Welsh Motoring Writers
  • Home
  • About us
  • News
  • Car Reviews
  • Blogs
  • Contact
  • Members
  • Blog

Volvo V60

11/11/2010

 
Picture
Volvo used to have a reputation for building solid, practical estate cars.

To be fair it still does – the V70 and V50 might not have the greatest load volumes in their respective sectors, but their squared off tailgates ensure they’re the right shape for transporting large, boxed items.

To most people, the new V60 – a ‘sports wagon’ version of the new S60 saloon – will be an estate, but according to Volvo’s definition of an estate car was based on its ability to carry a washing machine with the rear seats in place.

So it’s not as capacious as you might expect traditional Volvo estates to be.
In a departure from Volvo estates of the past it’s also sleek.

It comes with a choice of frugal petrol and diesel engines, with a not-so-frugal high-performance 304bhp 3.0-litre T6.

The best seller will be the new 163bhp 2.0-litre D3. It’s a five-cylinder engine that from a fuel economy and CO2-emissions perspective performs just as well as rival four-cylinder diesels.

There will also be some new four-cylinder turbocharged petrol engines using Ford-developed EcoBoost technology with the 1.6-litre engines offering a choice of 150bhp or 180bhp outputs in T3 and T4 guises, and a 2.0-litre 240bhp T5.

In 2011 the range will be joined by a 115bhp 1.6 DRIVe diesel.

But the V60 also has a dose of typical Volvo practicality.

The long-serving cargo area divider that keeps the weekly shopping, or other items, secure is here, and the rear seats fold in an easy action to create a completely flat load area.

Standard for all UK V60s is a fold-flat passenger seat, which extends the space considerably along one side of the car.

Volvo offers ES, SE and SE Lux equipment grades, but all versions will come with the company’s City Safety obstacle detection and braking system, alloy wheels, electronic climate control and cruise control.

Despite being described as dynamic by Volvo, the V60 doesn’t feel any sharper than its best estate rivals, but is still a decent drive.

The quality of the interior is impressive, with expensive-feeling materials and a simple and clear design.

Prices currently start at about £25,000 for ES grade D3 and T3 versions, although the new entry-level DRIVe should make the range more accessible to buy and to run.

While, as perhaps the spiritual successor of the 240 GLT estate, the V60 doesn’t have the brutally square appearance of its predecessors, it still stands out as a Volvo and is helping to bring its traditional values to a new younger audience.

By Simon Harris

Comments are closed.

    View by date

    November 2022
    September 2022
    August 2022
    November 2021
    October 2021
    September 2021
    June 2021
    December 2020
    August 2020
    August 2019
    July 2019
    June 2019
    April 2019
    August 2018
    June 2018
    April 2018
    March 2018
    September 2017
    May 2017
    February 2017
    January 2017
    July 2016
    April 2016
    March 2016
    October 2015
    September 2015
    July 2015
    May 2015
    February 2015
    January 2015
    October 2014
    September 2014
    March 2014
    November 2013
    September 2013
    August 2013
    July 2013
    June 2013
    May 2013
    March 2013
    January 2013
    December 2012
    October 2012
    July 2012
    April 2012
    March 2012
    January 2012
    December 2011
    October 2011
    August 2011
    July 2011
    June 2011
    May 2011
    April 2011
    February 2011
    January 2011
    December 2010
    November 2010
    October 2010
    August 2010
    July 2010
    May 2010
    December 2009
    October 2009
    August 2009
    November 2001


    View by tags

    All
    Alfa Romeo Giulietta
    Alfa Romeo Mito
    Aston Martin Rapide
    Audi A3
    Audi A6
    Audi A7 Sportback
    Audi Q3
    Bmw 520d
    Bmw 5 Series Touring
    Bugatti Veyron Super Sports
    Fiat 500 Twinair
    Ford Focus
    Honda Civic Type R
    Honda CR-Z
    Hyundai Ix35
    Infiniti Ex37
    Infiniti Fx
    Infiniti G37 Cabrio
    Jaguar Xf
    Jeep Grand Cherokee
    Kia Soul
    Kia Sportage
    Land Rover Discovery 4
    Lexus Ct200h
    Mazda3
    Mazda CX-5
    Mercedes-Benz C-Class
    Mini Countyman
    Mitsubishi Shogun
    Nissan X-Trail
    Peugeot 3008
    Peugeot 508 Rxh
    Peugeot 508 Saloon
    Peugeot Rcz
    Range Rover Evoque
    Renault Mégane
    Renault Mégane Coupe Cabriolet
    Renaultsport Clio Gordini
    Renault Wind
    Seat Leon Cupra R
    Seat Leon Ecomotive
    Skoda Octavia Scout
    Skoda Superb Estate
    Skoda Yeti
    Ssangyong Korando
    Suzuki Alto
    Suzuki Swift
    Toyota Avensis Saloon
    Volkswagen California
    Volkswagen Tiguan
    Volkswagen Touareg
    Volvo S60
    Volvo V60

    RSS Feed

© WELSH MOTORING WRITERS 2023