AutoTrader SCORE
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STYLING9/10
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Safety9/10
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PRACTICALITY9/10
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USER-FRIENDLINESS7/10
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FEATURES8/10
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POWER9/10
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COMFORT8/10
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DRIVING FEEL7/10
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FUEL ECONOMY8/10
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VALUE8/10
Volvo and wagons is about as synonymous as Sweden and meatballs, so it makes sense that this brand is one of the few that still offers a proper long-roof vehicle.
For drivers who want a stylish and practical vehicle, the 2024 Volvo V60 Recharge checks plenty of boxes. And our experts agree: the V60 was voted as the winner of the Best Wagon in the 2024 AutoTrader Awards, with this plug-in hybrid (PHEV) version adds efficiency to the mix, too.
Styling: 9/10
Classically handsome with excellent proportions, the V60 is sure to age gracefully. The overall aesthetic has a timelessness, with clean lines instead of the trends of the day, which can leave vehicles looking dated only a few years into their lives. The V60 looks smart from all angles, with the nicely styled wheels pushed out far towards the car’s corners, and an instantly recognizable lighting signature.
Inside, this tester’s yellow seat belts give the serious cabin a pop of joy, while the crystal gear selector feels luxurious to use and shines beautifully when the light hits it just right. I wish there was less glossy black plastic used on the dashboard and centre console, because it cheapens the look and attracts dust and fingerprints too easily.
Power: 9/10
The V60 Recharge is a PHEV powered by a turbocharged 2.0L four-cylinder engine and an electric motor fed by a 18.8-kWh battery. Total system output is 455 hp and 523 lb-ft of torque. All-wheel drive is standard, and an eight-speed automatic transmission makes it all work together.
The combination of turbocharging and electric power provides instantaneous acceleration, and torque delivery is smooth and consistent. The four-cylinder sounds a bit gruff at full throttle, but there’s more than enough power for highway passing and getting up to speed easily.
Fuel Economy: 8.5/10
PHEVs are an excellent solution to driving more efficiently, especially if you’re not ready to make the leap into a full electric vehicle (EV). However, this relies on plugging it in to recharge the battery as much as possible so you can take advantage of the V60 Recharge’s 64 km of electric driving range and maximize your efficiency. Even if you choose not to run it solely on battery power, having it charged up will reduce how much gas you’re consuming, but it’s conceivable that you could drive around and complete all your errands without burning a single drop of fuel.
The V60 Recharge is officially rated at 8.0 L/100 km in the city, 7.2 on the highway, and 7.6 combined, or 3.0 litres equivalent per 100 km combined as an EV. After 1,200 km of mixed driving and one and a half charges, I only managed 8.2 L/100 km. I expected better, even without charging, but after one full charge and driving in the default hybrid mode for about 100 km, fuel economy dropped to 7.1 L/100 km.
The V60 Recharge requires premium fuel – even more motivation to keep it charged up as often as possible.
Driving Feel: 7.5/10
This PHEV wears a Polestar Engineered badge, which means it has some performance enhancements. I love the use of a PHEV powertrain to augment performance, and it’s very well-executed here. However, the Polestar-tuned chassis that’s supposed to offer a balance of agility and comfort goes too far into the handling side and ride comfort is seriously compromised as a result. Combined with the 19-inch wheels, the stiff suspension causes the car to crash over broken roads and railroad tracks, making the ride really jarring. The payoff in handling is almost worth it, because this wagon feels confident in a corner, but the steering is too lifeless even in its firmest setting to make the V60 convincing as a performance vehicle.
Comfort: 8/10
Except for the stiff ride, the V60 is very comfortable. The seats are cozy but supportive, and occupants have lots of head- and legroom in the front and back. The front seats are heated and ventilated, and the rear seats come heated as standard as well.
Because it’s a PHEV, drivers can remain in a climate-controlled cabin even when the engine is shut off (assuming the battery has enough juice), or pre-condition the cabin while charging or pre-warm the heated seats and steering wheel without idling or wasting fuel, all of which is accessible through a companion smartphone app. An air purifier is also included for filtering particles and allergens, going an extra step to improve comfort.
Features: 8/10
The Volvo V60 has nearly everything you’d expect in a vehicle like this, but doesn’t have anything too flashy or gimmicky, which is fine because it focuses on practicality and safety.
Some standard feature highlights include an air purifier, Google Assistant, power hands-free tailgate, heated front seats, head-up display, and more.
Safety: 9/10
Safety is perhaps even more synonymous with Volvo than wagons, and the Swedish brand delivers on this because its reputation demands it. The V60 comes standard with every piece of safety tech Volvo has to offer, including a surround-view parking cameras, blind-spot monitoring with rear cross-traffic alert, lane keeping assistance, automatic emergency braking, oncoming collision mitigation, front, rear, and side parking sensors, road sign recognition, adaptive cruise control with stop-and-go capability, and more. The sensors and systems work accurately without being too jarring.
Practicality: 9/10
Wagons are practical by nature. With a huge cargo hold, a lower load floor than a taller SUV, and a shorter stance that makes accessories or cargo easier to load onto a roof rack, it’s a shame wagons like the V60 aren’t more popular.
The V60 has a cargo capacity of 648 L, which expands to 1,431 L with the second-row seats folded flat. The handles to fold the rear seat flat are located in the trunk, and I love that the release also tumbles the headrests so they don’t get caught on the front seatbacks. The seats fold in a 60/40 split, but there’s a pass-through in the middle for skis or other long items.
Front-seat occupants also get cubbies for small items, a retractable cover for the cupholders, and deep door pockets big enough for water bottles.
User-Friendliness: 7/10
The Volvo V60’s infotainment runs an older version of Google software built specifically for automotive applications. While this means there’s no Android Auto, Apple CarPlay is included. Certain functions, like navigation, benefit hugely from the innate user-friendliness of the integrated Google Maps, but the rest of the infotainment system would benefit from being more straightforward. Trying to navigate through the system, some functions aren’t where you expect them to be and the menus aren’t always logical, but I’m glad for the home button and that the touchscreen works if you tap with your nails versus a fingertip.
The customizable digital instrument cluster shows lots of useful information and even navigation directions, which means you don’t have to rely on the central touchscreen and flip back and forth between screens, minimizing distractions. The head-up display also shows turn-by-turn directions.
During my two-week test, the infotainment system glitched out a couple times, either freezing or displaying nothing but a black screen, the locks and trunk functions were finicky, and the reverse camera was inoperable twice as well. There was also some unfortunate squeaking coming from the rear-view mirror surround.
Value: 8/10
The 2024 Volvo V60 Recharge only comes in a single fully-loaded trim for $77,500 plus the $2,620 destination fee. It’s the only PHEV wagon available, so it has no natural competitors, but a topline Audi A4 Allroad that’s around the same size is much cheaper, starting at $64,265 before destination. Of course, that doesn’t have a gas-electric powertrain like this V60, though.
For the price, I would have liked to see better fit and finish and more luxurious materials used inside. The 2024 Volvo V60 Recharge is no longer eligible for federal or provincial EV incentives.
The Verdict
As a practical, handsome, and efficient vehicle, the 2024 Volvo V60 Recharge hits the brief, but as a luxury vehicle it leaves a bit to be desired. I wish it was more well-rounded with a higher-quality attention to detail, but none of the V60’s downsides are deal-breakers, and the whole experience it offers still allows its strengths to shine brightly.
| Engine Displacement | 2.0L |
|---|---|
| Engine Cylinders | Turbo I4 PHEV |
| Peak Horsepower | 455 hp @ 6,000 rpm net |
| Peak Torque | 523 lb-ft @ 3,000–5,400 rpm net |
| Fuel Economy | 8.0 / 7.2 / 7.6 L/100 km cty/hwy/cmb; 3.0 Le/100 km, 27.2kWh/100 km comb, 64 km range (EV mode) |
| Cargo Space | 648 L /1,431 L seats up/down |
| Model Tested | 2024 Volvo V60 Recharge T8 AWD Polestar Engineered |
| Base Price | $77,500 |
| A/C Tax | $100 |
| Destination Fee | $2,620 |
| Price as Tested | $80,220 |
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Optional Equipment
None
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