TopAuto reader Wikus needed to go from two cars to one, and selected a second-hand Volvo XC60 as the solution to his problem.
Below, he tells us why he bought the Volvo XC60 and what he likes about the SUV.
Which model do you own?
It is a 2009 Volvo XC60 3.0 Geartronic with 180,000km on the clock.
What made you buy the car?
I was looking for something to replace both my very old project Land Rover Discovery 1 and my daily driver Nissan Tiida with.
Having two vehicles has a few downsides, including insurance on both, being unsure which to take on a trip, and garage space.
One of my friends recommended I look at the older XC60, as he owns one and is very happy with it.
It was also in my budget, and ticks all the boxes I was looking for. I have only been driving it for a bit more than a week, so my opinion may still be a bit subjective.
What are your three favourite things about the car?
My favourite thing has to be the power of the turbocharged 3.0-litre engine.
While the car is quite heavy, it can best be described as effortless. When you start putting your foot down, it simply goes and is surprisingly agile for the size and weight.
I also love the luxury of the car. The plush leather interior makes the cabin an awesome place to be in, with some of the most comfortable seats I have ever felt in a car.
It is also very quiet inside with minimal road noise, until you put your foot down and hear the roar of the engine.
Lastly, the practicality of the car makes it suitable for just about every scenario. It is comfortable enough for the longest of road trips, with enough space for all your luggage, while remaining small enough to easily fit into parking spaces at the mall.
The good ground clearance and AWD system also means that while it does not belong on a 4×4 track, it is quite happy on a gravel road.
Which three things do you like least about the car?
My least favourite thing has to be the fuel consumption.
Daily driving with traffic both in the city and on the highway only gets you about 8km per litre. This does get better with long-distance cruising, but is nowhere near what can be achieved by more modern engines.
While there were later versions of this car with integrated Bluetooth, and even some with Android Auto capability, this one is also stuck using a normal aux port for external media.
This is easily fixed with a little Bluetooth adapter, or one of the aftermarket radio solutions for the car, but it would have been nice to have from the start.
The last thing that I would have preferred being different is the automatic gearbox.
While it is entirely adequate, it does sometimes feel a little slow to shift, especially when paired with the powerful engine. This can be circumvented by shifting manually when you wish to do a quick overtake or the like.
The sport mode also quickens this up a bit.
What is it like to drive your car every day?
The car is lovely to drive because of the luxury and stability on the road. It also has a ton of safety features that even some modern cars lack.
The fuel economy does hurt a little, but this is made up for by the low cost of the vehicle.
Would you recommend your car to friends and family?
I would definitely recommend this car to friends and family, depending on what they are searching for.
This is an older vehicle with relatively high mileage, but a well-maintained example can last many more kilometers.
I would advise them to look carefully at service histories and the actual condition of the vehicle they are considering.
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