Thanks to our dutiful following of VolvoXC60 on Twitter, we learned today that Rolling Strength’s revolutionary new crossover has made the list of finalists for Motor Trend‘s 2010 SUV of the Year award. Of course to be fair, the XC60 was neither engineered or marketed as an SUV, but the majority of Motor Trend‘s other finalists weren’t either. Given the current market and auto maker’s eagerness to distance themselves from the often negative stigma attached to SUVs, however, MT would be hard pressed to assemble a similarly lengthy list if limiting the criteria to only those vehicles explicitly billed as SUVs. Thus, the one aspect all the candidates have in common is ride height, multi-function capability, and an all wheel drive train.
In addition to the XC60, the other contenders vying for the coveted award include the Toyota 4Runner, Acura ZDX, Audi Q5, Cadillac SRX, Chevrolet Equinox, GMC Terrain, Lexus RX, Lincoln MKT, Mercedes-Benz GLK, and the Subaru Outback – none of which can hold a candle to the XC60′s dazzling debut and bevy of innovative technology.