Not so long ago Volvo wagons were as conservative as fluffy slippers. No more - the new V60 jettisons that image with a range of powerful engines, all-wheel-drive and sporty chassis dynamics.
It’s the ‘New’ Volvo and the V60 demands consideration by buyers contemplating a European wagon. And that’s saying something because even Volvo admits the rival German products in this segment are tough competitors.
Volvo V60 Overview
Volvo V60 is sold in five variants with prices ranging from $54,950 to $72,150.
Opening the batting is the Volvo V60 T5, powered by Volvo’s all-new 2.0-litre turbocharged petrol engine and driving the front wheels via the Getrag-developed six-speed Powershift automatic transmission. You can also get a sporty R-Design version of the Volvo V60 T5, priced at $59,150.
Next-up is the Volvo V60 D5, powered by Volvo’s 2.4-litre turbo-diesel and driving all four wheels via a Geartronic six-speed automatic transmission. The Volvo V60 D5 is stickered at $69,950.
The Volvo V60 T6 scores Volvo’s upgraded 3.0-litre, six-cylinder turbocharged engine, also driving all four wheels via the Geartronic six-speeder. The T6 is priced at $67,950 or you can top things off with the R-Design version of the T6 which carries at price tag of $72,150.
The R-Design package includes sports seats, revised instrumentation, a body kit, 18-inch alloy wheels and sports suspension, lowered by 15mm and running stiffer springs and dampers.
A handy option pack is the Driver Support Pack which, for $4,990, brings adaptive cruise control, lane departure and blind sport warning systems.
Interestingly, Volvo includes the rear-view camera in its optional Teknik Pack. Local current affairs media and road safety dramatists should note global research from Volvo – probably the world’s safety leader – says reversing cameras are not the cure-all for infants in driveways and in fact reversing sensors are more effective because they alert the driver, prompting action.
Volvo V60 Engine
The Swedes have equipped the Volvo V60 with an all-turbocharged engine lineup.
Volvo V 60 T5 is powered by an all-new powerplant which is the first of Volvo’s new-generation of compact gasoline turbocharged direct injection (GTDi) engines. The 2.0-litre, four-cylinder delivers 177kW of power at 5,500rpm and peak torque of 320Nm from as low as 1,800rpm.
The all-alloy 2.0-litre returns combined cycle fuel consumption of 8.7l/100kms and accelerates from zero to 100km/h in 7.7 seconds.
Volvo’s ubiquitous five-cylinder, 2.4-litre, twin-turbocharged diesel engine – one of the all-time favourite engines for the Car Showroom team – returns for further duty in the new Volvo V60. With 151kW at 4,000rpm and 420Nm from 1,500rpms, this world famous powerplant returns combined cycle fuel economy of 7.1l/100kms and zero to 100km/h in 8.2 seconds.
Finally, Volvo’s 3.0-litre, six-cylinder turbocharged petrol engine scores an upgrade for its latest installation in the Volvo V60 – power is now 224kW at 5,600rpm and peak torque of 440Nm is available from 2,100rpm. Combined cycle fuel consumption is 10.3l/100kms and zero to 100km/h is achieved in 6.2 seconds.
Volvo V60 The Interior
Volvo says the inspirations for the V60’s design were ‘Scandinavian Landscapes’ and ‘Antique Watches’ and in our opinion it’s the Scandinavian styled interior which really stands the Volvo V60 apart from rival German vehicles. The available light timber trim, stylish seats and trim materials plus excellent soft-feel tactile surfaces all highlight the looks so common in their Swedish homeland.
The leather-wrapped steering wheel (available in a variety of colours) adjusts for rake and reach and combines with either manual or electronic adjustment (depending on the model) to provide the Volvo V60 with a top-notch driving position. On the steering wheel are buttons for cruise control and audio.
To the left, the clever Scandinavian-designed centre console looks great and on top is the 5-inch or 7-inch (again according to the model) full colour screen which includes the satellite navigation (if fitted).
R-Design versions score the extra support of sports front seats – although the standard seats are excellent.
Rear seat space is on par with other European sports wagons in this segment. The rear seat split-folds 40/20/40 for extra luggage and when completely flat, the Volvo V60 affords an impressive 1241-litres of cargo space (430-litres with the seat in place).
Volvo V60 Exterior & Styling
Volvo says while its larger wagons were designed primarily for families, the V60 is the company’s ‘sportswagon’ – styled for ‘enthusiasts’ and ‘pragmatists’. That means ‘early adopters’ who are enthusiastic buyers of anything that’s high-tech and well designed, they’re also passionate and rational.
The V60 shares its front-end looks with Volvo’s sporty S60 sedan – a muscular grille, sculptured bonnet and raked windscreen.
However in the wagon application, that windscreen blends into a curved, coupe-like roof with a rear hatch spoiler and, on the side, sleek looking steeply angled side windows. The rear features a further, contemporary interpretation of Volvo’s distinctive, high-line wagon tail-lights.
Overall the Volvo V60 is 4,628mm long and the wheelbase measures 2,776mm – both identical to the S60.
Volvo V60 On The Road
Car Showroom drove Volvo V60 in both T5 and T6 R-Design variants over some excellent mountain roads between Albury and Mount Beauty.
First-up – the engines.
Volvo’s 2.0-litre, four-cylinder GTDi (a Volvo-developed engine), driving through the twin-clutch six-speed automatic transmission (jointly developed by Volvo and Getrag) is sweet, immensely responsive and refined.
And the turbo six-cylinder, driving all four wheels is a sensational powertrain – its 320Nm gets your attention and its smooth revving is certainly not what you normally associate with Volvo.
Chassis balance in both front-wheel-drive and all-wheel-drive is brilliant – one of the best wagons we have driven – but we would like less assistance/more feel for the T5’s steering.
Volvo’s Australian Managing Director, Matt Braid, said when introducing the V60: “We’re breaking the mould – the traditional, boxy Volvo wagon is no more.”
Based on our first drive of the V60, we reckon he’s spot-on – this fast, classy and refined Swede is very good.
Volvo V60 Challenges
The Volvo V60 T6 R-Design is razor-sharp and one of the sportiest wagons we have driven. However we reckon the steering of the front-wheel-drive T5 is just a bit on the light side.
And – perhaps exaggerated because of the Volvo V60’s overall refinement – we noticed a bit of wind noise around the windscreen/A-pillars.
Volvo V60 Verdict
We’ve long known many within Volvo were keen to tackle their German rivals head-on with competitive, mainstream products - but the company’s previous owners (Ford’s Premier Automotive Group) steered its Swedish colleagues on a different course.
Now with the backing of the Chinese giant Geely, and a new global management team headed by dynamic former Volkswagen executive Stefan Jacoby, Volvo has a fresh, new direction and we can expect more slick products like the V60.
By any measure the Volvo V60 mounts a credible challenge to rival European wagons. We like the looks of the Volvo V60 and we especially loved the on-road dynamics of the six-cylinder, all-wheel-drive T6 R-Design model.
Volvo V60 The Competition
Drivetrains and specifications vary from model to model but consistently the Volvo V60 goes head-to-head with the Alfa Romeo 159 and wagon variants of the Mercedes-Benz C-Class, Audi A4 and BMW 3-Series.
With so much competition amongst big-name European brand wagons, you’ll need to carefully check specification items (such as luggage capacity/ cargo area dimensions) and exact prices for variants specific to your needs.
In our minds the Volvo V60 is ahead on exterior appearance, performance from the range-topping 224kW/440Nm turbo six and its distinctly Scandinavian interior design.
Likes:
Diverse range of engines/drivetrains; classy and contemporary styling; racy R-Design T6
Dislikes:
Steering a tad light in T5; A-pillar wind noise
