I was excited to learn I would chaperone our new Volvo XC60 , but that feeling was short-lived. The crossover arrived early, and I was still finishing up my year in the fuel-efficient but somewhat clunky Kia Niro , so my colleagues got the keys. For two months, I looked longingly at the red beauty in our parking lot, until it was finally time to take home the small crossover with the stately waterfall grille and piercing Thors Hammer lights. Stately is also the best way to describe the driving experience. The 2.0-liter four-cylinder is neither eager nor lax, allowing the SUV to reach 60 mph in a dignified 6.5 seconds. Thats about on par with our long-term Acura RDX A-Spec (6.4 seconds), although, objectively, acceleration doesnt feel as immediate in the Volvo as it does in the Acura . The Swede is reasonably efficient for its class, netting 20.3/32.5/24.4 mpg city/highway/combined in our Real MPG tests. The only issue we had was a slight lag in response when trying to make a quick lane change at low speed. Otherwise, the engine provides plenty of power on city streets or the highway, and its complemented by a smooth ride and responsive brakes. --> Thanks to its design, the XC60 found many admirers among my social circle. It suffers from neither the stark design of BMW nor the flashy opulence of Mercedes-Benz . Inside, it features a refreshing look with few buttons. You get a fully digital instrument cluster and a large tablet-like central touchscreen instead. The leather seats proved comfortable and easy to clean. Still, the leather in the drivers seat started to pucker with use, and the upholstery isnt as soft to the touch as I would have liked. The XC60 provided plenty of legroom for my rear passengers and cargo space for everyones rock climbing gear. We had a few bones to pick with the technology. The touchscreen takes too long to boot up after the car starts, so you have to wait a minute before you can adjust the climate controls or entertainment. Something as simple as changing the radio station becomes complicated when youre driving because you have to interact with the various touchscreen menus instead of physical buttons. Unless you want to take a go at the spotty voice control system. Audi and Mercedes have more user-friendly infotainment systems overall. One of the hidden perks of driving an XC60 is the dealer experience. I love the friendly, airy feel of my local Volvo dealership. More important, the first three services are complimentary at the recommended intervals of 10,000, 20,000, and 30,000 miles. As a result, we spent a satisfying total of $0 on our two visits to the dealership. We had a similar experience with our long-term 2017 Jaguar F-Pace , which cost $0 to maintain thanks to Jaguar s even more generous five-year/60,000-mile complimentary maintenance program. Unfortunately, Mercedes didnt offer this kind of perk on our long-term 2017 GLC 300 , so we had to shell out $1,000.43 over two service visits. The Acura RDX currently in our long-term fleet also doesnt receive free maintenance. My 80-mile round-trip commute racked up a good number of miles on the faithful Volvo. Most of the time during my commute home, I didnt use the adaptive cruise control system. I frequently have to stop for several seconds at a time in traffic, at which point the cruise control shuts off. Its most helpful during long weekend drives where I dont have to constantly adjust the system. The Volvos lane keeping assist tends to veer the SUV to the left side of the lane, so I didnt find it that useful. Our tester was the base Momentum trim. Standard features include heated front seats, panoramic moonroof, power tailgate, and two USB ports, but we tacked on a number of options that increased the price by about $10,000. We upgraded with the larger digital instrument display, a head-up display, 14-speaker Harman Kardon sound system, power-folding rear seat and headrests, blind-spot information with steer assist, Pilot Assist semi-autonomous driving system with adaptive cruise control, and other features. In total, our XC60 rang out to $52,740. Similarly equipped Mercedes GLC models are around the same price. Our XC60 impresses when it comes to cost of ownership. IntelliChoice rates both the XC60 T5 and T6 Excellent in overall value. IntelliChoice looks at a vehicles actual five-year ownership cost and compares that to the expected ownership cost based on its invoice price in its particular category. Vehicles perform better when they have a lower actual cost of ownership compared to the expected cost of ownership. If youre looking at its retained value over five years, the XC60 T5 is at 47 percent, on par with the Audi Q5 2.0T and Infiniti QX50 but a few percentage points behind the Lexus NX 300 and BMW X3 30i (and ahead of the Acura RDX). Would I recommend the XC60? Yes, although I wouldnt discount its competitors. Not only does the XC60 have a stellar maintenance program, but it also benefits from a dependable engine, compliant ride, spacious interior, and luxury without the pomp and circumstance. Read more about our 2019 Volvo XC60 T5 AWD long-termer: Arrival Update 1: Exploring the Infotainment System Update 2: Comfortably Serene Update 3: Cruising Update 4: Interior Touches 7 Unusual Features on the 2019 Volvo XC60 Update 5: How Our Volvo XC60 Shines After an Acura RDX Weekend Update 6: Is the Volvo XC60 a Better Commuter or Road Trip SUV? Our Car SERVICE LIFE 12 mo / 26,028 mi BASE PRICE $42,495 OPTIONS Advanced Package ($2,500: Adaptive cruise control, 360-degree camera, head-up display, LED headlights); Multimedia Package ($2,500: Harman Kardon sound system, digital instrument panel); Premium Package ($2,200: Handsfree tailgate opener, blind spot assist, park assist, power-folding rear seats and headrests); Leather Upholstery ($1,600); 19-inch wheels ($800); Metallic paint ($645) PRICE AS TESTED $52,740 AVG ECON/CO2 22.7 mpg / 0.85 lb/mi PROBLEM AREAS None MAINTENANCE COST $0 (2- oil change, inspection; in-cabin air filter) NORMAL-WEAR COST $0 3-YEAR RESIDUAL VALUE* $33,900 RECALLS Tailgate lifting arms replaced to prevent freezing and separating. *IntelliChoice data; assumes 42,000 miles at the end of 3-years 2019 Volvo XC60 T5 AWD (Momentum) DRIVETRAIN LAYOUT Front-engine, AWD ENGINE TYPE Turbocharged I-4, alum block/head VALVETRAIN DOHC, 4 valves/cyl DISPLACEMENT 120.2 cu in/1,969 cc COMPRESSION RATIO 10.8:1 POWER (SAE NET) 250 hp @ 5,500 rpm TORQUE (SAE NET) 258 lb-ft @ 1,500 rpm REDLINE 6,500 rpm WEIGHT TO POWER 16.5 lb/hp TRANSMISSION 8-speed automatic AXLE/FINAL-DRIVE RATIO 3.33:1/2.24:1 SUSPENSION, FRONT; REAR Control arms, coil springs, anti-roll bar; multilink, leaf springs, anti-roll bar STEERING RATIO 16.6:1 TURNS LOCK-TO-LOCK 3.0 BRAKES, F; R 13.6-in vented disc; 12.6-in disc, ABS WHEELS 8.0 x 19-in cast aluminum TIRES 235/55R19 105V (M+S) Pirelli Scorpion Zero (VOL) DIMENSIONS WHEELBASE 112.8 in TRACK, F/R 65.1/65.2 in LENGTH x WIDTH x HEIGHT 184.6 x 74.9 x 64.8 in GROUND CLEARANCE 8.5 in APPRCH/DEPART ANGLE 23.1/25.5 deg TURNING CIRCLE 37.4 ft CURB WEIGHT 4,130 lb WEIGHT DIST, F/R 55/45% TOWING CAPACITY 3,500 lb SEATING CAPACITY 5 HEADROOM, F/R 38.0/38.0 in LEGROOM, F/R 41.5/38.0 in SHOULDER ROOM, F/R 58.2/56.3 in CARGO VOLUME 50.6/22.4 cu ft TEST DATA ACCELERATION TO MPH 0-30 2.2 sec 0-40 3.4 0-50 4.7 0-60 6.5 0-70 8.7 0-80 11.9 0-90 15.3 0-100 20.4 PASSING, 45-65 MPH 3.5 QUARTER MILE 15.2 sec @ 89.5 mph BRAKING, 60-0 MPH 118 ft LATERAL ACCELERATION 0.84 g (avg) MT FIGURE EIGHT 27.3 sec @ 0.62 g (avg) TOP-GEAR REVS @ 60 MPH 1,600 rpm CONSUMER INFO BASE PRICE $42,495 PRICE AS TESTED $52,740 STABILITY/TRACTION CONTROL Yes/Yes AIRBAGS 6: Dual front, front side, f/r curtain BASIC WARRANTY 4 yrs/50,000 miles POWERTRAIN WARRANTY 4 yrs/50,000 miles ROADSIDE ASSISTANCE 4 yrs/Unlimited miles FUEL CAPACITY 18.8 gal REAL MPG, CITY/HWY/COMB 20.3/32.5/24.4 mpg EPA CITY/HWY/COMB ECON 20/27/23 mpg ENERGY CONS, CITY/HWY 169/125 kW-hrs/100 miles CO2 EMISSIONS, COMB 0.86 lb/mile RECOMMENDED FUEL Unleaded premium The post The 2019 Volvo XC60 After One Year: Would We Recommend It? appeared first on MotorTrend .