Volvo V60
Geraldine Herbert finds that the V60 oozes quality, is a beautiful comfortable car and is very engaging and pleasant to drive.
If every Volvo had an opportunity to showcase how far estate cars have evolved it is with the V60. Designed to attract a different kind of buyer the V60s curvier and sportier package epitomizes their ongoing efforts to update and revamp the image of the Swedish brand.
The Volvo V60 enters a segment dominated by the German triumvirate, BMW, Mercedes and Audi and aims to match and beat on safety, comfort and practicality. Visually the V60 like the S60 saloon has smart and distinctive lines. To fans of the marque the V60 feels familiar and has been beautifully styled and offers effortless practicality.
As you would expect, it boasts a host of standard safety features and driver assistance aids with Volvo’s City Safety system, emergency brake light system, ABS, eight airbags, a whiplash protection system, electronic stability control, traction control and rollover protection. Volvo interiors are a lesson in elegant minimalism and the V60 is no exception. Despite the tucked-in tail, the V60′s boot is a very usable 430 litres with the seats up. The rear seat splits 40/20/40 and can be folded to create a totally flat load bay. The back of the front passenger seat folds forward to allow for extra large loads however space in the back is a little tight and feels slightly cramped.
On the trim front, there are five options: S, ES, SE, SE Lux and R-Design. Standard equipment is impressive, with a multitude of airbags, 16in aluminium wheels, cruise control, heated washer nozzles, IDIS, seat belt reminders and single zone temperature controls, to name but a few.
There are currently three engines to choose from, one petrol and two diesels. The T4 a 1.6-litre engine, both with the choice of a six-speed manual or automatic box, On the diesel front, both the D5 2.4-litre turbo and the D3 2-litre option are available with the choice of gearboxes, This month sees the addition of the D2 engine (1560cc with 115bhp) to the S60 and V60 Ranges. In terms of Co2 emissions the DRIVe S60 & V60 are both sub 120g and therefore fall into Band A
The 1,984cc, 5-cylinder diesel-powered test car would be our pick of the bunch. With 163bhp and 400Nm of torque the D3 makes the trip from standstill to 100kph in 9.4 seconds and combines this with excellent economy and emissions. As can be expected from a company renowned for its safety, the brakes are excellent and supremely reassuring. The steering is light and gives reasonable feedback. Our test car was priced at ¤42,730 but the range starts at ¤34,000
Smooth, pleasant to drive and smart-looking V60 may be, but it doesn’t compromise on traditional Volvo safety. With the V60 and the S60 saloon Volvo, bridges the gap between the sporty S80 sedan and practical V70, The Volvo V60 Plug-In Hybrid which allows the driver chooses the preferred driving mode via three buttons on the instrument panel – Pure, Hybrid and Power will be an exciting boast to the range when the model reaches showrooms in 2012. It has the capacity to be driven as a pure electric car (range 50kpm), pure diesel or with both power sources to create an electronically controlled four-wheel drive system.
The V60 oozes quality, is a beautiful comfortable car and is very engaging and pleasant to drive. For anyone looking for an alternative to the reigning triumvirate the V60 is definitely worth considering.
Filed Under: Road Tests
