Review - Volvo V60

For decades now, Volvo has popularised the wagon body shape and created some of the most practical and well-credentialled vehicles in the area of safety has made it a heavy-hitter of the industry.

With the V90 saying goodbye to the Australian market, buyers are left with the V60 as the sole wagon within Volvo’s ranks, but how does it fare as a family wagon against its rivals? Let’s find out.

Starting Price: $68,490

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Volvo V60 (ULTIMATE B5 CROSS COUNTRY MHEV) Specifications

For more details and other variants, check Volvo V60 car page.

How Much Does It Cost?

Volvo’s V60 Cross Country is available in a one-variant lineup which is priced at $68,490 before on-road costs and any optional extras are factored into the price tag.

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What Features Does the Volvo V60 Cross Country Have?

The Volvo V60 Cross Country comes riding on a set of 19-inch alloy wheels, and receives features like LED headlights, fog lights, keyless entry & start, a powered boot lift, leather upholstery, driftwood interior highlights, four-zone climate control, adaptive cruise control, a surround-view camera, 12.0-inch digital driver’s display, and a 9.0-inch infotainment system with DAB+, sat-nav, Android Auto and Apple CarPlay, as well as wireless smartphone charging.

Range Features:

• 19-inch alloys

• LED headlights

• Fog lights

• Keyless entry & start

• Powered boot lift

• Leather upholstery

• Driftwood interior highlights

• Four-zone climate control

• Surround-view camera

• Adaptive cruise control with steering aid

• 12.0-inch digital driver’s display

• 9.0-inch infotainment system

• Apple CarPlay & Android Auto

• DAB+ Radio & satellite navigation

• Wireless smartphone charging

• Panoramic sunroof (optional extra)

• Harman Kardon sound system (optional extra)

Volvo V60 Cross Country Colours

The Volvo V60 Cross Country range is available in a number of exterior colour finishes, including Black Stone, Onyx Black, Platinum Grey, Fusion Red, Silver Dawn, Crystal White, Bright Dusk, Thunder Grey and Denim Blue.

Is it Comfortable to Drive?

As we’ve come to expect from Volvo, the V60 is an impressively smooth and comfortable wagon on a variety of Australian road surfaces, making it a very versatile commuter and long-distance cruiser.

Power comes supplied by a 2.0-litre turbocharged four-cylinder with mild-hybrid technology producing 183kW of power and 350Nm of torque, which is sent to all four wheels via an eight-speed torque-converter automatic transmission.

The end result is a generous heaping of power to get you off the mark and up to speed in a remarkably smooth and sophisticated manner, with a 0-100km/h sprint timed at an impressive 6.5 seconds.

The Volvo V60 Cross Country sits slightly higher than the standard car, which lends itself nicely to some light off-roading thanks to the added ground clearance that will be welcomed by adventure-ready families.

To minimise the amount of body roll for the raised platform through the corners, Volvo has beefed up the suspension components that help to keep it flat and stable, and makes for a comfortable driving experience on most surfaces.

On some of the harsher roads here in Australia, the V60 is noticeably firm, but on the more usual mix of surfaces, you won’t be complaining about the V60 Cross Country’s ride quality.

Around town, the steering column does require a fair bit of driver input, meaning at low speeds you’ll be moving the steering wheel quite a bit to navigate roundabouts or tight car spaces, but the rack is relatively lightweight and still easy to pilot around town.

All up, the V60 Cross Country’s spirited engine, capable suspension system and smooth transmission make for a wonderful commuter and long-distance tourer for you and the family.

Is it Practical and Spacious?

In the front of the cabin, the V60 treats the driver and front passenger to a sleek, elegant and spacious cabin that embraces minimalism and eliminates any unnecessary buttons.

There’s a heap of headroom in the front of the cabin for tall drivers, ample adjustment in the driving position and enough width to make the V60’s cabin feel SUV-rivalling in terms of space and practicality.

When it comes to storage, the V60 receives storage behind the gear lever inside a retractable tray cover, a pair of cupholders, storage inside the folding arm rest and sizable door bins on either side of the cabin.

Overall, the fit and finish of the front of the cabin makes the V60 feel extremely premium while remaining usable and practical for growing families.

In terms of legroom and space in the second row of the cabin, the V60 has a lot going for it, with a heap of legroom for tall passengers and no issues in terms of headroom or space to stretch out on long journeys.

Compared to major rivals, the V60 has a slight edge over its competition when it comes to legroom and space available for second row passengers.

The rear seats also feature ISOFIX anchors on either side of the cabin, as well as a set of top tether mounts to help accommodate a variety of child seats.

Things keep getting better when you get to the boot which gains electronic assistance as standard, and can accommodate up to 529L with the rear seats standing, which expands to a massive 1,441L with the second row folded flat.

Squeezing bags into the V60’s boot is made easy by the flat floor design that doesn’t feature any load lift over the tailgate and adds to its family-friendly and practical nature.

Is it Safe?

The Volvo V60 has been awarded ANCAP’s maximum five-star safety rating, scoring 96% for adult protection and 88% for child protection, as well as 74% for pedestrian protection and 77% for its clever safety assistance technologies.

As standard, the V60 comes feature-packed when it comes to safety equipment, with autonomous emergency braking, blind-spot monitoring, lane-keep assistance, adaptive cruise control, rear cross-traffic alerts and a surround-view camera included as standard.

This makes the V60 one of the most well-equipped vehicles in its price bracket when it comes to clever active safety technologies.

Is it Fuel Efficient?

The Volvo V60 Cross Country has an official fuel economy score of 7.4L/100km on a combined cycle, making it relatively fuel-efficient for a vehicle of this size, although some of the hybrid powertrains in its class offer even more impressive fuel economy scores.

In the real world, you can expect to average around 8.0L/100km on a mix of town and highway driving.

Our Verdict: Is the Volvo V60 Worth it?

The Volvo V60 is a wonderful option for those looking for a comfortable and spacious package filled with premium features and safety equipment, at a reasonable price for a European car here in Australia. 

It’s comfortable to drive on a mix of town and country roads, adding to the flexibility of the package and making it a perfect commuter and school holiday roadtrip machine for growing families. 

The Volvo V60 offers a heap of entertainment and safety equipment in the base model, making it a great option for those looking for a premium machine without a huge price tag. As a result, we encourage you to add it to your shortlist. 

On that note, if you’re in the market for a new car, you can get a free quote and see how much OnlineAuto can save you on your next car, or call us on 1300 719 925 

Five Specs You Need to Know

1. Five-year/unlimited KM warranty

2. 12-month/15,000km service intervals

3. Five-star ANCAP safety rating

4. Turbocharged four-cylinder engine with mild 48V hybrid technology

5. All-wheel-drive platform with eight-speed automatic

Pros

• Spacious, practical & family-friendly cabin

• Generous safety equipment list as standard

• Silky smooth engine and transmission combination

Cons

• Firm suspension on rough country B-roads

• Key features left as optional extras

OnlineAuto Rating: 9/10

Volvo V60 Competition