Volvo XC60: safety first, looks a close second

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According to its makers, the new Volvo XC60 will be the safest Volvo ever. That’s because it has a plethora of intelligent safety systems, including something called City Safety as standard equipment. This feature helps reduce low-speed impacts by determining whether the car is about to hit the vehicle in front of it. If the driver doesn’t react in time, City Safety will apply the brakes (see illustrations below).

Volvo says the car is “packed with our accumulated safety know-how and technology, both when it comes to preventing accidents and protecting all the occupants in a collision.” It looks pretty nice too.

The XC60 joins the ranks of premium crossover vehicles such as the BMW X3 and the new Infiniti EX35. It goes on sale in North America early next year. Power will most likely come from a 285-horsepower six-cylinder engine, although there could well be a diesel option by then.

-- Colin Ryan