Think of a Volvo. Have you got a big eff-off estate or saloon in mind? If you're over the age of 30 you probably have - it's the Volvo 850 and it's a car that has defined Volvo over the years as much as the association with the Swedish manufacturer with safety.But the times are a-changing. Among a number of sleek new models like the C30 coupe, S60 saloon and V60 sports wagon.Related to the S60 and the V60 is the XC60, a sports crossover SUV that combines the 'big Volvo' of yesteryear with the best bits of new Volvo - practicality, performance and style.Volvo has struggled to throw off the 'big Volvo' image of yesteryear with some notorious brand misfires in recent times that culminated in the cringe-inducing'naughty' S60 campaign that Volvo now admits was a clanger.With a new global marketing director and a developing range of cars that reflect the best traditions of old Volvo models and incorporate the new design language and core strengths of new models the Swedish manufacturer, now owned by Chinese manufacturer Geely, feels a lot more comfortable in its own skin.Another reflection of Volvo's new outlook is that it's happy to admit to chasing fleet and business registrations rather than focussing as heavily on private buyers. Volvo 2012 rangeAs a result the MY12 range is more inclined towards fleets, with low-CO2, low-cost DRIVe models paired with sporty R-Design specifications that are designed to appeal to fleet managers and business user-choosers but will also catch the eye of private buyers.The D3 2.0-litre turbodiesel has been retuned for better driveability and now benefits from stop-start with a manual gearbox.Meanwhile C30, V50, S60 and V60 DRIVe models get a new 115hp 1.6-litre turbodiesel with stop-start as standard - meaning the C30 and V50 versions emit 99g/km of CO2 and S60/V60 models emit under 120g/km.The UK is Volvo's best market for the Volvo C30 and a new entry-level D2 model is cheaper by £500 for 2012, while the C30 R-Design now costs over £2,000 less at £14,995.New Polestar models are performance derivatives designed to offer alternatives to Mercedes' AMG and BMW's M models. D5 diesel engines and awesome T6 petrol engines will get power upgrades for 2012.A decidedly 'new' Volvo element on its way is the weight and depth of gadgetry heading to the Volvo range. Music streaming, video and gaming, a Volvo On Call smartphone application that allows a degree of remote control from phone to car, internet connectivity, intelligent communications and navigation technology, cars that can check themselves into a garage for scheduled services and so on - we're a long way from the 'big box' Volvo of yesterday.Part of that is Volvo's sponsorship of various outdoor sports, including sailing. Sound odd? Perhaps but a sailor is seven times more likely to buy a Volvo than a non-sailor so perhaps not.Volvo has given a nod to its aquatic activities with three Ocean Race models, consisting of the Volvo V60 Ocean Race Editions starting at £27,485; XC60 Ocean Race from £31,000 and XC70 from £32,315. MY12 Volvo XC60At the forefront of this mix of old and new is the XC60, now refreshed for 2012 with tweaked engines that provide lower running costs and improved performance aided by stop-start technology.I felt that the XC60 was something of a turning point for Volvo when it came out in 2008 - a way for the manufacturer to embody all the traditional best bits of the brand with the pick of the new; the gadgetry, design and sporty character.We headed out in a Volvo XC60 D5 AWD SE Lux, which packed in the tweaked D5 engine - now with more power and torque for lower emissions - all-wheel-drive output and plenty of luxury kit and gadgets.SE Lux brings hefty 18 Zephyrus alloy wheels and active bending xenon lights that turn into corners when you do to illuminate the light ahead.The XC60 looks superb inside in SE Lux spec - all black leather and orange stitching - and multi-adjustable front seats are another boon, particularly if you're one those people who can never seem to get comfortable in a new car.The rear seats are spacious too, you'll get five adults in here no problem - at SE spec you can even get heated rear seats, which is uncommon in the sector, and the middle seat folds down to form an armrest.A decent load space in the back (495 litres) transforms to a significant, well-shaped load space (1455 litres) with the rear seats folded down, while D5 and T6 autos will tow 2,000kg. Tech and gadgetsAs ever, using Volvo's satnav and media interface is not the easiest, but at least the manufacturer has done away with the awful remote controls that were previously required to operate any gadgetry. There are still a lot of buttons on the centre stack, however, and take a bit of guesswork to get right.New on the XC60 is Sensus - a new interface that means the five- or seven-inch screens can be mainly controlled via the steering wheel but there are still controls on the centre stack that need to be used - not easy or advisable if driving. Still, we did manage to pair our iPhone immediately, which is rare on a new car.The satnav system meant we missed a turn-off at one point as the command wasn't clear enough, but generally the Volvo navigation system gets the job done even if those of rival manufacturers are superior. Safety techThis being a Volvo - and a well-specced one at that - there's a ton of safety kit, including helpful gadgetry like Front and Rear Parking Assist, Blind Spot Information System that is unobstrusive when not required and just annoying enough to be useful when required.I do wonder about just how useful some safety kit on modern cars is, and there's more radar-based active safety aids available on the Volvo XC60 such as Pedestrian Warning, Collision Warning, Distance Alert, Queue Assist, City Safety and Adaptive Cruise Control that will either warn you of other cars or pedestrians - or adapt the car to their appearance accordingly, whether that means maintaining speed to the car in front or braking if a car pulls out or child runs into the road at lower speeds.Still, Volvo reckons that if every car on the road had Pedestrian Warning built in then pedestrian deaths would be down by 20 per cent, so who are we to argue. There is the sense that all of these technologies, combined, are bringing us ever closer to cars that drive themselves - are are a lot safer and more economical as a result.While that may be anathema to some, it will be welcomes by the majority of drivers if it works properly and it's something Volvo appears to be applying to its vehicles better than most. Driving the XC60The all-wheel drive means the XC60 is a doddle to drive - and those fearing another harsh winter or simply living out in the sticks will be pleased with the Volvo's no-fuss handling and smooth ride.Of course, this being the 21st century there will be plenty of people who will want an XC60 simply for pootling around down or slogging up the motorway - the Volvo crossover should suit those people fine too, though whether the 2.4-litre five-cylinder D5 will suit the latter is up for debate.If not then the D3, with a smaller engine and lack of AWD, would theoretically be a better bet, but by a strange quirk its fuel economy figures are inferior and CO2 figures virtually identical - meaning no benefit in running ocsts to the smaller diesel engine.The weighty, responsive D5 manages 215bhp and - more importantly - 324lb-ft from a very low 1,400RPM up to 3,250RPM meaning it sprints to 60mph in a brisk 8.3 seconds. In fact, that's more than brisk for a weighty vehicle that will easily swallow five plus luggage.CO2 emissions are 179g/km, while a possible 50.4mpg with the manual box is extemely impressive - the autobox brings a stiff penalty though, with fuel economy dropping to 41.5mpg and CO2 up to 179g/km.That's a shame because the six-speed auto transmission is probably the better fit on the XC60, with silky-smooth gearchanges and fast dropdowns when more grunt is required - you can switch to Geatronic 'up and down' semi-manual mode should you wish.Volvo does point out, however, that the XC60 D5 AWD ES provides best-in-class benefit-in-kind figures.Should some hoonage be asked of it, the XC60 feels up to it. Body roll is kept to a mininum thanks to a suspension that's not too geared towards a magic carpet ride - thanks elk of Sweden! - but keeps enough back to provide a good balance. Arguably some may expect more comfort from a Volvo but I think the balance is about right.As for the XC60, prices start at £28,300 for low-CO2 DRIVe with stop-start and go up the very heady heights of £41,260 for the T6 AWD Geatronic, which should be a riot.However our car, packed with luxury and safety tech and paired with the strong D5 with Geartronic AWD came in at a hefty £43,025. Sure a lot of car, but a hell of a lot of money.The XC60, along with the majority of the Volvo range, is now a very strong, very modern car and the clever matching of specifications with engines - none of your entry-level specs with entry-level engines nonsense here - should make for a very good buying proposition for a lot of different buyers.I still think the XC60 embodies the best of both worlds where Volvo is concerned. It's a smart car - in more ways than one.
