With all the horrific news on the sales front, Volvo couldn't have possibly picked a worse time to launch an important new model, in this case the 2010 XC60.It competes in what Volvo calls the "Small Premium Utility" segment which is populated by the established BMW X3, the Acura RDX, the Infiniti EX35, the recently-introduced Lexus RX350 and Mercedes-Benz GLK, and the upcoming Audi Q5. The question is simple: Does it have the goods to compete? And the answer, as usual, is very complicated.
Think "Volvo" and what first comes to mind? Safety, of course, and with its City Safety package, standard on all XC60s, Volvo is charting new territory in the area of preventing and mitigating low speed, under-20-miles-per-hour mishaps. (City Safety will spread to other Volvo models--the upcoming S60 sedan which was previewed in concept form last month at the North American International Automobile Show will likely get it next--as they are refreshed or replaced.)
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