2010 Volvo XC60

As more people seek to tighten their belts and live a more frugal life, Volvo debuts its answer to those looking for a more “moderate” family SUV: the XC60.

If the bigger XC90 is too much car for you, but the S80 sedan isn’t you either, you need to test drive the all new XC60.

It’s (of course) a crossover, smaller than the bigger SUV, but with more flexible cargo room than you can find in a sedan.

Like its competitors, which include the BMW X3 and the Lexus RX350, the XC60 is hoping to appeal to buyers and drivers who are downsizing from larger SUVs on their luxury menus, but still want the design, expanded space and plushness offered by their respective brands.

I love the look of Volvos and the exterior design of the XC60 is my favorite among its segment. It’s sleeker than a Mercedes GLK or an Audi Q5 and more modern than the RX350 or the X3.

Underneath the crisply-styled sheet metal is the S80 T6’s turbocharged inline-6 engine. Unlike the front-drive S80, though, the XC60 has standard all-wheel drive for enhanced traction.

The XC60 has a 3.0-liter turbocharged inline-6 engine that offers 281 horsepower and 295 pound-feet of torque. Power is routed to an all-wheel-drive system with six-speed automatic.

The EPA estimates fuel economy to be 15 mpg city/22 mpg highway and 18 mpg combined, which is below average for this segment.

Available in a single T6 trim level, the XC60 comes packed with plenty of amenities, including leather upholstery, an eight-speaker audio system and power front seats.

You can also opt for two-tone upholstery and real wood trim for the center stack to jazz up the interior, making it look unmistakably of Swedish design origins.

The model I test-drove had the City Safety feature.

Using a short-range infrared rangefinder, the City Safety system can detect an imminent low-speed frontal impact at up to 19 mph and either minimize the impact or avoid it entirely by automatically applying the XC60’s brakes.

I tried to test it on the first day, but couldn’t bring myself to actually not brake, given the Caddy in my way, which was behind my “test” demo crash site.

I later tested it at home and it really worked.

The braking is quite jarring and loud, which I think is supposed to wake you up and get you to pay attention to what you’re supposed to be doing: driving.

I like the fact you can get an XC60 well-equipped, without dipping into the options list. But if you want more than the standard 18-inch alloy wheels, rear privacy glass, power front seats with driver memory settings, cruise control, dual-zone automatic climate control, an auto-dimming rearview mirror, steering-wheel-mounted audio controls, Bluetooth and an eight-speaker audio system with a CD/MP3 player, satellite and HD radio, and auxiliary audio and USB audio jacks, there’s plenty to choose from, including climate control features, safety gadgets and entertainment options.

I loved driving the XC60 and thought the balance of power, handling and comfort made it a stellar vehicle to drive the family around for the short week I had it. Everybody loved it.

The base price for the 2010 Volvo XC60 is $37,200.

For those looking for a crossover vehicle in the luxury class, this is about what you can expect to pay. There may be a few competitors with smaller base price tags, but after you add on options to meet the quality of standard equipment in the XC60, you’ll be way over $40,000.