Volvo’s entry into the luxury crossover market, the XC60, gets bolder for 2012. Having built its reputation on family wagons, Volvo sought to break out of that stereotype with this premium utility vehicle, targeted at active, stylish families that don’t like to skimp on quality.

The XC60 comes in a variety of trims, ensuring something for every buyer. The base trim level is the 3.2, which contains a 3.2-liter inline 6-cylinder engine with 240 hp and 236 lb-ft of torque; an AWD version is also available. Then there’s the T6 AWD, which has a 3.0-liter turbocharged 6-cylinder engine with 300 hp and 325 lb-ft of torque. The top trim level is the T6 R-Design, which also has a 3.0-liter AWD drivetrain but it’s been tuned for 325 hp and 354 lb-ft of torque. A respectable 19 mpg city/25 highway is estimated for the 3.2 and 17/23 for the T6. The 3.2 gets standard 17-inch alloy wheels, the T6 18-inch, and 20-inchers for the T6 R-Design.

With the 2012 version, three trim-line subsets are introduced. The Premier (3.2 only) adds leather seating surfaces, a panoramic roof and silver roof rails; the Premier Plus adds goodies such as a 12-volt power outlet, power-operated tailgate and Personal Car Communicator, enabling Star Trek-level remote control of the vehicle; Platinum includes all the other features plus voice-activated navigation control and Volvo’s premier 650-watt sound system (those Swedes know how to rock!). Don’t worry — Bluetooth and an iPod/Auxiliary audio input jack come standard for all trims.

Optional packages abound, with Climate (heated seats, headlight washers, rain sensing wipers), Technology (adaptive cruise control and lane-departure warning), and for the T6 AWD Dynamic (4-C chassis, xenon gas headlights); individual options include 18-inch alloy wheels for the 3.2, wood décor and child boosters.

All in all, this isn’t your parents’ Volvo. It is hip and modern inside and out, although it still maintains that classic (some might say ugly) logo right in the middle of the grille. The whole family will love this roomy car, with its 67.4 cubic feet of cargo space. The driver’s seat sits in one of the coolest looking cockpits out there right now, almost Apple-like in its clean, classy design.

Drivers report a better ride, stronger pickup and smoother handling from this model. It’s still an SUV, so turns will always be an issue, but the engineers have improved performance considerably.

Volvo always prides itself on unique safety innovations, and the 2012 XC60 is no exception. Standard for all models this year is the City Safety system, which uses sensors to detect if traffic is slowed or stopped ahead. This feature is automatically triggered below 19 mph and can soften or completely avoid impact by reducing speed. Optional safety features include pedestrian and/or high-speed collision detection with automatic braking and blind-spot monitoring. All trims come standard with front seat side-impact and side-curtain airbags.

With its sleek looks, comfortable seating and gentle ride, the 2012 XC60 is one of the coolest SUVs on the market.