HARPER’S BAZAAR SEPTEMBER 2018 225L I FE
T h e Fa s h i o n a b l e
GR E AT E X PECTATIONS
Elyza Khamil takes the all-new Volvo XC60 T8
Twin Engine Inscription Plus for a drive along
scenic highways and across towns to Ipoh.I
’ll be honest: I’ve never driven an SUV. A single gal without a small family of my own,
there is no real reason to, is there? So you can imagine, as someone used to my zippy
little sports cars, knowing that I had to make a semi-long-haul all-girls road trip to Ipoh
with the Volvo XC60 T8 Twin Engine Inscription Plus was a little nerve-racking.
Unfounded fears, I soon find out, as soon as I ease into the driver’s seat, and sink
comfortably into the soft, supple nappa leathers. The beautifully designed dashboard,
with its unpolished, charming driftwood inlays, complements the brushed metal
accents and detailing. Everything is at my fingertips, too. The touchscreen centre
display is the heart of the XC60, which the driver uses to interact with the car in every way possible.
Music is essential to any road trip, and hooking up my phone to the XC60’s top-of-the-range Bowers
& Wilkins sound system is a seamless experience. I press play on Fleetwood Mac’s “Dreams”, and
it’s all systems go.
As I’m cruising to Ipoh, the highway—as expected—is gridlocked with vehicles. Good thing that
the handy Pilot Assist feature helps to make driving in heavy traffic less tiring, as the semi-
autonomous drive technology keeps me at a set speed and distance to the vehicle in front of me, using
steering inputs to ensure I’m in the centre of my lane as well. The City Safety feature, a Volvo Cars
innovation, has me avoiding potential dangers, too, as it uses radar and camera technology to identify
other vehicles that would be in my blind spot—particularly helpful in navigating the smaller roads
within the city.
The journey is made more efficient with the choice of drive modes that allow me to adapt my
driving experience—on the highway, while on Power mode, the turbocharged, supercharged petrol
engine and powerful electric motor work together to give an instantaneous response when
accelerated. And within the city, on the electric-only Pure mode, the XC60 is
zero-emission only while traveling in near-silent luxury—win.
One real worry I had about driving the XC60 was the thought of
parking it. Thankfully, for parking-challenged folks such as yours
truly, the Park Assist Pilot enables me to park the car perfectly, every
time, using sensors to gauge the size of available spaces as you drive
past them and indicating when a lot is big enough. All I have to do
is follow the instructions on the screen and operate the gears and
brakes as the car steers itself into the space.
The Volvo XC60 is a clever companion that is practical, safe,
and extremely desirable. With the ample space, technology with a
human touch, class-leading safety, and semi-autonomous help, it’s
safe to say that this Scandinavian automobile does not dissapoint. If
this is what SUV-living is like, I’m in. g Priced at RM343,888 on-the-
road, without insurance. http://www.volvocars.com/myFrom highway-cruising to city-slicking,
the Volvo XC60 T8 Twin Engine
Inscription Plus is equipped for the jobVolvo’s illuminated
Orrefors crystal gear
continues to steal
the spotlight
Explore tiny alleyways ... and the
treasure trove that is Concubine Lane.
Whimsy and wit come together along a
lane soaked in history and colour.
Unwind in comfort ... at M Roof
Hotel & Residences, where cool,
contemporary vibes make it a home
away from home. For a midday respite,
check out the bohemian chic
Indulgence Restaurant & Living.
Sink into luxury ... at The Banjaran
Hotsprings Retreat and discover the
healing powers of the natural hot
spring, as well as ancient local rituals.
For more on BAZAAR Cities, log on to
harpersbazaar.myIPOH WITH
SOPHIA KHAN
The founder of online education
platforms Classruum and
Brainbox takes BAZAAR
around her hometown.Sophia Khan lounges in M Roof
Hotel & Residences