Volvo V60 Click for more photos

Volvo V60

Volvo V60
The boxy Volvo is dead. Long live the V60.
Starting at $54,950 (plus costs), the new V60 moves away from the Scandinavian brand's once-trademark square design, with Volvo hoping its sporty-looking load-lugger will appeal to buyers looking for practical luxury vehicle with style.
Volvo is pitching the S60-based mid-sized wagon against competitors such as BMW's 3-Series Touring, Audi's A4 Avant and Mercedes-Benz C-Class Estate, and has priced the V60 closely to its key competitors in each of its variants, which includes the entry-level T5, mid-range diesel-powered D5 and top-end T6 performance model.
Our first local taste of the V60 came in the base-model T5, which is powered by a new 2.0-litre four-cylinder turbocharged engine (co-developed with Ford and known under that company's branding as an EcoBoost engine). The T5 produces 177kW of power and 320Nm of torque, sending its power to the front wheels via a six-speed dual-clutch transmission (no manual is available).
The engine offers good get-up-and-go despite the V60's circa-1650kg kerb weight, though more enthusiastic drivers may want to test drive the more hardcore T6 petrol version (as we did - but we'll get to that later). Unlike some dual-clutch transmissions, the T5's 'box offers little hesitation from a halt, and its shifts are smooth and virtually seamless on the move. The turbocharged powerplant also offers reasonable fuel consumption at 8.7 litres per 100km, slightly more than the S60 sedan (8.3L/100km).
On the road, the V60 impresses. Its ride is firm yet comfortable, with the suspension ironing out most inconsistencies and corrugations admirably. Noise intrusion was noticeable from the luggage area despite sound insulation and thick carpets, and the wing mirrors also whistled at higher speeds.
The steering of the V60 is on the heavier side with a nice connected feel to it - it offers good response at lower speeds, and feels direct and progressive through corners. However, the wheel does tend to jiggle over mid-corner bumps, but never violently.
It holds itself well through bends, and despite its heft it showed good levels of body control - though it did roll and lean through tighter turns.
On the topic of turning, the V60 is slightly hampered by a large turning circle of 11.9 metres, (BMW, for example, manages a more city-friendly 11m), which makes 3-point turns difficult in narrower streets.
Inside, the V60 offers comfortable leather seats - even on the entry-level model unlike most competitor caras, and there are plenty of soft-touch materials on the dash and door trims. The cabin is well laid out, and its driver-focused centre-stack is a nice touch. Storage is good, with a covered centre bin (with USB/auxiliary inputs hidden for better security) and a few nooks and crannies in the front of the cabin, including a small but useful pocket under the occupants' legs.
In the rear-seat the room is adequate rather than spacious, with taller passengers likely to require those in front to slide a little further forward. Littlies are well catered for, though, with Volvo's clever integrated booster-seat system allowing smaller back seat passengers to sit up higher and see out over the V60's high door-line.
The boot of the V60 is impressively large for a wagon with a sloping roofline. Volvo says the styling of the V60 is a departure from the capacious, cubic wagons of its past, suggesting the V60 "isn't intended to be the most wagon-like wagon - that's the [bigger, boxier] V70". That said, its cargo space is still useful at 430 litres with the rear seats in place - that opens up to a decent-sized level load area with the 40:20:40 split-fold rear seats flattened. There's no spare tyre, though.
Like all V60 models, the T5 offers a comprehensive safety package, with six airbags (dual front, side, and curtain), stability control, and Volvo's city safety system that can automatically brake the car at speeds under 30km/h if it detects an imminent collision. Safety options include adaptive cruise control with queue assist, which allows the car to accelerate and brake without driver involvement, and pedestrian detection, blind-spot warning system and lane departure warning system.
The next model up is the T5 R-Design ($59,150), a sports-themed version of the T5 that gains sports suspension, more aggressively styled bumpers, 18-inch alloy wheels, sports seats, leather interior accents and twin exhaust pipes.
The mid-range D5 model is priced from $60,950, and is fitted with a 2.4-litre five-cylinder turbo diesel engine that produces 151kW and 420Nm. Unlike the T5, the six-speed automatic diesel version is all-wheel drive only. It offers a claimed consumption of 7.1L/100km - a relatively heavy drinker in comparison to BMW's slightly pricier 320d (5.4L/100km, priced from $62,900).
The top-end offering is the sporty all-wheel-drive V60 T6, which is fitted with the most powerful engine in the line-up - a turbocharged six-cylinder petrol powerplant producing 224kW of power and 440Nm of torque, also mated exclusively to a six-speed automatic. Fuel use reflects the extra output, up to a claimed 10.3L/100km.
The range-topper gains more equipment including sat-nav, electric passenger seat and front parking sensors; and is available in two trim levels: the regular T6 (priced at $67,950), and the R-Design version ($72,150) which Drive also sampled at the local launch.
The T6's added power is instantly noticeable - it jumps from a standing start, and accelerates swiftly, and pushes you back in your seat when you plant your foot. The transmission copes relatively well, but doesn't feel quite as clinical as the dual-clutch version found in the T5, with some lurchy up-shifts under lighter throttle.
The all-wheel-drive system aids in getting the power down smoothly, with the benefits clearly noticeable during a sprint through a set of sharp, snaking corners.
The T6 model is undoubtedly the best pick for those looking for a sportier drive, though the markedly cheaper T5 seems good value and it's not exactly lacking for performance.