2018 Volvo XC60 is a lovely premium crossover contender

The XC60 shares a clear familial link to its larger XC90 sibling with which it shares Volvo's Scalable Product Architecture, but with a lower, more sinuous overall look.

The XC60 will compete against the likes of the Audi Q5, BMW X3, Jaguar F-Pace, Mercedes GLC, and Porsche Macan. And, at the very least, it's got the premium good looks to go toe-to-toe with its rivals. "The XC60 is an SUV not designed to look down on others but to drive," said Thomas Ingenlath, Senior Vice President, Design at Volvo Car Group.

Powertrain options will mirror those of the larger XC90, starting with a turbocharged 2.0-liter four-cylinder, a turbo- and-supercharged 2.0-liter T6, and a plug-in-hybrid T8 at the top of the XC60 range. Those 400 horsepower will be enough to push the all-wheel-drive crossover to 62 miles per hour in just 5.3 seconds. That's impressively quick. But this is a Volvo, and that means there's a lot more to talk about than performance.

Yes, Volvo still stands for safety, but these days the brand is just as well known for its sumptuously Scandinavian interior design. The brand's vertically oriented Sensus infotainment system sits front and center, and the HVAC vents share a similar elongated look. A crystal shifter sits between the two front seats, flanked by lovely open-pore wood trim.

Back to the safety discussion, Volvo's City Safety system gets a new Steer Assist function, and Oncoming Lane Mitigation is a new addition, as well. Pilot Assist, Volvo's semi-autonomous system, can take over steering, acceleration and braking duties "on well-marked roads" at speeds up to 80 miles per hour.

Do yourself a favor and take a good look at the new XC60 in our image gallery above. It really is a lovely design. Well done, Volvo.