Volvo V60: Nothing Staid or Stodgy About This Station Wagon

by Zack Spencer on Friday, April 24th, 2015

“If you like a sporty and great handling car with supremely comfy seats and enough power for any task, this V60 T6 is fantastic.”

2015 Volvo V60

2015 Volvo V60

2015 Volvo V60

2015 Volvo V60

2015 Volvo V60

2015 Volvo V60

2015 Volvo V60

 

 

Canadians have fallen in love with small SUVs but there is still a small, hardcore group of family station wagon fans.

Volkswagen has continued to produce a wagon in the Golf line for years, and there are a few premium offerings like the BMW 3 Series wagon and Mercedes E-Class, but even the wagon is getting the crossover treatment with cars like the Subaru Outback, the Audi Allroad and even the larger Volvo CX70.

The list of wagons really is rather small. There is one new entry into this club that should be considered by anyone who wants the versatility of a wagon but yearns for the precise handling that a sedan offers, the Volvo V60.

Looks

Volvo, as a brand has been struggling in North America due to the lack of fresh, new products. In a few months, the outdated, twelve-year-old CX90 SUV will be replaced with an all-new model. To help keep the product lineup somewhat fresh, Volvo has introduced this V60, the wagon version of the S60 sedan. Yes, a limited market but for those that like a wagon, this is a very nice option. The lines are sleek and stylish and the R Design model, seen here, has larger 18-inch or optional 19-inch wheels and a suspension that sits a tad lower. The back sports meaty looking exhaust tips and the front has a two-tone spoiler to help round out the dynamic look.

This setup will cost a whopping $51,700. To be fair, the base model without the R design and smaller engine and front wheel drive starts at $40,200.

Inside

What Volvo does better than most car companies is create interior designs that really stand out and provide optimal comfort. Buyers can look everywhere and have a hard time finding seats that are more comfortable than Volvo Seats, especially these sportier R Design seats. The dash is well designed with a centre console that has easy to understand graphics and layout. The dash and doors are covered in soft touch materials. This, along with polished metal trim makes the interior look and feel rich. The graphics in the instrument cluster are projected onto a screen with a modern feel that brings this car up to date. The screen in the centre of the dash is a different story, looking rather small by today’s standards. The back seat has plenty of room, even for adults, but because of the curvy exterior shape, the back cargo area isn’t as roomy as the rather square VW Golf Sportwagon.

Drive

The V60 is available with a number of engine choices and the base engine might just be the best overall value. It comes with a 2.0L direct injection turbocharged 4-cylinder, putting out 240hp. This base T5 Drive-E unit is only available with front wheel drive but comes with an 8-speed automatic; all the other V60s come with a 6-speed unit. The next step up is the T5 all wheel drive with a turbocharged 2.5L 5-cylinder with just slightly more power at 250hp. The top model is the T6 R Design with a 300hp turbocharged 6-cylinder. What this car has is standard AWD and a refined ride that produces smiles at every corner. The way Volvo has been able to marry comfort and handling performance and grip is superb.

Verdict

To counteract the wagon stigma, Volvo has even added a crossover version of this wagon called the V60 Cross Country. If you like a sporty and great handling car with supremely comfy seats and enough power for any task, this V60 T6 is fantastic.

Contact: zack [dot] spencer [at] drivewaybc [dot] ca

The Lowdown

Power: 2.0L with 240hp, 2.5L with 250hp and 3.0L with 300hp

Fill-up: 9.8L/6.6L/100km (city/highway)

Sticker price: $40,200-$51,700