Volvo V60 – 2019
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 explains Motoring Editor Ian Strachan.
I’ve just tested the middle one of the three – the V60. And the latest iteration is very good indeed. This premium mid-range estate looks good, performs well and is packed with technology.
The V60 is elegant in the extreme, with clean lines and sporty styling, and the extra safety features of this car 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. 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.
I drove the 2.0 litre 190 bhp diesel version which pulls well throughout the range and is very smooth. It comes married to a pleasant eight-speed automatic gearbox. Fuel economy is good, returning an impressive 61.4 mpg in mixed driving. Carbon emissions are 122 g/km..
Equipment levels on the D4 Inscription Pro specification which I tested are good, with 17 inch alloy wheels, voice-activated controls, European satellite navigation with traffic information, Volvo On-Call connectivity enabling smartphone, tablet or smart-watch remote control of some car functions, internet browsing, automatic stop/start, automatic two-zone climate control, electric folding door mirrors, and all-round electric windows and powered tailgate coming as standard. You also get cruise control with speed limiter, blind-spot warning, adaptive cruise control and rear parking sensors.
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 D4 Inscription Pro automatic will take up £40,860 of your disposable income. The range starts at £31,810 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 £10,000 of extras including powered folding rear seats backrests and headrests, cross traffic alert, powered tilt and slide sunroof, park assist pilot with 360 degree cameras, automatic parking, laminated side and rear windows, a superb 1,100 watt 15 speaker Bowers and Wilkins sound system (£2,500 extra), metallic paint and a proper spare wheel.
