2018 Volvo XC60 Design Details: Crystal and Driftwood

Volvo's XC60 cuts a unique path through the compact-luxury-crossover segment. It eschews the Teutonic rigidity of German SUV-segment mainstays such as the Audi Q5 and the BMW X3 for a more welcoming Swedish flair. It's that focus on design that truly sets the Volvo apart, and the XC60 is filled with well-considered Scandinavian touches that you can click through and explore in detail here.

Yes, that is a tiny Swedish flag stitched into the seam of the XC60's front seat. It's a clever little detail that Volvo debuted on the current-generation XC90, the 60's larger three-row sibling, in 2014.

Just in case you fail to notice the Swedish flag tag on the XC60's seat, Volvo molds one into the chrome trim running across the dashboard, just beneath the passenger-side A/C vent.

Further ensuring you won't mistake Volvo's heritage for some other Nordic nation is the available crystal shift knob supplied by Orrefors of Sweden. The Scandinavian glassmaker hand-makes the piece, which comes standard on the top-level Inscription trim with the T8 plug-in-hybrid powertrain.

Speaking of that T8 powertrain, it isn't your typical ho-hum plug-in-hybrid fare. Instead, Volvo borrows the T6 model's turbocharged and supercharged 2.0-liter four-cylinder engine and adds a lithium-ion-battery-powered electric motor, netting 400 horsepower and an EPA-rated 18 miles of electric-only driving range. An XC60 T8 we tested shot from zero to 60 mph in just 5.1 seconds. When it comes time to recharge the battery—some energy is recaptured during braking—simply plug a charger into the charge port, which is hidden behind a fuel door look-alike on the left front fender.

Volvo's latest infotainment setup, shared among its newest products (S90, V90, XC40, XC60, XC90) breaks with the industry's wide-angle norm and uses a vertical touchscreen arrangement, Tesla style. The XC60's display isn't as huge as the one in Tesla's Model S and Model X, but it usefully lays out audio, navigation, climate, and phone functions in four horizontal tiles. Tap one, and that menu expands to fill most of the screen for easy access, squeezing the other three tiles above and below. Secondary functions, including settings and more, are accessible by swiping across the panel in either direction, pulling in submenus from the edges of the screen as on a smartphone. The system also comes standard with Apple CarPlay and Android Auto.

Step up to the XC60's top-level Inscription trim level, and Volvo makes standard light-gray driftwood accents for the interior. According to Volvo, the real-wood pieces are "shaped by the natural force of water, wind, and waves." To us, the stuff looks sweet.

Even though the XC60 (pictured to the left) might, at first glance, appear to be a mini version of the larger XC90 (center), it isn't. Volvo designed its compact XC60 to bridge the styling gap between the adventurous, borderline-funky subcompact XC40 and the stately three-row XC90. As such, there is more visual energy here than on the relentlessly upright and rectilinear XC90, including a more tapered rear end and pumped-up fenders, only without the bold color schemes and whimsical details you'll find on the XC40.

As on every modern Volvo, the XC60's engine is started by way of a twist knob on the center console. Unlike a volume knob that you spin, however, the Volvo's starter is twisted clockwise before self-returning to its initial position. To kill the engine, one simply re-turns the knob.

For decades, Volvo has staked its reputation on safety, so it's little wonder the XC60 is available with the latest active and passive safety features to avoid, um, what's pictured above. One standout is Steering Support, a function added to the standard City Safety automated emergency braking system, which will slow or stop the car to try and mitigate or avoid an accident. Steering Support amplifies steering inputs to help the driver dodge obstacles or other cars in an emergency situation.

The 10-way power front seats that are standard in the XC60 Inscription model are supremely comfortable, and they can be further upgraded with power thigh extensions and torso bolstering.

Audiophiles will relish the XC60's $3200 Bowers & Wilkins sound system. The 1100-watt, 15-speaker setup comes with the brand's signature yellow-colored Kevlar speaker cones, which peek through the speaker grilles. It is available throughout the XC60 lineup.