Name: 2023 Volvo V60
Brand: Volvo

Volvo V60

EPA MPG: 26 mpg

RECALL ALERT: There are 3 recalls on this vehicle. Learn More.

There are 3 recalls on this vehicle. Learn More.

Volvo V60 First Drive

Summary

Introduction

The Volvo V60 Wagon Brings Style, Safety

Active safety features are welcome, but a complex touchscreen is a drawback

Overview

The Volvo V60 station wagon was redesigned for 2019, matching the S60 sedan. The wagon touts advanced driver assist features, including self-steering and active cruise control, and it shares the same infotainment system as the rest of the Volvo lineup.

The V60 is based on the same underlying design as the S90 sedan, V90 wagon, and the XC60 and XC90 crossovers. Volvo calls the platform Scalable Product Architecture (SPA), and this strategy means the cars share everything from engines to suspension designs. External styling cues--from the tall taillamps to the so-called "Thor’s hammer" headlamps--make the family resemblance clear.

The wagon has about two inches less height and five inches more length than its predecessor--the exact same length as the Audi Allroad. Inside, total cargo volume has been increased by about four cubic feet.

Impressions

The V60 also shares most of its interior with other Volvos, including the Sensus touchscreen-based infotainment setup. While it is compatible with Android Auto and Apple CarPlay, our testers said that performing basic tasks in other Sensus-equipped models--like changing a radio stations or adjusting the cabin temperature--required multiple steps that take a driver’s eyes off the road. When we tested it on the 2018 XC60, we called it "one of the worst control systems we've come across."

Buyers can choose from two powertrains. A turbocharged, 247-hp four-cylinder 2.0-liter engine Cross Country, or the plug-in hybrid with 455-hp that is both turbocharged and supercharged. Both engines are paired with an eight-speed automatic transmission and all-wheel drive.

Standard active safety features include forward collision warning with automatic emergency braking, which Volvo calls City Safety. Based on experience in other models, our testers say it’s "one of the best systems we have seen on the market." The automaker claims it can prevent collisions entirely up to 30 mph, and it can also detect pedestrians, cyclists, large animals, and oncoming vehicles.

The V60 also features an available self-steering and active cruise control setup, which Volvo calls Pilot Assist II. We tested it in other Volvos and found that it can help ease stress both in stop-and-go traffic and on long highway drives, but it still requires drivers to pay attention. Rear cross traffic warning with rear automatic emergency braking is optional.