By Mabuyane Mabuza
I have a confession, the older I get the weirder I become.
Like most people, I used to love music in fact I used to blast it in my car (or test cars) those many years ago. But I find myself enjoying listening to discussions on the radio more than music. Well, a big event happened in my life just over three years ago and has changed my relationship with music, it could be temporary.
The reason I am giving you this background is that in these three years I have only really listened to the music a few times. Here is the strange thing, I listen to music in cars that I extremely like, a strong connection. So, the car has to touch me that I feel compelled to listen to music.
The moment I hopped into the Volvo XC60 T8 AWD, I felt the excitement building up.
The T8 AWD is the flagship model of the XC60 range and spots a few body kit features that make this car more attractive, take the 21-inch five-spoke diamond-cut alloy wheels for instance.
This Swedish princess is a plug-in hybrid with an output power of 340kW/709Nm, this power derives from both the 2.0-litre supercharged petrol engine and the electric motor. I have a thing about hybrids, as opposed to full-electric, hybrids give motorists flexibility. This is South Africa; we need that flexibility until we can have a reliable source of energy. So, I am already for this car.
Back to my emotional connection with the Volvo, I played my favourite jams, and the Bowers & Wilkins sound system did not disappoint.
With these hybrid models that Volvo have on offer, they are trying to encourage South Africans still reluctant to make the switch, according to the company.
From where I am sitting, I don’t think the Scandinavian car maker needs to work extra hard to encourage South Africans from making the switch.
Volvo’s new design language communicates a clear message of sophistication but relatable at the same time. It’s been a few years since Volvo introduced their “new” generation infotainment system and the 360-degree system, but they are not about to age.
Safety is Volvo’s cornerstone and its biggest selling point.
Some of the standard equipment in the XC60 T8 AWD include the likes of Intellisafe Assist (with pedestrian, cyclist and large animal detection), front and rear collision warning(with full automatic braking) to name but a few.
The 2.0-litre supercharged engine is mated to an 8-speed…gearbox giving seamless acceleration. Our test model also came blessed with air suspension and pilot assist for maximum driving experience.
Another confession, the XC60 is not my personal favourite in the Volvo brand but boy the T8 left a good impression.
For R1 278 900, this looks like a sensible luxury car purchase you could make this year.
