FIRST DRIVE: 2018 Volvo XC60 T8 Inscription Plus

The all-new, second-generation Volvo XC60 has big shoes to fill, especially when its predecessor was one of the company’s best sellers around the world. The newly-crowned 2018 World Car of the Year is now on sale in Malaysia, although the CKD versions have yet to be formally introduced.

What we have here is the CBU XC60 T8 Twin Engine Inscription Plus from Sweden, and it rocks a ton of tech for a RM374k mid-size SUV. To recap, it’s powered by a 2.0 litre plug-in hybrid powertrain with a combined system output of 407 hp and 640 Nm of torque. That’s quick enough for a 0-100 km/h sprint of 5.3 seconds (almost as quick as the Golf R!) yet remaining frugal with a claimed fuel consumption rating of 2.1 l/100 km.

Specs-wise, it comes with a large panoramic glass roof, full LED headlights and taillights, 19-inch 10-spoke alloys, leather seats, dual-zone climate control and our favourite 1,100 watt 15-speaker Bowers and Wilkins sound system with a 10-channel Class-D amplifier. Other items include the three-spoke sports leather steering wheel with paddle shifters, illuminated Orrefors crystal gear lever and the full range of Volvo Intellisafe safety system.

Do watch the video above to find out what we think of the car. For a more detailed look at its equipment and specifications, simply head over to CarBase.my.

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Matthew H Tong

An ardent believer that fun cars need not be fast and fast cars may not always be fun. Matt advocates the purity and simplicity of manually swapping cogs while coping in silence of its impending doom. Matt's not hot. Never hot.

 

Comments

  • lilytan on Mar 30, 2018 at 10:51 am

    With sister brand volvo now a world beater, proton should now be at least half as good as volvo.

    Like or Dislike: Thumb up 19 Thumb down 4
    • Feisal on Mar 30, 2018 at 11:01 am

      Proton should be given more free hand to run their biz, kinda freedom Volvo now enjoying.

      Like or Dislike: Thumb up 23 Thumb down 2
      • 12yrsold on Mar 30, 2018 at 2:10 pm

        U mean with an entire new products Right !!!

        Like or Dislike: Thumb up 16 Thumb down 0
        • Cashtotrash on Mar 30, 2018 at 7:55 pm

          You can have the same parent …but not all kids grow up to be doctors …some will be lamers

          Like or Dislike: Thumb up 4 Thumb down 3
          • Reboot on Apr 02, 2018 at 6:59 pm

            That why we have third world mentality people like you now

            Then next generation will be fourth world mentality

            Like or Dislike: Thumb up 2 Thumb down 0
        • Volvo super fans on Mar 31, 2018 at 12:26 pm

          See more 3008 than hardly seen Xc90 on the road. For S90, managed to see one at JPJ KL. The back really needs re- design

          Like or Dislike: Thumb up 6 Thumb down 6
  • RM373,888 = sgd126k. World COTY super deal!

    Like or Dislike: Thumb up 23 Thumb down 22
    • Nope. Rm373,888 for My. SGD373,888 for Sg. Go survey the vios price 1st in sgd.

      Like or Dislike: Thumb up 24 Thumb down 5
  • WCOTY 2018 is here!

    Like or Dislike: Thumb up 23 Thumb down 1
  • magna on Mar 30, 2018 at 11:17 am

    can put in lotus la these xc60 engine. ….oh forgot lotus still jepunis overlord engine which is TOYOTA…

    Like or Dislike: Thumb up 10 Thumb down 1
  • packers on Mar 30, 2018 at 11:18 am

    How about XC40 Europe Car of the Year?

    Like or Dislike: Thumb up 16 Thumb down 0
  • tokmoh. on Mar 30, 2018 at 11:23 am

    Matthew, how dare you nitpick the Volvo for the sake of trying to find fault with it. Kisamaaaaa

    The World Car of the Year
    The Japan Car of the Year
    The North American Utility Car of the Year

    German junks should know your place. Except Mercedes, glory to Geely empire!

    Volvo XC60 > all

    Like or Dislike: Thumb up 31 Thumb down 12
    • Tee For on Mar 30, 2018 at 11:46 am

      Also not to forget…..Australia Car of The Year

      Like or Dislike: Thumb up 24 Thumb down 0
      • Kimchi wong on Mar 30, 2018 at 3:11 pm

        Volvo needs to really work hard to impose it as the luxury car. It is still behind German and UK

        Like or Dislike: Thumb up 4 Thumb down 8
        • wydle on Mar 30, 2018 at 5:19 pm

          Volvo is already in the Luxury car status since
          1927 except Kimchi cars

          Kimchi need to work hard to improve and make their cars luxury then

          Cheers

          Like or Dislike: Thumb up 7 Thumb down 5
    • fuukyew on Mar 30, 2018 at 1:25 pm

      But the so call German junks outsell Volvo globally 5 to 1.

      Like or Dislike: Thumb up 9 Thumb down 17
      • 12yrsold on Mar 30, 2018 at 2:16 pm

        That is something hard to swallow even if they(Volvo) have won many accolades. It is the buyer(numbers game) that determine who sold more cars.

        But I believe, given time, Volvo will catch up SOON under Geely. Lets hope M’sian get the best of Geely

        Like or Dislike: Thumb up 19 Thumb down 0
      • Just because... on Mar 30, 2018 at 2:45 pm

        Just because you sell more, doesn’t mean it’s better.

        Like or Dislike: Thumb up 10 Thumb down 0
      • Audi Fans on Mar 30, 2018 at 3:30 pm

        The German Junks got more factories worldwide for increase production and having a lead start in setting up more factories ahead of volvo time during the lousy Ford Dearborn USA Era ownership without much progress and remain domain for a period of more than ten years until Geely came.

        But worldwide sales, Volvo cars demand outstrip supply simply Volvo lack car factories production to meet demand causing a lot of delivery delays currently.

        That is why the German junks temporarily produces more cars than volvo cars for sale . But time will change soon when more newer factories are set up as Volvo will be able to meet those demands hence the production numbers will be increase tremendously in the future biting into the German junks market share.

        Like or Dislike: Thumb up 6 Thumb down 0
        • tokmoh. on Mar 30, 2018 at 6:42 pm

          Yes, this year Volvo will open new plant in South Carolina, investing USD 1billion into it, creating 1,900 new jobs, to MAKE AMERICA GREAT AGAIN!

          Last year, Volvo Car Gent, Belgium Managing Director said they’ve never built so many cars, 1 car per minute! Stark contrast to Ford era, they love Geely is smart, do what they promise, reliable, look both short term and long term.

          Like or Dislike: Thumb up 7 Thumb down 1
          • S90 fab boy on Mar 31, 2018 at 12:18 pm

            Very disspointed. Till todate cant see a s90 on the road. See more Infinity

            Like or Dislike: Thumb up 4 Thumb down 4
      • tokmoh. on Mar 30, 2018 at 3:53 pm

        No, XC60 is best seller, way outsell the German junks in its class since the first gen.

        Volvo and Geely looks ahead. The future is in SUV segment, where Volvo is strongest and Germans pathetic.

        Volvo will continue to grow fast and strong, and the Germans will know fear, powerless and defenceless against the Geely empire’s might!

        Like or Dislike: Thumb up 8 Thumb down 2
      • Steve on Apr 02, 2018 at 3:15 pm

        Yes, I see more german Junks like VW ,Audi and BMW landed in the workshops compare to Volvo ndaily

        Much of these owners cries and get angry over heavy maintenance and unreliable parts . It concurred to me most german car owners are cry babies whenever they are in the workshops for repairs.

        Sad , Sad …

        Like or Dislike: Thumb up 4 Thumb down 0
  • tokmoh. on Mar 30, 2018 at 11:27 am

    Wanna know how badass the Thor’s Hammer is? Wait in traffic next to it, it’ll look like it’s giving middle finger to you #thuglife

    Like or Dislike: Thumb up 21 Thumb down 4
    • Thor Hammer got destroyed. Now waiting change new weapon in next movie. Hehehe! Take it easy bro tokmoh.

      Like or Dislike: Thumb up 11 Thumb down 3
      • tokmoh. on Mar 30, 2018 at 10:07 pm

        This Matthew doesn’t even know or understand Volvo’s design language and the significance of Thor in Nordic mythology.

        Even presumptuous to claim Audi Q5 has better interior when the car hasn’t even sold here yet. How biased can one get, to know it will be built with exact same material as the overseas market get? And no, Volvo interior is pretty darn premium and solid at all the right spots. No German junk comes with Orrefors crystal gear knob.

        The rest of the review littered with pathetic attempts to discredit the Volvo, but forced to yield to its superiority. While the rest of the world praises Volvo seats as the best in the business, most comfortable, designed with inputs by orthopaedics, he nitpicked it does not come with nappa leather. To even call it cheap, heresy. Those German junks may have nappa leather, but they don’t have the well praised Volvo seats, period.

        Drive Volvo, expect it to drive like Ferrari? He doesn’t understand Volvo is all about comfort and discreet elegance, the power is there to make you feel assured, not to behave like lowly rempit scum, a menace on the road. Volvo drivers are not uncivilised to use the car to bully others because they can.

        He is no man of culture. Creepy…

        Like or Dislike: Thumb up 9 Thumb down 4
        • Hafriz Shah (Member) on Mar 30, 2018 at 10:29 pm

          Hi tokmoh.

          Matthew has driven the new Audi Q5 at the international press drive in Mexico, so trust us, he knows what he’s talking about.

          As for the rest, well, let’s just say the Volvo XC60 isn’t quite as perfect as you think it is. No car is. Let’s just leave it as that.

          Like or Dislike: Thumb up 3 Thumb down 7
          • tokmoh. on Mar 31, 2018 at 7:57 am

            The Q5 may have better solid feel, but there’s so much button, it feels a little dated, still feel like in the era of cramping as many buttons as possible is good.

            Let’s see he nitpick German SUVs this hard as he did on Volvo. Especially on the GLC250’s “Artico faux leather”.

            Like or Dislike: Thumb up 7 Thumb down 4
          • Hafriz Shah (Member) on Mar 31, 2018 at 9:32 am

            Well isn’t that, in itself, “nitpicking” against the Germans? ;)

            Chill bro, have a good weekend.

            Like or Dislike: Thumb up 3 Thumb down 5
          • tokmoh. on Mar 31, 2018 at 4:16 pm

            Well if he wants to play the nitpicking game, I could play the game too :)))

            Nothing personal on my side, sorry if offense taken.

            Like or Dislike: Thumb up 8 Thumb down 3
          • Kimchi wong on Apr 01, 2018 at 8:20 am

            Whenever it comes to Volvo, all so called volvo fan boy or sales rep will just shoot other brands to try so hard to market the chinese volvo. In actual fact, it is still one or two level lower standard than German. See how many chinese volvo on the road we know.

            Like or Dislike: Thumb up 3 Thumb down 8
        • Victor on Apr 02, 2018 at 3:02 pm

          Kimchi Wong ,

          German VWs are junks actually
          German Audi is glorify VW too >> junk too !!

          Just see how many new Audi cars are sold in year 2017 and till February 2018 compare to volvo .
          Audi just sold 701 units in 2017
          Volvo sold 1021 units in 2017

          Audi just sold pathetic total 35 unit – till end feb 2018

          Volvo sold 131 units – till end Feb 2018

          Meaning volvo sales for 2018 four times more than Audi .

          It shows Audi is one to two class below than Volvo as most buyers opt for volvo rather Audi.

          maybe you should look at Kimchi Hyundai and Kia , these korean cars are ten times lower class than japanese cars .

          I would not use a korean name as it sound so low class too.

          FYI , Volvo are much sought after purchase by corporate buyers and stop saying and accusing Volvo Fanboys comments.

          Like or Dislike: Thumb up 5 Thumb down 0
        • Tasha on Apr 02, 2018 at 3:30 pm

          Tokmoh,

          Seats trimmed in Mercedes GLC is call Artico. This looks like leather but is actually a man made substitute, although it doesn’t feel too plasticky but looks cheap too .Furthermore , GLC rear headroom is less impressive

          Audi Q5 also had a plastic board sticking behind the front driver and passenger seat — meaning looks cheap too .

          Mr Matthew did not mentioned these shortcomings for the GLC and Q5 when comparing and commenting.

          Like or Dislike: Thumb up 6 Thumb down 0
  • Bernard on Mar 30, 2018 at 12:39 pm

    Suitable for Scandinavian countries. Will the interior melt under our msian sun?

    Wait a couple of years, can get it at half the price.

    Also the tech is too complicated for bolehlanders and probably will end up damaging it especially with their 20 children, feet on the dashboard, smoking inside etc etc.

    Like or Dislike: Thumb up 2 Thumb down 23
    • Tee For on Mar 30, 2018 at 3:23 pm

      Bang, in 90’s Volvo introduce something that call “anti-asthmatic” coating on all their parts which have direct contact with people. That is why you see models like 850, 940, S70, S80 their parts such as switch knobs melting here in Malaysia.

      On your second statement there is nothing that any car manufacturers can do if that are the attitude of the users.

      Like or Dislike: Thumb up 6 Thumb down 1
      • tokmoh. on Mar 30, 2018 at 9:45 pm

        They have improved the material over the years.

        In my friend’s Volvo V50 T5 wagon, the interior still feels like new, it’s hard to believe the car is over a decade old. The car hasn’t given any problem, they are very diligent with its service, it hasn’t broken down except dead batteries.

        Haters keep yapping about RV, as if we owners hate the car so much after the honeymoon period is over, far from truth. Many owners wonder why wanna sell when it is so good? Apa salahan Volvo?

        Like or Dislike: Thumb up 10 Thumb down 3
    • Based on Past volvo car history the materials use are top notch.

      No problems at all under hot sun and scratches in Malaysia unlike car like Peugeot, Citroen , VW , Fiat and etc.

      I know as I had owned a Peugeot formally and the dash board just cracked under hot sunlight causing the front windscreen to crack too.

      Like or Dislike: Thumb up 12 Thumb down 0
  • old horse on Mar 30, 2018 at 3:03 pm

    doesnt matters what are car of the year it gets, the price is totally out,
    am happy to buy the merc/bmw non world car with what volvo price in…sure, there will be buyers, but again, price own self out of potential buyers market..

    Like or Dislike: Thumb up 0 Thumb down 13
    • Tee For on Mar 30, 2018 at 4:21 pm

      Don’t you know that when this XC60 launched recently, all the CBU units which selling at RM374k have been sold out?

      Like or Dislike: Thumb up 8 Thumb down 0
      • tokmoh. on Mar 30, 2018 at 9:40 pm

        Even when XC90 first arrived CBU Made By Sweden with price tag rm450k+, sold out 2 batches.

        Nobody bitched lose RV when CKD XC90 was rm50k cheaper, they can afford the premium for having CBU exclusivity, early access. If u can’t afford to lose that much, you can’t afford it. They can, so suck it up!

        Only poorfag haters complaint no RV, must be salty cuz they thought their German junks are great, but end up always Visit Workshop cuz of Damn Stupid Gearbox, Banyak Masuk Workshop memang Banyak Makan Wang. Then no RV cuz nobody wants problematic, expensive to repair junk.

        Volvo uses gearbox used in the finest Lexus, tak nak pening, tak payah fikir, beli je. Who cares about RV when the car can last forever? Even today you can see over 40 years old 240 daily driven, why sell when it can work just fine?

        Like or Dislike: Thumb up 10 Thumb down 2
        • Joaonathan on Apr 01, 2018 at 8:23 am

          Can see more 240 than the current xc90. New car can sell?

          Like or Dislike: Thumb up 1 Thumb down 6
          • Advance Tech on Apr 02, 2018 at 7:09 pm

            Also can see more old Mercedes W124 than GLE and Audi Q7 on the road too.

            Mercedes GLE and Audi Q7 can sell meh???

            Like or Dislike: Thumb up 1 Thumb down 0
  • passion on Mar 30, 2018 at 3:08 pm

    sales are low due to the price and maintenance factors.

    Like or Dislike: Thumb up 1 Thumb down 10
  • Rear side tak de air cond ah?
    spare part easy to get or not?
    saliva also come out d la… just take my money…

    Like or Dislike: Thumb up 3 Thumb down 4
    • tokmoh. on Mar 30, 2018 at 9:30 pm

      Got air cond at the B pillar.

      Never heard any Volvo owner explode on fb group about no spare parts. Majority have pleasant experience, whatever quirks usually settled, warranty covers.

      Welcome aboard, my fellow man of culture with exquisite fine taste.

      Like or Dislike: Thumb up 7 Thumb down 3
 

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