Volvo XC60 crossover marches to its own, aging drummer

2017 Volvo XC60 T6 AWD Dynamic: For when you've outgrown the Veloster or the Volkswagen?

Price: $52,455 as tested (a base model can be had for $40,950)

Marketer's pitch: "This is our standard."

Conventional wisdom: Edmunds.com likes the efficient four-cylinder engines, top safety scores, and cargo space, but not the interior design, infotainment system, or handling.

Reality: Not bad, still weird.

Some back story: Like many car companies, Volvo has undergone some changes in ownership brought on by the great recession.

New owner Zhejiang Geely Holding Group, a Chinese automotive company, has a subtle touch, though, as the XC60 hasn't had a redesign since 2010. Volvo continues its march to a different drummer; its 1960s import looked like a 1948 Plymouth and famous '80s models looked like Lego cars.

What it is: The XC60 is a two-row crossover with some luxury touches.

I've been angling to get a shot at the new XC90 three-row SUV. Its exterior is a beautiful (if rather 1980s Legoland) design, and the interior is stunning, with beautiful wood trim and an inviting command pad and infotainment display.

The XC60 isn't quite up to all that.

Up to speed: The 2.0-liter turbocharged four-cylinder makes an impressive 302 horsepower and 295 pound-feet of torque. Motivation is not a problem.

The vehicle is a sedate and smooth in normal mode. In sport mode, the XC60 gains momentum, but shifts are held far too long for my tastes.

Shifty: The XC60 also offers shiftability in sport mode, which is where I found the most enjoyment. The shifter sits in a slightly awkward location, though, but your mileage may vary.

The XC60 also exhibited some occasional hesitation in all the modes.

Stop-start: This feature, which shuts off the vehicle at long stoplights, generally goes unnoticed in most vehicles. It appears to be standard in the model tested, and the feature can be shut off.

That said, I found the XC60 brake pedal had to be released much more than normal for the vehicle to wake up. Then the XC60 woke up with the kind of startled panic one feels upon lying in bed and hearing the garbage truck outside a day early during a holiday week. (True story!)

Gauge pod: The speedometer does feature two nice touches as well. When the Volvo learns of the speed limit, it not only adds a little speed limit sign to the navigation screen (like most other car makers) and also in the speedometer display, but it sets an arrow next to the hash mark for, say, 55 mph or 40 mph. Of course, it's Mr. Driver's Seat policy never to move the needle past that arrow. Honest.

Also, at night, the speedometer is completely lighted, but a spotlight is shined on the speed the vehicle is traveling, plus or minus about 20 mph.

Play some tunes: The Harmon Kardon premium sound system (part of the $2,500 Advanced Package, which also heated the seats, and added adaptive cruise and more) offered A-level sound quality, about the best I've experienced in recent months. But the 7-inch screen is far too small for this price level, and controls took some getting used to. The dial-a-song approach seemed like a good idea but letter-by-letter input is required; no choices come up (although it will search a partial word).

The old-style phone buttons that are another Volvo standby made Sturgis Kid 4.0 and a young Inquirer reporter chuckle heartily.

In command: In fact, controls around the Volvo take some getting used to. Information in the gauge pod is accessed through a twist knob and button on the turn signal stalk. This is quirkiness that attracts aficionados, and confuses Mr. Driver's Seat.

Friends and stuff: The leather seats provide comfort and support. Rear passengers won't complain about legroom, foot room or headroom, and plenty of cargo can reside behind the second row. (It almost looks almost big enough for a third row, but not quite.)

The console is awkwardly located right between the seat backs, so anyone who can't twist well will have a tough time accessing it. Here sit the sole USB ports as well.

Fuel economy: I averaged about 20 mpg in the usual Mr. Driver's Seat testing on country and suburban roads. Feed the XC60 premium.

Where it's built: Ghent, Belgium.

How it's built: Consumer Reports gives the XC60 an average rating over the last few model years, although the components themselves get really swell reports individually. Hmmm.

In the end: The XC60 is pleasant enough but doesn't measure up to the others in this comparison. The Lexus RX350 was tops for fun, but the Volvo would probably be my next choice.