end of April, and the 2016 Volvo XC60 has already started to rack up the awards. The luxury vehicle has been commended for a variety of attributes, including style, technology, power, and safety. You’ll often see a particular nameplate applauded for one particular feature or capability. Meanwhile, Volvo’s impressive, handsome SUV proves its worth in multiple categories.
The sleek and luxurious interior and exterior resulted in the vehicle being named the NWAPA’s Outdoor Activity Vehicle of the Year, while the powerful and efficient Drive-E engine earned the nameplate a spot on Ward’s Top-10 engine list. Perhaps most significantly, the XC60 was coined a Top Safety Pick+ by the IIHS. The vehicle has been awarded for practically every possible attribute.
Let’s explore these specific awards, as well as the Volvo XC60’s corresponding amenities and capabilities. You’ll quickly learn that the SUV is one of the most well-versed and valuable options in the class.
NWAPA’s Outdoor Activity Vehicle of the Year
The Volvo XC60 T6 All-Wheel-Drive vehicle was recently named the best Premium Utility Vehicle at the Northwest Automotive Press Association’s Northwest Outdoor Activity Vehicle of the Year Competition. Journalists from around the country, including writers from The New York Times and MSNAutos.com, judged 28 different vehicles from 20 different brands, using attributes like design, technology, and efficiency as overall benchmarks.
“After considerable evaluation, the automotive journalists of the Northwest clearly felt that both Volvo cars stood out as the best in their class,” Nik Miles, president of the NWAPA, said in regards to the XC60 and Volvo’s other winner, the V60 (best Premium Compact Utility Vehicle), “This is not the first win for Volvo at Mudfest and we expect them to return to defend their titles next year.”
“When evaluating the vehicles, our members really put them through the ringer,” said Ryan Douthit, the event chair and producer of Driving Sports TV. “The fact that Volvo won not one but two classes is really quite impressive.”
The vehicle was particularly commended for the incredible Drive-E engine, as well as its array of safety features. The vehicle offers some of the top safety capabilities in the class, like a low-speed collision avoidance system and Electronic Stability Control. The vehicle is also composed of a high-strength steel safety cage, assuring maximum protection in the event of an emergency. While the advanced safety features should prevent you from ever getting into an accident, the sturdy design should keep everyone safe in the event of one.
“That the XC60 and V60 beat such tough competition is a testament to the incredible engineering that went into them,” said Lex Kerssemakers, President and CEO of Volvo Car USA. “Volvo has always been and always will be about people. Building strong, capable, safe cars is something Volvo never intends to stop doing.”
WardsAuto’s Top-10 Engine
WardsAuto named the XC60’s available Drive-E engine among their 10 best engines on the market. The 2.0-liter turbo- and super-charged unit is able to deliver excellent efficiency without compromising power. Drivers can expect the system to pump out 302 horsepower and 295 pounds-feet of torque while also delivering a highway fuel economy around 27 miles per gallon. It also reduces harmful emissions by as much as 70-percent!
“Achieving an effective level of balance across comfort, efficiency and power has been the ultimate goal for our creation of the Drive-E engine family across our global model range,” said Michael Fleiss, the Vice President of Powertrain at Volvo Car Group. “The T6 Drive-E’s use of both supercharging and turbocharging…delivers a lively, compelling result. We are honored to again receive recognition for our engines from Ward’s as we continue to pioneer new, effective technologies for our vehicles and customers.”
The engine is accompanied by an eight-speed Geartronic Automatic Transmission, paddle shifters, and advanced all-wheel-drive capabilities (with Instant TractionTM). The Start/Stop technology will deactivate the engine when the vehicle isn’t in motion, and a simple push of the gas will restart the system. This will help improve efficiency, saving you money at the gas station.
IIHS Top Safety Pick+
The Insurance Institute for Highway Safety awarded the 2016 XC60 a Top Safety Pick+ designation, with the luxury SUV sharing that distinction with several of the brand’s other vehicles.
“Volvo continues its strong tradition of safety,” said Kerssemakers, “it is a tradition that is core to how we do things and our vision for the future.
“Our vision is that no one should be killed or seriously injured in a new Volvo by the year 2020. Our recognition as the luxury automaker with the most IIHS Top Safety Pick Plus awards is another milestone in the journey toward that vision.”
Part of these accolades can be attributed to the inclusion of the brand’s City Safety system. The unit focuses on reducing minor accidents in urban areas, utilizing an assortment of sensors to alert drivers and, if necessary, manipulate the brakes. The system has been found to reduce rear-end crashes by 41-percent, occupant injuries by 47-percent, and rear-end crashes by 48-percent.
“City Safety appears to be highly effective at reducing rear-end crashes and associated injuries reported to police, even on roadways with speed limits higher than the system’s operating range,” noted the IIHS.
These numbers are encouraging and representative of Volvo’s commitment to safety for its present and future passengers.
“This study reinforces Volvo Car’s long-standing leadership in safety,” said Kerssemakers, “We look forward to future studies where the effectiveness of these systems will be even greater.
Advanced Stability Control is among the other safety features, as this function will anticipate a skid or loss of control and immediately compensate.
Advanced safety features and technology. A stylish exterior and comfortable, luxurious interior. Reliable preventative and protective safety features.
The 2016 Volvo XC60 truly offers everything a driver could possibly want, and the judges of these various awards have certainly recognized the nameplate’s incredible versatility. The SUV’s engineers didn’t focus on one specific attribute or capability as they designed this year’s model. Instead, they wanted to excel across a variety of different levels, and they’ve been duly and deservedly recognized for their job well done.
