2019 Volvo V60
#1
2019 Volvo V60
It's telling that Volvo's chosen venue for the global unveiling of its brand-new V60 wagon was the driveway of a typical suburban family home, showing the new V60 in the natural habitat in which it is designed to operate. Very pragmatic. Very Swedish. And revealing of the newfound confidence in Volvo, Chinese owners Geely take an admirably stand-off approach to letting its Scandinavian identity once again define the brand – something the more globally minded Ford and GM failed to appreciate in their respective custodies of Volvo and Saab. The latter disastrously.
Thankfully Volvo survived and is on a roll, a seven-percent boost to sales resulting in production exceeding half a million cars in 2017 and China alone (Volvo's biggest market) seeing a 25.8 per cent year on year increase. Meanwhile a $1.1 billion investment in a new production facility in South Carolina will bring 4,000 jobs and production of the new S60 sedan, underlining the importance of the American market to Volvo's ambitions.
This comes on the back of significant investment and high quality product, the proprietary Scalable Platform Architecture under this new V60 shared with the XC90, S90 and V90 and the new XC60. A pledge to include part-electric propulsion on all new product by 2019 and ambition that no occupant of a Volvo will suffer death or serious injury in an accident post-2020 fulfill its image as an environmentally conscious and safety aware brand. Beyond the worthiness the cars are also more stylish, better equipped and better built than ever.
Highlights of this new V60 include a symbolic break from the Ford era architecture of the outgoing model. Powertrains are Volvo's own, the V60 launching with plug-in hybrid options based on the familiar T6 and T8 Twin Engine AWD options available on the XC60, XC90 and others. T6 gets 340 horsepower and the T8 390 hp, while at launch the sole non-hybrid option will be the 310-hp T6 AWD, all models based around the same turbo/supercharged 2.0-liter gasoline engine. In due course expect a turbo-only, non-hybrid, front-driven T5, and diesel markets will get D3 and D4 options where appropriate. All models in the U.S. will drive through an eight-speed auto.
Losing two inches in wheelbase and seven inches overall to its V90 big brother, this new V60 is still significantly longer, wider and lower than the car it replaces. Criticisms of the existing V60 include a surprising lack of interior space given the practical image, this new one increasing cargo capacity from 43.2 cubic feet to 48.2 and rear legroom by two inches. Like other models on the SPA platform, the V60 runs a quirky, Corvette style transverse leaf spring rear suspension setup.
Those proportions make the new V60 the sleekest Volvo in the range, the brand's newfound confidence reflected in its crisp, modernist styling. Cues like the cool-sounding 'Thor's Hammer' running light signature balance assertiveness to compete with the premium German rivals with a more understated overall look demonstrating Volvo has its own way of playing the same game. Inside and out this is a great looking car, and any worries the puny sounding cylinder count and displacement may not deliver silenced when you hear the hybrid T6 version will blitz 0-62 miles per hour in just 4.8 seconds – a whole second faster than the T5. The rest of the family may not appreciate you nailing sports cars off the line at the lights but the knowledge a Volvo station wagon is capable of such things will put a smile on your face.
Keep that one to yourself. More familiar Volvo attributes are of course present and correct, the new V60 building on the outgoing model's already strong safety offering. The existing standard-fit City Safety system has been expanded, Autobrake interventions now possible when sensors detect pedestrians, bicyclists or large animals. The ability to do the same in the face of oncoming vehicles and mitigate head-on impacts is claimed as a world first. An upgraded Pilot Assist, familiar from the XC60 and others in the current range, is also available and uses steering interventions to counter lane departure and oncoming vehicles. Optionally it can also include Cross Traffic Alert.
All being well these are features you'll never need to test, technology you can appreciate on your daily commute including the latest Sensus infotainment system with its large, vertically oriented touchscreen. As you'd expect, Apple CarPlay, Android Auto and 4G integration are all in place, the screen being your main interaction for everything from navigation to heating and ventilation. The better for realising the clean, uncluttered and typically Scandinavian interior design philosophy that makes other new-school Volvos such relaxing places to rack up the miles.
Pricing and availability are at this stage are not yet available, but by putting a modern twist on its traditional strengths Volvo's revival looks right on course.
Thankfully Volvo survived and is on a roll, a seven-percent boost to sales resulting in production exceeding half a million cars in 2017 and China alone (Volvo's biggest market) seeing a 25.8 per cent year on year increase. Meanwhile a $1.1 billion investment in a new production facility in South Carolina will bring 4,000 jobs and production of the new S60 sedan, underlining the importance of the American market to Volvo's ambitions.
This comes on the back of significant investment and high quality product, the proprietary Scalable Platform Architecture under this new V60 shared with the XC90, S90 and V90 and the new XC60. A pledge to include part-electric propulsion on all new product by 2019 and ambition that no occupant of a Volvo will suffer death or serious injury in an accident post-2020 fulfill its image as an environmentally conscious and safety aware brand. Beyond the worthiness the cars are also more stylish, better equipped and better built than ever.
Highlights of this new V60 include a symbolic break from the Ford era architecture of the outgoing model. Powertrains are Volvo's own, the V60 launching with plug-in hybrid options based on the familiar T6 and T8 Twin Engine AWD options available on the XC60, XC90 and others. T6 gets 340 horsepower and the T8 390 hp, while at launch the sole non-hybrid option will be the 310-hp T6 AWD, all models based around the same turbo/supercharged 2.0-liter gasoline engine. In due course expect a turbo-only, non-hybrid, front-driven T5, and diesel markets will get D3 and D4 options where appropriate. All models in the U.S. will drive through an eight-speed auto.
Losing two inches in wheelbase and seven inches overall to its V90 big brother, this new V60 is still significantly longer, wider and lower than the car it replaces. Criticisms of the existing V60 include a surprising lack of interior space given the practical image, this new one increasing cargo capacity from 43.2 cubic feet to 48.2 and rear legroom by two inches. Like other models on the SPA platform, the V60 runs a quirky, Corvette style transverse leaf spring rear suspension setup.
Those proportions make the new V60 the sleekest Volvo in the range, the brand's newfound confidence reflected in its crisp, modernist styling. Cues like the cool-sounding 'Thor's Hammer' running light signature balance assertiveness to compete with the premium German rivals with a more understated overall look demonstrating Volvo has its own way of playing the same game. Inside and out this is a great looking car, and any worries the puny sounding cylinder count and displacement may not deliver silenced when you hear the hybrid T6 version will blitz 0-62 miles per hour in just 4.8 seconds – a whole second faster than the T5. The rest of the family may not appreciate you nailing sports cars off the line at the lights but the knowledge a Volvo station wagon is capable of such things will put a smile on your face.
Keep that one to yourself. More familiar Volvo attributes are of course present and correct, the new V60 building on the outgoing model's already strong safety offering. The existing standard-fit City Safety system has been expanded, Autobrake interventions now possible when sensors detect pedestrians, bicyclists or large animals. The ability to do the same in the face of oncoming vehicles and mitigate head-on impacts is claimed as a world first. An upgraded Pilot Assist, familiar from the XC60 and others in the current range, is also available and uses steering interventions to counter lane departure and oncoming vehicles. Optionally it can also include Cross Traffic Alert.
All being well these are features you'll never need to test, technology you can appreciate on your daily commute including the latest Sensus infotainment system with its large, vertically oriented touchscreen. As you'd expect, Apple CarPlay, Android Auto and 4G integration are all in place, the screen being your main interaction for everything from navigation to heating and ventilation. The better for realising the clean, uncluttered and typically Scandinavian interior design philosophy that makes other new-school Volvos such relaxing places to rack up the miles.
Pricing and availability are at this stage are not yet available, but by putting a modern twist on its traditional strengths Volvo's revival looks right on course.
#3
#5
Advanced
I love the looks inside and out. Dead sexy wagon. However I have not test driven a Volvo since the early 00's. How do the new ones drive and handle, do they even have a hint of sportiness or driver connection or are they just a safe people hauler? Coming from an IS-F would one be horribly disappointed?
#6
I love the looks inside and out. Dead sexy wagon. However I have not test driven a Volvo since the early 00's. How do the new ones drive and handle, do they even have a hint of sportiness or driver connection or are they just a safe people hauler? Coming from an IS-F would one be horribly disappointed?
#7
Trending Topics
#9
Advanced
Exactly what I was thinking. Sorry MM but GM is, for the most part, so far behind on interiors they will never catch-up to the rest of the industry. I have never sat in a GM product, Vette, Caddy, Buick, any, and thought "Man, this is a class leading interior." The same is true of Ford/Lincoln products. It is sad, I root for them to do something truly amazing, and both can design outstanding powertrains but interiors, not so much.
#10
Lexus Champion
That is one sexy wagon. Love the plaid fabric seats.
#11
Lexus Champion
I just started shopping for a wagon. My main interest right now is the Audi Allroad and BMW 330i Sports Wagon, but this new Volvo looks interesting. I'm glad to see Buick offering a wagon, but agree it's got a tough road ahead of it and I'd say its prospects are dim. No surprise at all but as we know wagons, other than the Outback, just do not sell here in the U.S. Wagon sales are a small fraction of CUV and SUV sales.
Last year Audi sold 3,240 Allroads (the 1st year of the new gen) compared to 20,633 Q3, 57,640 Q5 and 38,346 Q7. Yikes!
Last year Audi sold 3,240 Allroads (the 1st year of the new gen) compared to 20,633 Q3, 57,640 Q5 and 38,346 Q7. Yikes!
#12
Lexus Fanatic
#13
Lexus Fanatic
The same is true of Ford/Lincoln products. It is sad, I root for them to do something truly amazing, and both can design outstanding powertrains but interiors, not so much.
#14
The pursuit of F
It's smart on Volvo's part to provide a super high-quality interior in this class. The downside is the styling is the same across their entire lineup while being virtually identical within their sedan/wagon/CUV lineup (S90/V90/XC90, S60/V60/XC60).
However, really like the exterior's tux-like styling. Far from the Volvos of yore!
However, really like the exterior's tux-like styling. Far from the Volvos of yore!
#15
Lexus Fanatic
It's smart on Volvo's part to provide a super high-quality interior in this class. The downside is the styling is the same across their entire lineup while being virtually identical within their sedan/wagon/CUV lineup (S90/V90/XC90, S60/V60/XC60).
However, really like the exterior's tux-like styling. Far from the Volvos of yore!
However, really like the exterior's tux-like styling. Far from the Volvos of yore!
Volvos of yore were styled like that, not only because of interior space efficiency, but also so for safety reasons......good outward visibility through large, square windows. Today's Subaru Outback and Forester are among the (relatively) few vehicles that still adhere to that basic design philosophy...though, of course, back-up cameras and other electronic monitoring-devices have also taken some of the risk out of Peek-a-Boo windows.
Last edited by mmarshall; 02-21-18 at 04:43 PM.