THE original, nine-year-old XC60 made up about one-third (or nearly a million units) of Volvo’s total global sales, so it is a crucial model for the Swedish automaker.

Which is why they equipped the new XC60 with advanced amenities and the latest technologies, most of which come from the current XC90, one of the most capable and complete SUVs in the world right now.

For instance, the modular platform and 2-litre 4-cylinder T6 powertrain of the new XC60 are shared with the XC90.

But the XC60’s size and shape are much closer to its predecessor’s. Compared to the XC90, the body of the new XC60 is smaller, curvier, and creased more dramatically. Its front end has an even more striking variation of the XC90’s “Thor’s hammer” headlight design, while its tail-lights, tailpipes and tailgate have their own distinctive, attractive designs.

Interestingly, the new XC60’s dashboard looks like the V90 station wagon’s instead of the XC90’s. And the new cockpit is much better than the previous XC60’s in every way except one – familiarisation, which takes longer because there are several more systems to suss out and a lot more gadgets to use than in the previous XC60.

Familiarising myself with the car’s cockpit takes longer than before, but it isn’t harder, because I do it from a fantastic driver’s seat.

The seat not only offers a sweetSwede combination of comfort and support, but also provides numerous powered adjustments, including to the cushion extension, so as to accommodate this/any driver’s body shape and preferred sitting position.

The driver’s seat even has a multi-mode massage function. It’s like having a personal Swedishmassage parlour behind the wheel, and you can play your private spa muzak through the stereo system.