Summarize

Volvo has been on a bit of an SUV charge over the past few years. First its all-new XC90 flagship set the tone in a stunning alternative to the Hun, before its European Car of the Year XC40 little brother completely rewrote the book on what to expect of an entry-luxury SUV . 

Almost unnoticed between all this, the XC60 sneaked onto the local market. Surprising that secrecy, especially considering that the mid-ranger brings with it the credential of the 2018 World Car of the Year, never mind a 98% Adult Occupant Euro NCAP crash test result to quite plausibly make it the safest car on the road packing the likes of Autonomous Braking, Oncoming Lane Mitigation, Blind Spot Info and optional semi-autonomous Pilot Assist.

We had the bigger 173kW 480Nm D5 2-litre turbodiesel to test a while ago and now we took had a stab at little brother D4 R-Design. In essence for a seventy grand discount, you don’t really lose any of the tangibles. Indeed, this one was even a little more pleasantly equipped from the point of view of someone perhaps a touch richer in testosterone.

OK, its mechanically similar modular Volvo turbo diesel four-pot drops about 20 percent in both power and torque to steal about a second from zero to 100km/h and a bit more between 80-120, but at mid-eight to 100km/h it’s still plenty quick enough for most tastes. Never mind the more aggro look likely offsets the marginal loss in performance.

To be honest, I’d never have noticed. Unless you’re going to drag race your D4, you won’t either – and then who is ever going to drag race one of these? It’s also a touch lighter on gas and it is said to manage over 1300km on a tank, so you save beyond just on your instalments on this one.

D4 is just as quiet and unassuming as its beefier big bro and drives the same default Volvo 8-speed Automatic and all four wheels. D4 also fails to skimp on bigger brother’s exceptional ride quality or progressive handling and road-holding and remains just as much a pleasure to drive, wherever or however you drive it.

In fact all this more midrange D4 did was to reaffirm how good a car Volvo XC60 really is  – never mind that it shares that World Car of the Year credential and best in world safety score with the rest of the range.

In fact XC60’s only fault is that it remains so much a secret, which is a great pity. Be warned, if you have the likes of GLC, X3 or Macan on your wish list, make sure you pass a Volvo dealership before you make that call. And don’t blame us if you figure that one out too late… – Michele Lupini

QUICK TEST: Volvo XC 60 D4 AWD R-Design

Engine: 140kW 400Nm 1969cc turbo diesel I4

Drive: 8-speed automatic AWD

TESTED: 

0-60km/h: 3.59 sec

0-100km/h: 8.64 sec   

0-160km/h: 22.57 sec

400m: 16.1 sec @ 137km/h

80-120km/h: 6.27 sec

120-160km/h: 10.54 sec       

CLAIMED:       

VMax: 205km/h 

Fuel: 5.2 l/100km

CO2: 136 g/km

Warranty/Service 5y 100K/5y 100Kkm

LIST PRICE: R735K

RATED:    83%