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Volvo is known for building safe, reliable family cars and their big seven-seater XC90 SUV has always typified this. While the outgoing model was still a great car, a wave of fresh design and new technology is sweeping through the Swedish manufacturer with this brand-new XC90 at the pointy end.
No more than two decades ago, if you wanted to buy a family car you would choose between an estate (station wagon) or a Kombi (microbus). Thanks to the advent of SUV’s, cross-overs and niche cars, those days have long gone. I find this a real pity as I’ve just spent some time with Volvo’s excellent V60.
People. That’s who Volvo alleges their cars are made for. Until dogs or potted plants learn to drive, it may be a painfully obvious statement but, together with their hashphrase #MadeForYou, it does evoke warm fuzziness that this isn’t just another cold-hearted maker of mass transport.
It’s always a great indication of a good product if you can boast enthusiastic brand ambassadors amongst your customers. Volvo must be doing excellent work with its cars as I had the tremendous pleasure of being accosted by a very enthusiastic Volvo owner while driving the fantastic V40 T3 Excel just the other day.
The more things change, the more they stay the same. Modern consumer culture demands that the motor industry almost perpetually reinvents itself, especially big companies like Volvo. Having just tested the impressive V40, this week we found ourselves in the familiar surroundings of a Volvo V60.
Yesterday while cruising through some bustling and café-laden side streets, I realised that my current test vehicle must nudge the upper limits of cool and trendy. Some may disagree but I’ve experienced plenty of rubber-necking and made two new friends thanks to the Volvo V40.
Many of my reviews start with confessions or apologies and this one’s no different. The last Volvo I tested was an utter disappointment but I’m not about to apologise for poking holes in it, much rather confessing that I wasn’t looking forward to testing this V60 estate.