2017 Volvo XC60

Though some competitors have been updated more recently with higher-quality materials, the 2017 Volvo XC60 still has a refined and upmarket interior. In some models, you'll get wood trim pieces to finish the XC60's graceful design. Leather upholstery is standard, which is unusual for a luxury compact SUV under $40,000, and the seats in both rows are long-haul comfortable, with plenty of space and support.

The infotainment system can be tricky to use, but adjusting climate settings is a cinch with the XC60's unique center stack controls. Cargo room is another strong suit for this SUV, easily beating out every other luxury compact SUV, with enough room to rival some SUVs in the larger midsize class.

• The quality of the interior materials is decent for the class, though some newer SUVs have surpassed the XC60 in terms of overall look and feel." -- Edmunds
• The Volvo XC60's 2-row, 5-passenger interior benefits from Swedish elegance." -- Kelley Blue Book
• "The XC60 offers room for up to five passengers with a level of comfort and luxury that can rival well-established competitors from Germany and Japan. The dashboard boasts soft-touch materials, leather and real wood trim." -- Left Lane News (2016)

Seating

Just because the XC60 is a compact SUV, don't expect its cabin to be claustrophobia-inducing. There's plenty of room for five people. The driver and front passenger will feel at ease on long trips, thanks to the comfortable and supportive seats. Plus, the front seats are eight-way power-adjustable, so you can find the perfect position. Back-seat passengers will have ample space too, with generous head- and legroom.

Leather upholstery is standard in the XC60, while it's optional in similarly priced rivals like the Mercedes-Benz GLC and the BMW X3. To get leather in the GLC or the X3, you'd have to spend between $1,500 and $2,000 over base price. You can upgrade the XC60's front seats with a heating feature to keep you warm during cold days. There are two full sets of LATCH connectors to properly install car seats to keep your kids safe. The XC60 can also be equipped with built-in booster seats in the rear.

• "A trait we've long appreciated in Volvos is the comfortable and supportive driver's seat, and the XC60 is no different." -- Kelley Blue Book
• "Seat comfort, on the other hand, is excellent. Front seats are well shaped and appropriately cushioned for long road trips, and the range of adjustments ensure a comfortable position for a variety of body types. Rear seats are similarly accommodating, delivering adult-sized head- and legroom." -- Edmunds

• "The XC60's front seats aren't as stellar as those in the S60 sedan, but they're close. Volvo's trademark combination of simplicity and long-distance support is certainly present in these chairs." -- Autotrader (2015)

Interior Features

The XC60 comes standard with a panoramic moonroof, dual-zone automatic climate control, an eight-speaker audio system, Bluetooth, a USB port, satellite radio, HD Radio, a 7-inch infotainment screen, navigation, low-speed forward collision warning (Volvo City Safety), blind spot monitoring, rear cross traffic alert, a rearview camera, and rear parking sensors.

Optional features include proximity key, push-button start, a 14-speaker Harman Kardon audio system, forward collision warning, automatic emergency braking, adaptive cruise control, front parking sensors, and lane departure warning.

Keeping the temperature just right is simple in the XC60. Two human-shaped silhouettes control the dual-zone automatic climate control system. Tap the part of the body that corresponds to where you want the air to blow, and the system will adjust. The driver and front passenger can each adjust settings to their own preference, so there will be no more arguments over who's too hot or cold.

The XC60's infotainment system is less intuitive. You operate it with a control knob that's mounted on the center stack. Many rivals have their controllers on the center console near where your hand falls, so the XC60's knob is harder to reach. Additionally, the infotainment system's menus and options are cumbersome to sort through, so it will likely take you some time to learn how to use it. On the plus side, navigation is standard, which is unusual for the class. For example, in the similarly priced Acura RDX, you'll pay around $4,000 more than the base price to get navigation.

Safety-conscious families should strongly consider the XC60. It comes standard with several advanced safety features to help keep you and your loved ones safe. A stand out feature is the XC60's City Safety low-speed collision warning system, which helps you avoid collisions in low-speed stop-and-go traffic. If you drive around busy city streets, you know it can be hectic, and the XC60's available collision warning system with automatic braking and pedestrian and bicycle detection can help. The XC60 can detect any of the above that come suddenly into your path, and it will automatically apply the brakes to keep you from hitting them.

See 2017 Volvo XC60 specs »

• Operating the climate control is intuitive, but other systems might take some getting used to. In particular, the infotainment system is controlled via a multifunction knob on the center stack rather than a traditional touchscreen or dial mount where your hand naturally rests. Menus for navigation and music browsing can also be confusing." -- Edmunds

• "We love Volvo's clever ventilation control, which uses a seated human silhouette to indicate where you want airflow to go; tap the head for your upper body, legs for foot-wells, etc." -- Kelley Blue Book (2016)

• "… the sound system is first-rate, and there are plenty of connectivity options." -- Car and Driver (2015)

Cargo

You'll have plenty of room for your family's luggage if you take the XC60 on road trips, because it has 30.8 cubic feet of cargo room with the rear seats in use. That's nearly double the amount of cargo space you'd get in a competitor like the Audi Q3 or BMW X4. When you fold the XC60's rear seats down, you'll have 67.5 cubic feet. No other luxury compact SUV can match the XC60's overall cargo volume, and even many luxury midsize SUVs offer less space for your stuff.

You can get a power liftgate to make loading easy when you have your hands full. No more fumbling to reach the handle, just tap a button on your key fob or the liftgate, and the hatch will open right up.

• "Cargo space is better than average, though, providing 30.8 cubic feet behind the rear seats and up to 67 cubic feet with those seats folded." -- Edmunds
• "Fold back down the versatile 40/20/40 split rear seat and you'll enjoy 67.4 cu ft of cargo space -- a robust figure for a vehicle of this type. Even with the seat back fully in place, there's still 30.8 cu ft of room behind it. " -- Autotrader (2015)