XC60 overtakes iconic 240 as Volvo's best-selling model
Since its debut in 2008, Volvo Cars' mid-size SUV has remained a favourite among customers, appealing to a wide range of drivers who value safety, quality and a premium driving experience.
Initially built exclusively in Europe, the XC60 later became the first global Volvo model to also be produced in China, supporting local sales.
In 2018, it was named World Car of the Year.
The current generation XC60 introduced plug-in hybrid drivetrains to a broader audience, and it was the best-selling plug-in hybrid in Europe last year.
"Growing up in Sweden in the 1980s, the Volvo 240 was the iconic family car - you could spot one in almost every driveway," said Susanne Hägglund, head of global offer at Volvo.
"Today the XC60 has taken over that position in two ways. Not only as the family favourite, but also becoming our all-time top-seller, which in itself is the ultimate proof point of a successful car."
The perfect family car
The XC60 is the ideal all-rounder for families, effortlessly combining cutting-edge safety features, Scandinavian design and SUV practicality into one confident package.
It has rightfully earned its position as a cornerstone in Volvo Cars' proud tradition of building cars that families trust.
For years, the Volvo 240 estate was the most popular choice for families all over the world, loved for its safety qualities and fine driving characteristics. In many people's eyes, it defined what an estate car should be.
Today, the SUV has replaced the estate as the obvious family pick, and the XC60's new status as Volvo's best-selling model of all time clearly reflects this shift in what customers want and need.
Many who grew up with the Volvo 240 are now choosing the XC60 for their own families.
And just like the 240 helped shape their childhoods, today's XC60 is creating memories for a new generation.
Two cars, one safety heritage
When the Volvo 240 was introduced in 1974, it set safety benchmarks that would remain relevant for decades.
For its time, it featured an advanced body design with front and rear crumple zones, along with a reinforced passenger compartment. This kind of safety cage continues to protect Volvo occupants on the road today.
The 240 was also among the first cars to incorporate enhanced side-impact protection, which later evolved into Volvo's patented Side-Impact Protection System.
Additionally, the introduction of the Child Booster Cushion in 1978 marked a world-first innovation.
The XC60 has continued to introduce numerous advanced safety technologies, such as City Safety – the world's first standard low-speed automatic emergency braking system designed to help avoid or mitigate a collision at speeds up to 30 km/h.
Launched in 2008, this feature has since become commonplace on new cars around the world.
In another world-first, the XC60 introduced Oncoming Lane Mitigation in 2017 with a system capable of steering you back into your lane if you drift into oncoming traffic.
These innovations have earned the car several independent safety awards.
Just as the 240 was at the time, the refreshed Volvo XC60 is one of the safest cars on the road.
With its advanced safety cage and the latest active safety and driver support tech, it's designed to help protect you and your passengers.
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Free Malaysia Today
16-07-2025
- Free Malaysia Today
Volvo takes US$1.2bil hit from US tariffs, product delays
Volvo Cars intended to introduce the ES90 luxury sedan to the US market next year, alongside the EX90 all-electric SUV. (Volvo pic) STOCKHOLM : Volvo said on Monday it is booking a US$1.2-billion charge because of US tariffs and production delays that are hitting its two latest electric-powered cars. 'Due to import tariffs the company is currently unable to sell the Volvo ES90 profitably in the US, while ES90 margins are also under pressure in Europe for the same reason,' the carmaker said in a statement to investors. In the US, Volvo has to grapple with a 25% import tariff decided by US President Donald Trump in April. Volvo Cars – owned by China's Geely automotive group – had planned to sell its ES90 luxury sedan in the US from next year for a price starting around US$75,000. It was to join the Volvo EX90 all-electric SUV that it started selling this year from US$81,000. But the company said EX90 launch delays and additional development costs, and the tariff barriers to selling the ES90, meant 'we have reassessed volume assumptions for these two cars' and would have to take a non-cash impairment charge. The one-off non-cash impairment charge of SEK 11.4 billion (US$1.2 billion) will be booked in the second quarter of 2025. The carmaker's chief financial officer, Fredrik Hansson, said the tariffs and the production delays have 'resulted in a lower than planned lifecycle profitability'. Volvo makes cars in several plants around the world, including in South Carolina in the US, as well as in Sweden and in China. The company's CEO, Hakan Samuelsson, said in early April that Volvo would increase auto production in the US plant and would likely move ES90 manufacturing there. In late May, the company announced it was cutting 3,000 jobs, around 15% of its office-based workforce, nearly half of them in Sweden.
Daily Express
15-07-2025
- Daily Express
Volvo takes US$1.2 billion hit from US tariffs, product delays
Published on: Tuesday, July 15, 2025 Published on: Tue, Jul 15, 2025 By: AFP Text Size: Volvo Cars intended to introduce the ES90 luxury sedan to the US market next year, alongside the EX90 all-electric SUV. (Volvo pic) STOCKHOLM: Volvo said on Monday it is booking a US$1.2-billion charge because of US tariffs and production delays that are hitting its two latest electric-powered cars. 'Due to import tariffs the company is currently unable to sell the Volvo ES90 profitably in the US, while ES90 margins are also under pressure in Europe for the same reason,' the carmaker said in a statement to investors. Advertisement In the US, Volvo has to grapple with a 25% import tariff decided by US President Donald Trump in April. Volvo Cars – owned by China's Geely automotive group – had planned to sell its ES90 luxury sedan in the US from next year for a price starting around US$75,000. It was to join the Volvo EX90 all-electric SUV that it started selling this year from US$81,000. But the company said EX90 launch delays and additional development costs, and the tariff barriers to selling the ES90, meant 'we have reassessed volume assumptions for these two cars' and would have to take a non-cash impairment charge. The one-off non-cash impairment charge of SEK 11.4 billion (US$1.2 billion) will be booked in the second quarter of 2025. The carmaker's chief financial officer, Fredrik Hansson, said the tariffs and the production delays have 'resulted in a lower than planned lifecycle profitability'. Volvo makes cars in several plants around the world, including in South Carolina in the US, as well as in Sweden and in China. The company's CEO, Hakan Samuelsson, said in early April that Volvo would increase auto production in the US plant and would likely move ES90 manufacturing there. In late May, the company announced it was cutting 3,000 jobs, around 15% of its office-based workforce, nearly half of them in Sweden.
New Straits Times
12-07-2025
- New Straits Times
Rear seatbelt use in Malaysia drops from 20pct to 2pct in 16 years
KUALA LUMPUR: The rate of car rear seat belt use has plummeted to a mere two per cent from the 20 per cent recorded in 2009, when the regulation came into force. The finding was made by Universiti Putra Malaysia's Associate Professor Dr Law Teik Hua in a recent survey. Law, the head of UPM's Road Safety Research Centre, said the drop was believed to stem from public attitudes and weak enforcement. "Many rear passengers assume the front seats will shield them in the event of an accident. But the reality is quite the opposite. "During a crash, passengers in the back may tumble or be thrown about and anything can happen. "While the public often expresses grief when seeing accidents, deaths or injuries, the sentiment typically fades within five minutes, causing people to overlook the importance of wearing seatbelts," he said. He was speaking during an interview on the "Selamat Pagi Malaysia" programme aired on Radio Televisyen Malaysia (RTM) today. Rear seat belt regulations were enforced on Jan 1, 2009, under the Motor Vehicles (Seat Belt) (Amendment) Rules 2008. Those who fail to wear front or rear seat belts can be fined up to RM2,000 or jailed for up to six months upon first conviction. Repeat offenders face a maximum RM4,000 fine, a jail term of up to 12 months, or both. Law said using a seat belt could prevent drivers and passengers from being hurled out of the vehicle during a crash and improve survival rates by three to five times. "There have been many cases where children in the rear seats, who were not wearing seatbelts, died after colliding with their parents sitting in front. "If you're not buckled up and a crash occurs, even if you're not thrown out of the vehicle, you'll likely collide with other passengers in the front or back. "For example, if the passenger weighs 70kg and the vehicle is travelling at 90kph during impact, the collision force can reach up to 2,000kg. "This is the kind of impact that causes passengers to be thrown out, and is often the reason why so many bus passengers die in accidents," he said. He added that compliance varies between urban and rural populations. "Older individuals, in particular, tend to dismiss the need for rear seat belts because they use village roads regularly and think it's not a problem. "There's also a misconception that vehicle safety features are sufficient, which is misleading. "For instance, Volvo cars are rated among the safest due to their structural strength. But this doesn't mean a Volvo occupant involved in an accident won't die.
