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Even though the wagon class, especially the compact luxury wagon class, where the 2015 Volvo V60 is found, isn’t very extensive the completion is fierce. Having to go head to head with the Acura TSX and the BMW 328i the V60 has its work cut out for it, but with a long reputation for safety and an outstanding family of wagons, Volvo brings it to the party with the V60. Offering a safe, elegant and fuel efficient ride for all family members, the V60 comes into the 2015 model year as a fantastic choice for any family to make.
The V60 is completely new for 2015 and is a wagon version of the S60 sedan. All new for this year is the Drive-E four-cylinder engine lineup which is meant to replace the existing engine offerings in the near future. The V60 offers a great luxury feel and stylings found many times in premium European wagon at a price that isn’t as off-putting as the BMW. Add to this the expert safety features that are always a signature part of owning a Volvo and this is really an excellent car to own.
No matter where the V60 is driven the drive offered is comfortable, luxurious and very well-controlled. With a premium suspension and highly responsive steering the V60 handles curves with grace and ease as well as easily darting through traffic in the city. All the V60 engines provide plentiful passing power to allow great acceleration and enthusiasm under the hood. Add to this powerful and controlled package the quietest cabin in its class and the occupants will only have to listen to their choice of musical selection and not be bothered with road noises from outside the vehicle.
Power for the V60 is provided by one of three engine choices. Starting with the new standard offering with comes in the form of the 2.0-liter turbocharged inline four-cylinder engine that is mated to the eight-cylinder automatic transmission and brings in a healthy 25 city/37 hwy mpg of fuel efficiency. The only drawback to this well-designed power train is the lack of available AWD control.
The second engine and the one being phased out is the 2.5-liter turbocharged inline five-cylinder engine that offers 250 horsepower and 266 lb.-ft. of torque. This engine is offered with AWD and is matched up with a six-speed automatic transmission; together this pairing allows a 20 city/29 hwy mpg fuel efficiency to be realized.
The final engine offered on the V60 comes in the form of a 3.0-liter turbocharged inline six-cylinder engine that has a massive 325 horsepower and 354 lb.-ft. of torque. Even with the massive size and power of this engine, when mated with the six-speed automatic transmission the powertrain brings in a respectable 19 city/28 hwy mpg for the fuel numbers. Offering power and fuel efficiency across the entire lineup makes the Volvo engines a group to seriously be reckoned with for the new model year.
As a partner of the S60 sedan, the V60 offers a cabin that is highly functional, easy to enjoy and very control driven. With a full adornment of soft and comfortable materials throughout the cabin the car is very comfortable to travel in from any seating position. The control features are contained within the notable waterfall inspired center stack that makes all functions of the vehicle easy to find and use. The only real drawback of the interior is the clumsy functioning of the multimedia interface that alternates between buttons and a knob and would greatly benefit from being completely touch screen controlled.
Even though this is a wagon, the V60 is surprisingly stylish from the outside. With very sleek and long lines all across the car, there is a visual interest point virtually all around the car. With a sloping hood to the front and a sloping roof to the back the car offers an aerodynamic feel not often experienced in either wagons or Volvo vehicles of the past. The front face of the car is adorned with wrap around headlights and smiling grill that sports the Volvo logo and seems very happy to head down the road. The finish touch comes in the form of the star-spoked wheels that are 19-inches in size if the Sport package is selected.
As expected, the standard equipment for the V60 is truly Volvo and full of safety. The list includes two-zone automatic climate controls, a power glass moon roof, the City Safety system, stability control, a full complement of airbags, steering wheel mounted audio controls, Bluetooth connectivity, a power parking brake, and rain-sensing windshield wipers. All of this allows even the base V60 to be a great car full of safety and features to enjoy.
Offering a great list of optional equipment as well can turn the V60 into a true luxury wagon. This list includes a collision warning system, adaptive cruise control, a cyclist and pedestrian detection system, driver alertness monitoring, a lane departure and lane keeping warning system, integrated child boosters, and steering wheel mounted paddle shifters. All of these features offer any owner of the V60 the knowledge and security to understand they have purchased a true leader in safety.
The base model of the 2015 Volvo V60 comes at a price that is just north of $36,000 and moving up to the AWD model will bring in a price that start just south of $38,000. At the top of the line the starting price for the T6 comes in around $45,000 but once all the options are added into the vehicle the price easily ends up above $55,000. All of this sounds like a large price range, but for a luxury vehicle that is fully loaded with safety features this is actually a very reasonable price overall. Anyone looking to add a great luxury station wagon to their family for either daily commuting or taking longer vacations need to look no further than the Volvo V60 to ensure they are getting a vehicle that offers the peace of mind that accompanies the safety laden offering of the Volvo V60.
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