2021 Volvo V60 Review

　　

2021 Volvo V60 Review

byReese CountsVehicle Test Editor

　　Reese Counts has worked in the automotive industry since he started as an intern at zzdcar in 2015. He has written or edited thousands of car-related articles and tested and reviewed hundreds of vehicles over the course of his career. Reese is a vehicle test editor at zzdcar and has also contributed to Autoblog. Reese has also been featured on Yahoo! Finance, Engadget and AOL reviewing cars and covering automotive technology, auto shows and more. Reese learned to drive in his father's C4 Chevrolet Corvette and now owns his grandfather's 1999 Mercedes-Benz C43 AMG. A love for cars runs deep in his family.

　　The 2021 Volvo V60 is one of the last of its kind, at least in America. For the past few decades, tastes have shifted from wagons to minivans to SUVs, with most automakers dropping wagons from their lineups. That said, wagon fans are a passionate bunch, and what would Volvo be without a long-roof car or two in its lineup?

　　

Cost to DriveCost to drive estimates for the 2021 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

　　$169/mo  for V60 T5 Momentum

　　V60 T5 Momentum

　　T5 Momentum 4dr Wagon (2.0L 4cyl Turbo 8A) - $40,950 MSRPT5 R-Design 4dr Wagon (2.0L 4cyl Turbo 8A) - $46,400 MSRPT5 Inscription 4dr Wagon (2.0L 4cyl Turbo 8A) - $46,400 MSRPT8 Polestar Engineered 4dr Wagon AWD (2.0L 4cyl Twincharger gas/electric plug-in hybrid 8A) (Most Popular) - $67,300 MSRP

　　vs

　　$164/mo

　　Avg. Midsize Car

　　The V60 is essentially a wagon version of Volvo's excellent S60 sedan. It's handsome and well appointed, and it includes an extensive list of standard safety features. It might not have the utility of something like Volvo's XC60 SUV, but the smaller size makes it feel more engaging on the road. And if you're looking for something really sporty, the Volvo V60 Recharge Polestar Engineered plug-in hybrid should help satisfy that itch.

　　There isn't really much on the road that competes directly with the Volvo V60. The Audi A4 Allroad is close in size and price to the V60, but its taller ride height and standard all-wheel drive make it a closer rival to the V60 Cross Country, a model we review separately. The Mercedes-Benz E-Class Wagon is larger and significantly more expensive, as is Volvo's own V90 wagon. And if you're willing to make the leap to a crossover, check out the similar XC60 SUV.

　　zzdcar Expert Rating

　　Our VerdictThe zzdcar Vehicle Testing Team evaluates a fresh batch of vehicles every week, pairing objective assessments at our test track with real-world driving on city streets, freeways and winding roads. The data we gather results in our Expert Ratings. They’re based on 30-plus scores that cover every aspect of the automotive experience.

　　Good

　　7.8

　　out of 10

　　zzdcar TESTED

　　Rated for you by America's best test team.

　　

Performance

8.0/10

　　How does the V60 drive? Acceleration is respectable from a standstill. The long wagon body feels well balanced and planted in turns, even when taken at higher speeds. Body motions are kept under control, giving the V60 one of its primary advantages: SUV-like utility with sport-sedan handling confidence. Around town, the brake pedal can be a little tricky to press for consistently smooth stops. In the Comfort drive mode, the V60's gear shifts are smooth and crisp.

　　

Comfort

7.5/10

　　How comfortable is the V60? The V60 delivers better-than-average comfort with front seats that are very supportive and satisfying after many hours. It also offers more supportive rear seats than competitors. The main drawback is the stiff ride that transmits more vibrations into the cabin than other luxury vehicles.

　　The interior remains pleasantly quiet up to highway speeds, where some faint wind noise can be heard around the windshield. When pushed hard, the engine can also emit some coarse sounds. The climate control operates just as you'd expect, but it's more complicated than we like since all functions are run through the touchscreen. The rear seat fan can be noticeably loud too.

　　

Interior

8.0/10

　　How’s the interior? The attractive interior is a model of simple yet elegant Scandinavian design, but there are some drawbacks in terms of operation. Some controls have unconventional icons, and many basic functions require you to use the touchscreen. The infotainment system also takes some getting used to but eventually begins to make sense.

　　To its credit, the V60 provides plenty of room for all passengers and offers the driver a wide range of adjustments to ensure an optimal position. The sloping roofline offers better outward visibility than we'd expect, but it also forces taller passengers to stoop slightly to get in and out of the car.

　　

Technology

7.5/10

　　How’s the tech? The infotainment system is visually striking, but it's not intuitive at first. Some options and features require the user to swipe right or left to access the menus, and there's no obvious prompt to indicate those functions are there. The absence of physical buttons and knobs means basic operations like climate control must be performed via the touchscreen, which seems needlessly complicated. Thankfully, some voice commands make control easier.

　　Volvo's reputation for safety is present in the advanced safety features, but the frontal collision warning and automatic braking have a tendency to be overly sensitive and alarming when they trigger unexpectedly.

　　

Storage

7.5/10

　　How’s the storage? The V60 offers a best of both worlds' blend: the utility of an SUV with the handling and general size of a sedan. The luggage area behind the rear seats is decently useful, even though some rivals offer slightly more space. With the seats folded, there's 50.9 cubic feet of storage space available.

　　The V60 has enough bins and storage spots to put your personal effects. Child seats are easy to install, and there's plenty of space for a rear-facing infant seat even behind taller front-seat occupants.

　　

Fuel Economy

7.0/10

　　How’s the fuel economy? After nearly 1,000 miles with the V60, we averaged 21.2 mpg. On our local mixed-driving evaluation loop, the V60 averaged 22.5 mpg, a bit lower than we expected.

　　Both figures fall short of the EPA-estimated fuel economy of 25 mpg combined (21 city/31 highway) and could indicate difficulty hitting these targets in real-world driving.

　　

Value

8.0/10

　　Is the V60 a good value? In terms of pricing, the V60 is on the expensive side among similarly equipped rivals. In return, you get an interior that is beautifully designed with high-quality materials and sturdy construction. It's refined and luxurious to justify the cost.

　　Warranty duration is about average for the industry and other wagons, but lifetime coverage for parts and labor give the V60 an advantage. And free scheduled maintenance for three years is included.

　　

Wildcard

8.0/10

　　The V60 attempts to straddle both camps of luxury and performance. It mostly succeeds with engine power and adept handling, but it falls behind with less sophisticated steering, braking and driver engagement. It's got interior luxury down pat, however; this is one of the more handsome and classy cabins you'll find in the segment.

　　For those who want the versatility and convenience of an SUV but hanker for sedan-like driving dynamics, the V60 is an excellent choice. We would like it, though, if the suspension could smooth over bumps more gently.

　　

Which V60 does zzdcar recommend?

We recommend going for the Momentum trim. Yes, it is the base trim, but it comes with a good number of standard features, and most optional features are available.

　　

2021 Volvo V60 models

The 2021 Volvo V60 is a five-seat wagon based on the Volvo S60 sedan. It's available in four trim levels: Momentum, R-Design, Inscription and Polestar Engineered. There's also the V60 Cross Country, which is reviewed separately on zzdcar.

　　Momentum

　　The Momentum trim might be the base version, but it's well equipped and available with a number of options. Standard features include:

　　Turbocharged four-cylinder engine (250 horsepower) Front-wheel drive and eight-speed automatic transmission LED headlights and foglights Roof rails Keyless entry with push-button start Power tailgate 12.3-inch touchscreen display Apple CarPlay and Android Auto smartphone integration 10-speaker audio system Leather upholstery Power-adjustable front seatsSince it's a Volvo, the V60 comes with a number of standard safety features such as:

　　Blind-spot monitor with rear cross-traffic alert (warns you if a vehicle is in your blind spot during a lane change or while reversing) Forward collision mitigation (applies the brakes automatically to stop the vehicle to avoid or minimize a collision) Lane departure warning (alerts you if the vehicle begins to drift out of its lane) Lane keeping assist (steers the V60 back into its lane if it begins to drift over the lane marker) Rear parking sensorsOptions on the Momentum include:

　　Premium package Navigation Garage door opener Power-folding rear headrests Front parking sensors Advanced package Head-up display Adaptive cruise control (adjusts speed to maintain a constant distance between the vehicle and the car in front) 360-degree camera (gives you a top-down view of the V60 and its surroundings for tight parking situations) Wireless device charging pad Climate package Heated front seats Heated wiper blades Heated steering wheel R-Design

　　The R-Design adds a sporty flair to the V60. Besides the Momentum's features, standard equipment includes:

　　Gloss black R-Design grille, mirror caps and window trim 18-inch R-Design wheels Sport front seats Sport steering wheel Ambient interior lighting Four-zone automatic climate control Harman Kardon audio system Standard Premium packageInscription

　　The Inscription sits parallel to the R-Design in Volvo's lineup, opting for luxury touches instead of sporty ones. In addition to the Momentum's features, the Inscription includes:

　　Chrome grille and window trim Upgraded interior trim Ambient interior lighting Four-zone automatic climate control Harman Kardon audio system Standard Premium packageV60 Recharge Polestar Engineered

　　The V60 Recharge Polestar Engineered model has been modified and tuned by Volvo's performance division. It comes with a plug-in hybrid powertrain (415 hp) and all-wheel drive. It can also provide up to 22 miles of all-electric range, according to the EPA. Other upgrades include:

　　Adjustable Öhlins dampers Sport-tuned suspension 19-inch Polestar Engineered wheels Brembo brakes with gold calipers Gloss black exterior trim Gold seat belts Standard Advance package Standard Climate package

　　

2021 V60 Highlights

Type: T8 Polestar EngineeredWagonWagon

　　Trim: T5 MomentumT5 R-DesignT5 InscriptionT8 Polestar EngineeredT5 Momentum

　　

Base MSRP	$40,950
Engine Type	Gas
Combined MPG	27 MPG
Cost to Drive	$169/month
Seating	5 seats
Cargo Capacity All Seats In Place	23.2 cu.ft.
Drivetrain	front wheel drive
Warranty	4 years / 50,000 miles