Volvo is continuing its success in the luxury SUV segment, with its XC60 today winning the 2021 Drive Car of the Year award for Best Medium Luxury SUV.
"The Volvo XC60 goes just that little bit further to add elements which make the cabin feel upmarket and special, setting it apart from others in this segment," said James Ward, Content Director and Drive Car of the Year 2021 judge.
"Volvo have delivered a polished vehicle that touches the right buyer points, in offering both petrol and plug-in hybrid variants of the XC60. The base specification of the XC60 is generous, with Volvo rolling in the full suite of safety technology across the range. This keeps upgrade packages and options in line with being 'personalisation' elements rather than equipment that should be included at this level."
Vehicles in the Drive Car of the Year awards are judged against a set of criteria that are most relevant to the consumer including driver technology, comfort, safety, ongoing running costs, plus all the fun stuff including performance and handling.
"The excellent front seats, and practical family-centric features, like the integrated booster seats, keep this car in high consideration in terms of outright usability, and Volvo's move to a longer 5-year warranty and fixed-price service schedule give it the edge in the ownership stakes too," Ward added.
"It's a clean and stylish all-rounder, with flexible drivetrain options and just the right amount of Scandinavian flair to send it to the top of the class."
Volvo Car Australia Managing Director, Stephen Connor, said: "When we launched XC60 in Australia in 2017 we knew it ticked all the boxes. It offers something for everyone by way of style, safety, performance and value for money."
"Winning this latest accolade from Drive reinforces the fantastic success of XC60 and the ongoing strength of our brand in Australia." "This the fourth consecutive Drive Car of the Year Award for the XC60 in a segment that demands the best."
Since 2018 Volvo XC60 has won a swag of Australian and international awards, including 2018 Wheels Car of The Year, 2018 Drive Car of the Year Best Luxury SUV under $80,000, and 2018 World Car of the Year.
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Volvo Car Group in 2020
For the 2020 financial year, Volvo Car Group recorded an operating profit of 8.5 BSEK (14.3 BSEK in 2019). Revenue over the period amounted to 262.8 BSEK (274.1 BSEK). For the full year of 2020, global sales reached 661,713 cars (705,452), a decline of 6.2 per cent compared to 2019.
About Volvo Car Group
Volvo Cars was founded in 1927. Today, it is one of the most well-known and respected car brands in the world with sales of 661,713 cars in 2020 in about 100 countries. Volvo Cars has been under the ownership of the Zhejiang Geely Holding since 2010.
As of December 2020, Volvo Cars employed approximately 40,000 (41,500) full-time employees. Volvo Cars head office, product development, marketing and administration functions are mainly located in Gothenburg, Sweden. Volvo Cars head office for APAC is located in Shanghai. The company's main car production plants are located in Gothenburg (Sweden), Ghent (Belgium), South Carolina (US), Chengdu and Daqing (China), while engines are manufactured in Skövde (Sweden) and Zhangjiakou (China) and body components in Olofström (Sweden).
Under its new company purpose, Volvo Cars aims to provide customers with the Freedom to Move in a personal, sustainable and safe way. This purpose is reflected into a number of business ambitions: for example, by the middle of this decade it aims for half of its global sales to be fully electric cars and to establish five million direct consumer relationships. Volvo Cars is also committed to an ongoing reduction of its carbon footprint, with the ambition to be a climate-neutral company by 2040.