Is popular premium station wagon really good?
The Swedish brand is doing good business in the Netherlands with the Volvo V60. It will come as no surprise to anyone that the station wagon sells about six times as well as the sedan version S60, with which you are more likely to be speechless at a well-known Swedish furniture store. Now that we have named that cliché, let’s move on to reality: how do owners and users experience their Volvo V60?
The current Volvo V60 has been running since 2018. It has never become as popular as its predecessor, although that is mainly because the plug-in hybrid diesels enjoyed a substantial tax incentive at the time. Speaking of diesels: unlike the new S60, which was never supplied with a diesel engine, you could still get the V60 with D3 or D4 diesel until 2020. Of course there are also plug-in hybrids again, now ‘just’ with a petrol engine. The most powerful V60 Plug-in Hybrid delivers an output of no less than 455 hp.
Space and ease of use
If you compare the sales figures of the Volvo S60 and V60, practicality seems to be an important purchasing argument. On that point, the car scores reasonably well, at least better than the model it succeeds. “The car is bigger than its predecessor,” writes a user who previously drove a 2013 V60, “and this has the great advantage that I (1.90 meters tall) can sit behind myself in this car, although still not roomy.” He does make a comment about sitting behind himself: “In the back, the high center tunnel stands out. I haven’t had three passengers in the back seat yet, but I think it will get in the way.” And what about the luggage compartment? “The trunk is roomy, but not as roomy as I expected. For example, it is still puzzling to get a bicycle through the tailgate.”
Although most users are fine with the space, there is one comment that returns in many reviews: the roller cover with which the luggage compartment can be covered. “The luggage cover is not a quality product, it is now in the garage and will probably stay there,” writes this dissatisfied user. Another owner proves that it can be even clearer: “The luggage screen in the trunk is the worst I’ve ever seen – totally impractical, questionable quality, a real miss. Especially given the quality that the interior exudes.”
Seats Volvo V60
We have already seen that a Volvo review cannot do without comments about seats with the Volvo XC60. The same applies to the V60, also in terms of content. Where one owner praises the furniture to heaven, the other is less pleased. “Good seats have always been a showpiece of Volvo. This V60 is no exception. I am 1.95 meters tall and can find a good position behind the wheel. The seat of the chair can tilt, which is important if you are tall, and there is also an extendable part to support your thighs,” writes a satisfied driver.
Less satisfied is the owner who temporarily drives the old model again: “Basically, the seats are excellent, Volvo is also known for that. I only notice that (now that I’m temporarily driving an old model V60 again) I like a softer seat. The new one has harder seats.” The furniture can also differ between versions, as a third owner concludes: “The seats are very comfortable – even after a long drive. I recently sat in an R-Design. Those seats look nicer, but are still too hard for me compared to our Inscription seats.”
Driving comfort and handling
People are more unanimous than about the seating comfort about driving. In general, the driving comfort is appreciated. We also hear positive comments about… the lack of driving noises, although it does matter whether the car is equipped with laminated glass. “This car is made for long journeys,” writes a happy driver of his V60 T5. “The car offers a lot of peace and comfort.”
A sportier T5 Momentum driver appreciates the comfort, but has something to say: “I do find the high weight a point of criticism: if you push it into a corner a little faster, you notice that you are on the road with a heavyweight . I can appreciate a slightly more nimble, sportier car in terms of driving pleasure.”
The V60 R-Design, with its sports suspension, is a bit tighter. If we can believe the next owner, it is even a bit too much. “The chassis is quite hard on the here and there bad Swedish roads, damping is very firm. Every now and then a nasty ‘bonk’ on bad road surfaces. The 19-inch wheels for the summer tires enhance it even more.”
It is striking that choosing larger wheels does not seem to lead to much less comfortable handling, as experienced by drivers who go from 18 to 20 inches. The owner of a 2019 V60 D3, with modest 16-inch wheels, concludes: “The chassis is just very good. The car has relatively firm suspension, but you don’t feel that much, especially on the highway.”
Infotainment and driving assistance
As befits a modern Volvo, the V60 also has a standing multimedia and navigation screen. “I like this in itself, the system is nice and fast and many things can be operated by means of speech”, a user reviews the system in his V60 D3. A few users do think that the system could start up a bit faster.
There is also praise for the audio: “It is striking how good the standard sound system is. That’s better than any system I’ve had before in cars, including branded systems. Full bass, easy to adjust and the telephone conversations are also good for both sides of the line.”
Of course, the Volvo V60 is also equipped with numerous driving assistants. “I drive a lot of highway and autopilot is almost on by default,” writes the owner of his V60 T8 Plug-in Hybrid. “Works well, but watch out for roadworks so that it doesn’t follow the wrong line.” Several users of the system share this experience, with the caveat that the car very often asks to hold the steering wheel. “Every 15 seconds you have to move the steering wheel a little bit to show that you are at the wheel.”
V60: Owners report few problems
As with the XC60, which we reviewed earlier, owners and users report no details. It mainly concerns minor suffering, such as quickly wearing upholstery. “The leather on the driver’s seat has unsightly transverse creases and after 60,000 kilometers it looks fairly worn out,” says this driver. That doesn’t mean every V60 is problem-free. For example, the driver of this 2018 V60 D3 struggled for some time with electronics problems and the hybrid system of this 2021 T6 Recharge sometimes has a mind of its own. Finally, many drivers complain about the fuel economy of their V60, especially the petrol versions. We have already seen that the V60 is not an economy miracle from the fuel consumption recorded by users themselves.
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– Thanks for information from Autoweek.nl