2019 Volvo V60 Review

　　

zzdcar' Expert Review

byMark TakahashiCorrespondent

　　Mark Takahashi has worked in the automotive industry since 2001. He has written thousands of car-related articles and tested and reviewed hundreds of vehicles over the course of his career. Mark has also contributed to Motor Trend, Auto Aficionado, Chevy High Performance and several motorcycle magazines in various roles. Mark is also a juror on the North American Car, Truck and Utility Vehicle of the Year Awards and can be seen regularly on the zzdcar YouTube channel and sometimes representing the company in media interviews.

　　

What's new

The 2019 Volvo V60 has been fully redesignedPart of the second V60 generation introduced for 2019

　　As shoppers abandon family sedans in favor of crossover SUVs, there's an often overlooked class of vehicles that offers some of the best traits of both. Compared to smaller SUVs, wagons have similar cargo space and better driving dynamics thanks to their sedan-like ride height. One of the newest wagon models is the Volvo V60, which is all-new for 2019.

　　

Cost to DriveCost to drive estimates for the 2019 Volvo V60 T5 Momentum 4dr Wagon (2.0L 4cyl Turbo 8A) and comparison vehicles are based on 15,000 miles per year (with a mix of 55% city and 45% highway driving) and energy estimates of $3.78 per gallon for premium unleaded in North Dakota.

Monthly estimates based on costs in North Dakota

　　$161/mo  for V60 T5 Momentum

　　V60 T5 Momentum

　　T5 Momentum 4dr Wagon (2.0L 4cyl Turbo 8A) - $38,900 MSRPT6 Momentum 4dr Wagon AWD (2.0L 4cyl Twincharger 8A) - $43,400 MSRPT5 R-Design 4dr Wagon (2.0L 4cyl Turbo 8A) - $43,900 MSRPT6 R-Design 4dr Wagon AWD (2.0L 4cyl Twincharger 8A) - $48,400 MSRPT6 Inscription 4dr Wagon AWD (2.0L 4cyl Twincharger 8A) (Most Popular) - $49,400 MSRP

　　vs

　　$164/mo

　　Avg. Midsize Car

　　The redesigned 2019 V60 wagon is the last model in the Volvo lineup to benefit from the Swedish manufacturer's three-year design and engineering renaissance. As a result, it has the sleek styling, elegantly simple interior, up-to-date technology, and upscale materials befitting an entry-luxury vehicle. The V60 follows the larger V90 wagon to market and is also offered in a taller and more terrain-capable Cross Country version, which is covered in a separate review.

　　As an attractive and engaging alternative to sedans and SUVs, the 2019 Volvo V60 may surprise you with its combination of convenience and confidence. As an added bonus, it is priced more accessibly than other luxury wagons and upholds Volvo's reputation for safety.

　　

zzdcar' Expert Rating

7.8 / 10

　　

Trim tested

　　Each vehicle typically comes in multiple versions that are fundamentally similar. The ratings in this review are based on our full test of the Volvo V60 T6 Inscription (turbo- and supercharged 2.0L 4-cyl. | 8-speed automatic | AWD).

　　

Scorecard

Overall	7.8 / 10
Driving	8.0
Comfort	7.5
Interior	8.0
Utility	7.5
Technology	7.5

　　

Driving

8.0

　　The V60 provides plenty of engine power when equipped with the T6's engine. Also, the S60 is as sharp in handling as any sport-oriented compact sedan. Therein lies this Volvo's charm: sporty dynamics with wagon utility. But its overall appeal is hampered by a lack of braking and acceleration refinement.

　　

Acceleration

8.0

　　The T6 engine gives the V60 plenty of sauce in nearly every part of the powerband. The supercharger delivers initial low-end power while the turbo kicks in at midlevel and high engine speeds. Acceleration is brisk from a standstill: The V60 reached 60 mph in 5.7 seconds in our tests. However, our testers noted the twin-boost systems sometimes felt out of sync under maximum acceleration.

　　

Braking

7.5

　　The brake pedal requires fairly light effort, but there's something of a video-game-like quality to the braking feel that doesn't give you as smooth a response as it could be. Still, the V60 stops with confidence under heavy braking. We measured a distance of 118 feet from 60 mph, which is about average for the segment with all-season tires.

　　

Steering

7.5

　　The steering offers good directional accuracy, and a modest amount of tire feel comes back through the steering column. There's useful on-center feel at highway speeds but a bit too much resistance and weight in the wheel at lower city speeds.

　　

Handling

8.0

　　The V60 is well-balanced and planted in turns, even when driven at higher speeds. Dynamic mode heightens the "sport" sensation. The chassis feels tight and body motions are kept under control, giving the V60 one of its primary advantages: SUV-like utility with sport-sedan handling confidence.

　　

Drivability

8.0

　　Like the brake pedal, the throttle also has a slightly unrefined feel, and it didn't seem quite as sorted as the S60 test car we experienced earlier. However, we like the eight-speed automatic transmission's smooth and crisp shifts when in Comfort mode.

　　

Comfort

7.5

　　The V60 splits the difference between luxury and sport. You'll find comfortable seating and a quiet cabin. However, the ride quality is stiffer than we'd expect of a car of this ilk. Its sporting edge comes at the expense of long-distance cushiness. The climate controls are fussier to operate than necessary.

　　

Seat comfort

8.5

　　Front-seat comfort is excellent, with firm cushioning and good torso and thigh support. The side bolsters help keep you in place during fast cornering, but they aren't thin and aggressive like typical sport seats. The rear seats offer similar shape and support, with less pronounced bolstering. The front-seat massage functions are a commuter's dream.

　　

Ride comfort

7.0

　　Our test car had the optional adaptive suspension, yet even here we found the V60 stiffer than we'd expect for a luxury car. It allows more vibration and low-impact jarring into the cabin than more established European competitors, for example. That may be a fair trade for the control it exhibits over bumps and undulations, but we think the ride could be better damped.

　　

Noise & vibration

7.5

　　Road and tire noise is muted, but the windshield generates some wind noise at highway speeds. The engine sounds a bit coarse, at least compared to other mid-luxury rivals. A faint wisp of supercharger whine under acceleration may be pleasing to enthusiast drivers.

　　

Climate control

7.5

　　The air vents are stylish, and rear-seat passengers also get temperature and fan speed controls. Most functions are accessed via touchscreen instead of buttons and dials. The noise level is high when the rear air vents are being used. The heated seats and steering wheel are slow to warm up but effective when at temperature.

　　

Interior

8.0

　　A low roof and low-mounted seats mean the V60 rewards body flexibility when getting in and out. The quirky controls take some time to learn and remember, but the driving experience is enhanced by great seating and all-around visibility.

　　

Ease of use

6.5

　　The V60 uses Volvo's quirky icons for basic control functions (e.g., those for the cruise control). Most primary controls are accessed only through a confusing touchscreen interface. The power seat controls, for example, are split between physical buttons and touchscreen menus. There's a learning curve before you can confidently use them while in motion.

　　

Getting in/getting out

7.5

　　Because of its low roof and low seat placement, it helps to have a limber body to get in and out of the V60. The wide door openings and apertures ease entry a bit otherwise. Overall, the V60 isn't as easy to get in and out of as a typical crossover SUV.

　　

Driving position

8.0

　　A wide range of adjustments for the seat and steering column makes it easy for most drivers to find a comfortable position. Good sight lines all around also make it easy to sit low if that's your preference.

　　

Roominess

8.0

　　The narrow center console gives the front-row seats an open and airy feeling. Front headroom is respectable. In the rear, headroom is generous and legroom is on par with primary rivals.

　　

Visibility

8.5

　　The side windows are relatively narrow, but a fairly level window line from front to rear helps with excellent visibility all around. Folding rear headrests also improve sight lines when not carrying rear passengers. The optional surround-view camera system (included in the Advance package) makes parking a breeze.

　　

Quality

8.5

　　The interior materials look and feel outstanding thanks to high-quality upholstery and metal and wood accents. The controls are hefty and solid in your hands. The panels don't have any unsightly gaps or obvious improper fitment.

　　

Utility

7.5

　　The V60 presents a best-of-both-worlds blend: the utility of an SUV with the handling and general size of a sedan. The large cargo space makes for a useful alternative to compact SUVs, even though some rivals offer slightly more. There's not much cabin stash space for small items, but most child seats will fit without issue.

　　

Small-item storage

7.0

　　The shallow door pockets and a small center console don't add up to much room for personal items. A compartment in the rear-seat armrest only has enough depth to accommodate keys, wallets or phones.

　　

Cargo space

7.5

　　With 51 cubic feet of maximum cargo space and nearly 23 cubes behind an upright second row, the V60 offers a legitimate alternative to compact SUVs. A low liftover height makes it easy to load heavy luggage, gear and groceries. You'll get more max cargo space (58 cubes) in an Audi A4 Allroad, however.

　　

Child safety seat accommodation

8.0

　　The low-mounted seat cushions make it easy to load a child seat. The LATCH anchors are easily accessible after removing plastic tab coverings. The tabs are a nice aesthetic touch to keep anchors hidden but easily lost to the ravages of family life. There's plenty of room for a rear-facing child seat, even behind a taller driver.

　　

Technology

7.5

　　The V60's tech is centered around a tall and narrow tablet-style touchscreen. There's nothing wrong with the sound system — it's outstanding. The included driver and safety aids are among the industry's best, but we found the automatic braking system to be overly sensitive on several occasions.

　　

Audio & navigation

8.0

　　The vertical-oriented touchscreen offers plenty of real estate for various functions, but it's not ideal. The navigation maps can look compressed, for example. A full-screen function reclaims some display space, but this display needs to be about 2 inches wider. The quality of the optional Bowers & Wilkins sound system is exceptional.

　　

Smartphone integration

7.0

　　The Bluetooth connection works well, either when making calls or streaming music. Apple CarPlay and Android Auto come standard, although the narrow display tends to compress the CarPlay/Android visual interfaces. There are two USB ports in the armrest and a 12-volt plug up front but no USB ports in the rear (only a 12-volt outlet). Volvo also doesn't offer wireless phone charging, which is becoming a norm for new cars, especially luxury types.

　　

Driver aids

7.5

　　On several occasions, the V60's automatic braking proved to be quite sensitive in our testing and intervened well before we thought necessary. Its hard and aggressive braking — even at lower city-oriented speeds — was an unwelcome surprise. There doesn't appear to be a way to adjust the system's sensitivity. The adaptive cruise accelerates and brakes smoothly but leaves slightly too much room between you and the vehicle in front.

　　

Voice control

7.5

　　The V60 has standard voice commands for audio, navigation and calling/contacts functions. Also helpful is the ability to expedite climate functions (set temperature, activate steering wheel heat, etc.) through voice instead of the touchscreen.

　　

Which V60 does zzdcar recommend?

　　The base Momentum trim comes with plenty of standard features and is eligible for most options. Likewise, the T5 engine will make sense for most drivers, but those in harsher climates may want to consider the T6 and its all-wheel-drive advantage. Since safety is a Volvo hallmark, shoppers may want to spring for the optional Premium and Advanced packages, too.

　　

2019 Volvo V60 models

　　The 2019 Volvo V60 is a wagon with seating for five that is offered in Momentum, R-Design and Inscription trim levels. The T5 engine features a turbocharged 2.0-liter four-cylinder (250 horsepower, 258 pound-feet of torque) that is paired with an eight-speed automatic transmission driving the front wheels. The T6 engine is optional on the Momentum and R-Design models and standard on the Inscription. It adds a supercharger on top of the turbo (316 hp, 295 lb-ft) and includes all-wheel drive.

　　Standard features for the Momentum trim include 17-inch wheels (18-inch on T6), automatic LED headlights, automatic high beams, heated and rain-sensing windshield wipers, roof rails, a panoramic sunroof, a hands-free liftgate, keyless ignition, selectable drive modes, cruise control, dual-zone automatic climate control, leather upholstery, heated 10-way power-adjustable front seats, power-folding rear headrests, power split-folding rear seats with a center pass-through, and an auto-dimming rearview mirror.

　　Tech features include Bluetooth phone and streaming audio, a Sensus infotainment system with a 9-inch touchscreen, a rearview camera, and a 10-speaker audio system with two USB ports, satellite radio and Apple CarPlay/Android Auto. Forward collision warning and mitigation, intersection cross-traffic collision mitigation, run-off-road mitigation/protection, lane keeping assist, a traffic sign reader, and a driver alert monitor are also standard.

　　The Momentum trim is eligible for the Premium package (a blind-spot monitor with rear cross-traffic alert and automatic braking, keyless entry, a hands-free trunk opener, front and rear parking sensors, power-folding and auto-dimming mirrors, and a universal garage door opener) and the Multimedia package (digital instrument panel, navigation and a 13-speaker Harman Kardon audio system).

　　The R-Design trim adds 18-inch wheels, unique exterior and interior trim elements, foglights with cornering lights, and sport seats with power thigh-support extensions. The Premium and Multimedia packages are standard with the R-Design trim.

　　At the top of the lineup, the Inscription trim fills out the features list with chrome exterior trim, quad-zone automatic climate control and a leather-covered dash. A Luxury Seat package is exclusive to this trim, installing ventilated and massaging front seats with power-adjustable side bolsters.

　　The Advanced package is offered for all V60 models and adds headlight washers, a head-up display, adaptive cruise control with Volvo's Pilot Assist semi-automated driving features, a surround-view camera system and adaptive headlights. It also adds the foglights and cornering lights for the Momentum trim.

　　Stand-alone options include 19-inch wheels, an adaptive suspension, a heated steering wheel, heated rear seats, and a Bowers & Wilkins premium audio system.

　　

2019 V60 Highlights

Trim: T5 MomentumT6 MomentumT5 R-DesignT6 R-DesignT6 InscriptionT5 Momentum

　　

Base MSRP	$38,900
Engine Type	Gas
Combined MPG	28 MPG
Cost to Drive	$161/month
Seating	5 seats
Cargo Capacity All Seats In Place	23.2 cu.ft.
Drivetrain	front wheel drive
Warranty	4 years / 50,000 miles