2021 Volvo V60 Review
Overview
Practicality and luxury go hand-in-hand in the 2021 Volvo V60 station wagon, which is based on the Swedish automaker's S60 sedan. Offered both in regular and lifted Cross Country guise, the V60 is powered by a turbocharged four-cylinder engine and can be had with either front- or all-wheel drive. A high-performance plug-in hybrid variant is also offered and brings big thrills to this grocery-getter— along with up to 22 miles of electric-only driving. The V60 and its SUV- inspired V60 Cross Country version have few competitors—the Audi A4 Allroad, the Mercedes-Benz E-class All-Terrain, and the larger Volvo V90 spring to mind—but its posh cabin, long list of standard features, and reasonable base price make it the bargain of the bunch.
What's New for 2021?
Like the rest of the Volvo lineup, the V60 and V60 Cross Country gain blind spot monitoring, rear cross-traffic alert, LED head lamps, power-folding exterior mirrors with an auto-dimming feature, and additional USB-C charging ports as standard across the lineup. The V60's radio tuner will no longer offer the AM band, but those channels will still be available through the provided TuneIn app. Elsewhere, the Momentum model receives a new 18-inch wheel design, the R-Design trim adds glossy black exterior accents, and the Cross Country receives new Linear Lime wood interior trim as standard. The T8 Polestar model now bears the Recharge moniker as a way to symbolize its partial-EV status and denote its place next to the all-electric XC40 Recharge SUV that makes its debut this year.
Pricing and Which One to Buy
I 'am partial to the racier R-Design trim, which brings such niceties as nappa-leather upholstery, a Harman/Kardon stereo system, unique 18-inch wheels, fog lamps, and sharp exterior styling. Most V60 models are front-wheel drive, but if you want an all-wheel-drive model, both the Cross Country and the Recharge T8 Polestar offer that as standard.
Engine, Transmission, and Performance
Two engines are offered in the 2020 V60 lineup: Cars wearing the T5 badge are powered by a 250-hp turbocharged four-cylinder and come with front-wheel drive in all but the Cross Country model, which comes exclusively with all-wheel drive. The T5 power-train is a strong performer, with a 60-mph time of 6.4 seconds. As long as you're not pushing it too hard, the V60 feels agile and responsive through corners. The ride is firm, particularly on models equipped with the optional Sport suspension and 19-inch wheels. The souped-up Recharge T8 Polestar comes with a 415-hp hybrid power-train that pairs a turbo- and supercharged four-cylinder with electric motors and all-wheel drive. This arrangement is far quicker than the T5 model, leaping to 60 mph in just 4.4 seconds. The Recharge T8 Polestar also comes with a manually adjustable suspension—something driving enthusiasts will think is cool—so the owner can dial in the car's riding behavior to his or her preference.
Fuel Economy
The front-wheel-drive T5 models earn EPA fuel-economy ratings of 23 mpg city, 34 mpg highway, and 27 mpg combined. In comparison, the all-wheel-drive Cross Country loses some efficiency, rated at 22 city, 31 highway, and 25 combined. Despite being the lineup's performance-oriented model, the V60 Recharge T8 Polestar's plug-in-hybrid power-train is fairly efficient.
Interior, Comfort, and Cargo
Volvo has been doing some great interiors lately, and the V60's is no exception, largely mimicking those of the S60 sedan and the XC60 SUV. The cabin is spacious, the seats are comfortable, and the design is undeniably upscale. But Volvo's minimalist approach means that many controls are hidden away inside the infotainment system. Like other Volvos of this vintage, the cabin looks and feels more expensive than it is, which makes it all the more impressive. Cargo capacity is great, too, something I expect from a station wagon. It manages to fit eight carry-on suitcases behind the rear seats and a total of 22 with the seats folded.
Infotainment and Connectivity
The simple and intuitive nature of the interface makes it easy to operate while driving, so you take the good with the bad.
Safety and Driver-Assistance Features
The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) has given the V60 a five-star safety rating but the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety (IIHS) has not yet released crash-test results at the time of writing this post. Volvo's safety-focused ethos means driver-assistance features such as lane-keeping assist, automated emergency braking, and other collision-avoidance technologies are standard. Key safety features include:
- Standard automated emergency braking with pedestrian detection
- Standard lane-departure warning with lane-keeping assist
- Available adaptive cruise control with semi-autonomous driving mode
Warranty and Maintenance Coverage
Volvo's standard protection plan doesn't break from the luxury-brand norm, offering four years or 50,000 miles for both power-train and limited warranty coverage, but it does add some value in the form of a three-year complimentary scheduled maintenance plan.
- Limited warranty covers four years or 50,000 miles
- Power-train warranty covers four years or 50,000 miles
- Complimentary maintenance is covered for three years or 36,000 miles.
Interior Image taken from 2020 model.
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