Volvo V60

By Andrew English

August 2010

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MEET the best-looking Volvo estate ever – the new V60. While the overall length and wheelbase are the same as those of the S60 saloon, the curving, elegant roof and window lines create the impression that it’s longer and lower than it really is.

But trading sleek looks for Load capacity means this unboxy Volvo is outgunned in the space race – losing out to rivals such as Audi’s A4 Avant. On the plus side, the glassy tailgate gives more than a metre’s width of access to the 430-litre seats-up load area. And if the V60 lacks outright room, it makes up for it in versatility, with rear seats which split and fold, plus a front one that drops totally flat. There is also the option of twin integrated child boosters on the two outer back seats.

Up front, there’s a clear, twin-dial instrument binnacle, and a smoothly curving centre console, with the main switches grouped together in a slightly confusing oblong. It’s all well finished, with soft-touch plastics and linings for the door bins.

A five-inch screen for the radio and air-con is fitted as standard, and there’s an optional seven-inch upgrade for sat-nav and other goodies. The front seats are superbly comfortable with good side support, and there’s enough leg and headroom for six-footers in the rear.

Volvo’s City Safety auto braking system is standard, while a new radar and camera-based collision-warning and pedestrian-detection package comes with the optional adaptive cruise control. The front camera recognises people from their movement, profile and silhouette, and warns and eventually applies the brakes if it thinks you’re not going to.

It’s effective, but seems a little over the top for environments in which you should be looking out for hazards at all times anyway. More impressive is the optional 180-degree front camera, which can ‘see’ into an obscured T-junction before the driver.

There are five petrol engines, ranging from the 150bhp 1.6-litre T3 unit to the 304bhp 3.0 T6. Diesels include the 115bhp 1.6-litre in maximum economy DRIVe configuration and a 163bhp 2.0 D3. There’s also the car driven here – the 2.4-litre D5 twin-turbo five-cylinder diesel, which sends 205bhp to all four wheels via a six-speed automatic transmission.

It’s a charismatic unit with a gruff, offbeat note and huge pulling power, hooked up to a smooth-changing six-speed auto. Sports mode lets you hold on to the gears, and a highly overdriven top ratio enables economical motorway cruising.

While the S60 isn’t as sharp as its sports-saloon rivals, this chassis (derived from that of the S80) suits the V60 much better. It uses MacPherson strut front and independent rear suspension, and the ride suffers on optional 18-inch wheels and tyres. Yet the handling is eager but stable. The steering is direct, if a bit short on feedback, while powerful brakes with a fine, progressive pedal complete the dynamic package.

Rival: Audi A4 Avant
The 240bhp 3.0-litre turbodiesel version of the A4 estate is a great performer. Quattro 4WD gives strong grip in poor conditions and the boot trumps the V60’s, but the Audi isn’t as attractive.