Pros: Good cargo versatility with handy 40/20/40 split-folding rear seat; impressive-for-the-class projected fuel economy from new 4-cylinder engine; unique available safety equipment; some testers prefer V60’s traditional push-button audio and climate controls to the touchscreen and/or joystick interfaces of many class rivals
Cons: Cramped rear-seat space; stiff ride with available 19-inch tires, acceleration isn’t very linear with 4-cylinder engine; unrefined operation of 4-cylinder’s start/stop feature
CG Says: For 2016, Volvo V60 will phase out its 3.0-liter 6-cylinder engine midyear and replace it with a supercharged and turbocharged version of its new “Drive-E” 2.0-liter 4-cylinder engine. The T5 Cross Country was added midseason last year. It has a raised ride height and unique styling features. A limited edition Polestar has a 345-horsepower version of the 3.0-liter 6-cylinder, sport suspension, and uprated brakes. The V60 is essentially a station-wagon version of Volvo’s S60 midsize car. The V60 offers Volvo’s new Drive-E 2.0-liter 4-cylinder engines in addition to the carryover 2.5-liter 5-cylinder engine. Both Drive-E engines are mated to an 8-speed transmission and have fuel-saving start/stop function. The turbocharged 4-cylinder is rated at 240 horsepower and is available only on front-wheel drive models where it achieves EPA mpg estimates of 25 city/37 highway. A 302-horsepower supercharged and turbocharged version of the 2.0-liter four is available on AWD T6 models and rated 22 city/31 highway by the EPA. Being a Volvo, the V60 is available with a host of safety features, including Lane Keeping Aid and a Pedestrian Detection system that can also detect cyclists. In all, the V60 inherits the virtues and vices of its S60 sedan sibling, but its extra cargo capacity and surprisingly swoopy styling give it a unique character that stands out in the premium midsize-car class. Still, we recommend checking out the competitive wagons from Audi, BMW, and Mercedes-Benz as well.
| Class | Premium Midsize Car |
| Body Style(s) | 4-door wagon |
| Passenger Count | 5 |
| Drive Wheels | front-wheel drive, all-wheel drive |
| Manufacturer | Volvo |
| Nation of Manufacturer | Belgium |
| Base Prices | 2WD T5: $36,150 AWD T5: $37,650 2WD T5 Premier: $38,100 AWD T5 Premier: $39,600 2WD T5 Platinum: $41,750 AWD T5 Platinum: $43,250 AWD T6 R-Design 6-cylinder: $45,800 AWD T6 R-Design 4-cylinder: $46,050 AWD T6 R-Design Platinum 6-cylinder: $49,200 AWD T6 R-Design Platinum 4-cylinder: $49,450 AWD T6 Polestar: $60,900 |
| Base Engine turbocharged (T5) or turbocharged/supercharged (T6) 2.0-liter 4-cylinder |
| Horsepower 240 (T5), 302 (T6) |
| Std. Transmission 8-speed automatic |
| Avail. Transmission NA |
| EPA City Range (mpg) 22-25 |
| EPA Hwy Range (mpg) 31-37 |
| Optional Engine 2.5-liter 5-cylinder |
| Horsepower 250 |
| Std. Transmission 6-speed automatic |
| Avail. Transmission NA |
| EPA City Range (mpg) 20 |
| EPA Hwy Range (mpg) 28-29 |
| Optional Engine 3.0-liter 6-cylinder |
| Horsepower 325 (T6), 345 (Polestar) |
| Std. Transmission 6-speed automatic |
| Avail. Transmission NA |
| EPA City Range (mpg) 18 |
| EPA Hwy Range (mpg) 27 |
