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Volvo V60

New load carrier has the looks, but can it match upmarket rivals on road?

Overall Auto Express rating

3.0

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Opting for a less practical but more stylish design is a brave move by Volvo. The V60 could upset fans of its previous estate models – but with its curvy looks and upmarket cabin, the newcomer should appeal to a  whole new audience of younger buyers. It’s a shame, then, that it doesn’t quite live up to its billing as a driver’s car. Perhaps we’ll reserve judgement on that until we’ve tried the R-Design model. 

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It's the curvy estate that aims to shed Volvo’s sensible image, and Auto Express has driven it first in the UK! But the V60 faces some stiff competition from the Audi A4 Avant and BMW 3-Series Touring – so has it got what it takes to stand out from the crowd?

The Swedish wagon does 
hold an ace up its sleeve that no other estate can match: Volvo’s Pedestrian Detection system, which can apply the brakes if it thinks a collision is imminent. 
In addition, safety systems 
warn if the driver is tired or 
veering out of their lane, and 
also monitor blindspots. 

It all seems very Volvo so 
far. The big changes, though, 
are in the styling and driving experience. Instead of sacrificing looks for pure load-carrying 
ability, designers have included 
a sweeping, coupé-like roofline that’s light years away from 
boxy Volvos of the past, and 
qualifies as the manufacturer’s best-looking estate yet.

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But that doesn’t mean 
it’s not practical. Boot space 
with the rear seats in place is 
557 litres, and folding them 
in a 40:20:40 configuration increases that to 1,241 litres. 

The passenger seat can 
be folded flat, too, so longer items fit in without a problem. There are also plenty of clever extras, including optional twin booster cushions for children 
in the outer rear seats.

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Up front, there’s a fine 
mix of brushed metal inserts, 
soft leather and good-quality plastics. The layout is stylish, 
and up there with the best in terms of build quality and 
general ambience.

Engineers have focused 
on enhancing the driving 
experience, too, but it still 
falls short of rivals such 
as the 3-Series Touring. It’s 
a marked improvement on 
previous Volvo estates, yet 
while the steering is responsive, it doesn’t provide enough feel and could do with more weight. 

The softly sprung suspension causes the V60 to roll during 
hard cornering, and the six-
speed manual box fitted to our model is vague. You’re often 
left unsure of exactly which 
gear you’ve just selected. 

As a result, we’d advise 
you to go for the six-speed 
automatic Geartronic set-up. Although this dents economy 
and costs more, it provides 
quick and seamless shifts. 

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What the V60 lacks in 
handling ability it makes up for 
in comfort and refinement. The suspension does a great job of smoothing bumps in the surface, while road and wind noise levels are among the best in the class. The only slight downside is the 2.0-litre single turbocharged 
diesel engine fitted to our D3 model. It has plenty of pace, with 161bhp and 400Nm of torque 
on offer, but the power tends to arrive and disappear incredibly quickly. It’s also quite loud when pushed hard, even if the sound itself is surprisingly sporty. 

On the plus side, the sprint from 0-60mph takes 8.9 seconds and top speed is 137mph. The V60 is green as well, returning 51.4mpg combined economy 
and emitting 144g/km of CO2. 

Prices start from £24,960 for basic ES models fitted with the D3 engine – and you get plenty 
of equipment for your money. Cruise and climate control, a 
five-inch display screen and heated door mirrors all feature 
on base cars. R-Design models top the range, and come with 
a sporty bodykit and stiffer 
suspension, as well as a set 
of 18-inch alloy wheels.
 
Rival: BMW 320d Touring

The 3-Series is the compact executive load carrier to beat. Its 2.0-litre diesel unit provides plenty of punch, and is clean and efficient, and the Touring drives just as well as the saloon model. Strong residual values complete a winning package

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