By Ian Strachan.
The Volvo family of estates – the V40, the V60 and V90 have developed a style all of their own. They are very classy vehicles, with the only major difference being in size. In terms of quality, sophistication and consistency they leave most of their competitors in their wake.
And now they are available as plug-in hybrids. I tested the V60 Recharge R-Design which has a 253 hp two-litre petrol engine assisted by an 87 hp 65kw electric motor giving you a maximum combined economy figure – providing you keep the battery topped up – of 156.7 mpg.
On top of its green credentials, the premium mid-range V60 estate looks good, performs well and is packed with technology. This car is elegant in the extreme, with clean lines and sporty styling, and the extra safety features of this Volvo are class-leading.
While unmistakably a Volvo, the V60 has a refined, up-to-date look. And the interior moves Volvo design on even more, with some interesting and attractive features, with most things controlled from a central nine-inch iPad-style touchscreen with voice control. The interior has a light and airy feel to it, with an interactive dashboard display which is both comprehensive and clear.
Seating is comfortable for five adults, and load carrying capacity is good with extra capacity beneath the boot floor. A split rear seat expands luggage capacity even more.
Handling is predictable and solid, giving the driver a good feel of the road. Steering is responsive, with just the amount of power assistance you need. All wheel drive is standard on this model, giving added traction and certainty.
The T6 specification I tested came with a pleasant eight-speed automatic gearbox.
Standard equipment levels are good, with 19 inch alloy wheels (a £550 option over the standard 18-inch), European satellite navigation with traffic information, Volvo On-Call connectivity enabling smartphone, tablet or smart-watch remote control of some car functions, internet browsing, 10-speaker sound system, automatic stop/start, automatic two-zone climate control with air quality system, electric folding door mirrors, and all-round electric windows and powered tailgate coming as standard. You also get cruise control with speed limiter, front and rear parking sensors with rear camera, heated front seats and powered tailgate.
This is a Volvo so you don’t have to worry about safety. Every safety feature that can reasonably be put on this car is there including pedestrian detection, automatic braking, front-collision warning and lane control.
The V60 Recharge Plug-in Hybrid T6 will take up £45,825 of your disposable income. The range starts at £34,870 which is a reasonable price for Volvo quality. Added extras can make big difference to the purchase price so care needs to be taken when choosing which specification appeals to you. My test car came with nearly £5,000 of extras including powered panoramic sunroof, a premium surround sound system, four-zone electronic climate control, active bending headlights with their own cleaning system, heated front screen, steering wheel and rear seats, powered passenger seat with memory, smartphone integration and metallic paint.
