Volvo V60 (2018-2023) - Practicality, comfort and boot space

The V60 sets a practicality benchmark in the compact executive class. It’s a bigger car than key rivals and it makes the most of those dimensions inside. Boot and passenger space are better than you’ll find elsewhere, while comfortable seats mean the Volvo is a great place to while away motorway miles on a long journey. 

Size

At 4,761mm long and 1,916mm wide, the V60 is longer and a touch wider than its rivals – and much larger than the model it replaces. It’s 180mm shorter than the V90, which isn't that much really. You also sit a bit lower in the V60 than the V90 – in keeping with Volvo saying this is its most dynamic car yet. 

Leg room, head room & passenger space

Space in the cabin is good, with a six-foot passenger able to sit comfortably behind a six foot driver with an inch or so to spare. Foot space is a little tight if the front seat is in its lowest position, while the centre tunnel further restricts things, especially if someone is sat in the middle seat. Here, shoulder room is okay, but you’ll struggle to adopt a knees together pose due to the transmission tunnel running down the middle of the car.

As with all Volvos, there’s plenty of storage space, with a cubby between the front seats, a good glovebox and door bins.

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Boot

The upright boot door in the V60 pays dividends when it comes to luggage space – at 529 litres (rising to 1,441 litres with the rear seats folded flat – a process that couldn’t be easier) it’s one of the biggest in the class, all achieved while retaining a pretty sleek looking exterior. An excellent trait the PHEV model possesses is that the battery doesn’t encroach on boot space, so the T6 and T8 also have the same storage capacity. However, it's important to note that the cheaper Volkswagen Passat Estate offers a whopping 650 litres of boot space, while the Peugeot 508 SW has 530 litres.

The rear seats fold electrically in some models and fold completely flat with headrests automatically tucking out of the way. And in true Volvo fashion, plenty of details have been thought through – like the fold up shopping area with elasticated strap to stop your groceries flying around the boot. That’s especially handy as it’s a long way to lean into the boot to retrieve items if they have rolled to the farthest reaches of the load bay.