2010 Volvo XC60

I watched the car back up and then move forward again, only to stop abruptly. After a couple seconds, the driver put it in reverse, switched it into drive and went a little bit more quickly. Perhaps about 10 mph. Then stopped abruptly again.

There were a series of striped plastic barriers in front of the car, and each time the car backed up and went forward, it stopped suddenly about an inch from the barrier. Every time.

After watching the back-forth sequence for several runs, I finally asked what was happening. It was a demo of City Safety in the 2010 Volvo XC60.

City Safety is the newest safety innovation from Volvo utilizing an infrared laser sensor that determines if you are approaching a vehicle from behind too fast. If the driver fails to brake, the car will brake for the driver. The hope is to avoid the collision altogether, but if that isn’t possible, the system also activates interior restraints at the same time to protect the driver in case of a collision.

Nice in theory, but does it really work? Yes. I hopped behind the wheel of the demo car and tentatively drove toward the barriers, then stopped with a jerk without any input from my right foot. So, I tried again going a little faster. And stopped abruptly again.

This safety feature is for speeds around 10 mph because as Volvo points out, 75 percent of all collisions occur at speeds up to 18 mph, and half of these occur in city traffic.

What a brilliant idea. And it’s standard.

This feature alone is enough for me to issue a blanket statement encouraging you to check out this car. But when you add in the attractive design and functional yet comfortable interior, the 2010 XC60 becomes a must-test if you’re looking for a luxury crossover.

The XC60 comes equipped with a 3.0-liter, six-cylinder turbocharged engine that delivers 281 horsepower and 295 pound-feet of torque. For a crossover, this was more than enough power to make this car seem almost peppy for its size. Even though this is a small crossover, don’t let that fool you into thinking that means excellent fuel economy. We’re still talking about a six-cylinder engine and 4,174 pounds of vehicle. Thus, city/highway fuel economy rings in at 16/22 mpg.

The ride in the XC60 was more luxury than sporty. The steering, however, was tight, stiff and responsive, which is great for most driving situations. Until you parallel park. Then the steering is a bit too tight and stiff.

Volvo has a reputation for safety, and City Safety is just one of a multitude of features that are working to keep you and your family safe. Other standard safety features include dual stage airbags, inflatable side curtains, Whiplash Protection System, front side-impact airbags and Side Impact Protection System.

The Volvo XC60 is only offered as an all-wheel drive model, and it is very well-equipped without any options. Non-safety standard features include a six-speed Geartronic automatic transmission, leather seats, complimentary factory scheduled maintenance for the first three years, power front seats, Bluetooth, HD radio, USB interface, Sirius Satellite Radio and 18-inch wheels.

While you get a lot, you’re going to pay a pretty penny for it. Base price on the XC60 is $38,025, including destination. Luckily, you probably won’t need to add many options and could probably end there. The test vehicle added metallic paint ($525); navigation with rear park assist camera ($2,700); and the Climate Package including heated front and rear seats, heated windshield washer nozzles and high-pressure headlamp cleaning system ($1,000).

I often find that the shape of Volvos is a bit off-putting. Yet the XC60 smoothes out some of Volvo’s harsh edges, ending up with an almost curvaceous profile. The bumped out taillights, which can be a bit jarring on other models, actually work on this crossover.

The interior of the XC60 is sleek and simple, and the modern design is oddly calming. Everything is in the right place, and the control panel on the center stack is intuitive and well-organized. My favorite interior feature is the storage compartment behind the slim center stack, and I could easily store my small purse here when I had passengers.

As far as crossovers go, the XC60 had pretty much everything I could possibly want or need. As a base model it was well equipped, and I’d probably only add the Climate Package to get the heated front seats, which would keep the final price under $40K. This is a comfortable car that has plenty of storage and plenty of passenger room. Add that to plenty of safety, and you have a hands-down winner if the price tag is in your budget.

** Originally published in print in the Chicago Sun-Times on May 29.