Of the small number of car manufacturers that still believe station wagons have a place in their North American lineups, most have found clever ways of marketing them under other names. Volvo almost comes at it from the other direction with its V60, a car that looks more like a compact hatchback that the Swedish company nonetheless markets as a wagon.
Whatever you want to call it, the V60 returns for 2018 with just one change: the entry-level T5 model gains a standard sunroof.
The V60 comes in two other trims, called T5 Dynamic and T6 Dynamic. All use a 2.0L engine that's turbocharged in the T5 to make 250 hp and 258 lb-ft of torque, and the T6 gets a version with turbo- and supercharging (Volvo calls the technology twin-charging) that lends it 302 hp and 295 lb-ft. There's also a Polestar package to amp that motor up to 367 hp and 347 lb-ft. Every V60 uses an eight-speed automatic transmission and AWD.
Other standard features in the T5 are heated and power-adjustable front seats, Sensus infotainment with 7.0-inch touchscreen, power-folding rear headrests, electronic climate control, backup camera, 17-inch wheels and city-speed collision avoidance.
T5 Dynamic trim adds leather seating, active dual xenon headlights with washers, auto-dimming rearview mirror, navigation, digital gauge cluster, 18-inch wheels, blind spot monitor with cross traffic alert, lane change/merge aid, front and rear park assist and R-Design exterior styling cues.
T6 models get automatic engine start/stop, sport chassis tuning, trim-specific 18-inch wheels and steering wheel-mounted shift paddles.
Options include a climate package that adds heat to the rear seats, windshield, steering wheel and washer nozzles. A technology package available in Dynamic models brings active safety features like radar cruise control, collision warning with automatic braking and pedestrian and cyclist detection, lane departure warning with lane keeping aid, road sign information and automatic high beams.
The V60 is a wagon, but a small one whose cargo capacity can't hold a candle to the brand's SUVs or, naturally, its larger V90 model. Rear seat space is limited by the tight cabin, so it wouldn't be ideal for a family car, and the infotainment screen is small by modern standards. However, it's a good-looking car despite wearing a design that dates to 2010 and is reasonably engaging to drive, particularly with the twin-charged engine.
Fuel consumption estimates start at 10.8/7.8 L/100 km (city/highway) in T5 models, while the Polestar-tuned T6 is rated at 11.8/8.5.
This vehicle has not yet been reviewed
