 2015 Volvo V60 T5 FWD. Click image to enlarge |
Like all modern direct-injection fours, this one exhibits some diesel-like clatter at idle, is slightly gruff when stepping off and doesn’t have a lot of character. But it moves the wagon out smartly and efficiently. Welcome to the future.
On the road, the V60 is everything we’ve come to expect from this platform. It’s an exceptional tourer, eating up the highway miles with composed serenity. And those chairs (optional sport seats in this tester) will keep your backside happy for an eternity.
Back seat room is adequate for two adults. Just.
Get the V60 on some twisty blacktop and it gets the job done but doesn’t inspire you to hustle. There’s not a lot of playful harmony between the steering and chassis, but then again, we know that about this car.
You love a Volvo for its other attributes. The electric power steering has three selectable weights – I preferred the middle one.
Of course, besides looking pretty darn slick, this sport wagon adds a layer of utility over the S60 sedan. Traditional Volvo wagon owners might carp over the fact they can’t carry that fridge back from the Brick in the V60, but despite its rakish roofline there is still a functional cargo area that expands to a flat load floor with the 40/20/40 rear seats folded. There’s hidden compartment under the floor too.
One might well ask, if Volvo wants to swim with the big fish, is it wise to completely abandon six-cylinder power? Trust the Swedes to be different.
  2015 Volvo V60 T5 FWD. Click image to enlarge |
The answer lies in the supercharged and turbocharged version of this 2.0L unit. It puts out the requisite 300+ horses and, according to Volvo, handily bests all six-cylinder competitors when it comes to fuel economy.
While this twin-blower version is not found in the V60 sport wagon, it is available in the 2015 S60 sedan and XC60 crossover.
In the S60 T6 FWD (starting $42,850) we tested, there was no lack of urge, showing considerably more punch off the line thanks to the supercharger that huffs air into the cylinders right off idle. Between 2,000 and 3,000 rpm is a transition zone where the supercharger fades out and the turbo comes on line. Power delivery is linear and immediate, and this engine has more character than the single turbo unit – I quite enjoyed that faint supercharger whine at lower revs.
The S60 T6 FWD returned 9.0 L/100 over a 200 mile journey. I also experienced this engine in the 2015 XC60 T6 AWD ($46,350 start), and it had no problem hustling the hefty crossover through the boulevards of Vegas.
A word on nomenclature. Moving forward, the T6 and T5 badges no longer refer to cylinder count. T5 = 200 to 250 hp, and T6 = 250 to 300+ hp.
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There’s a lot riding on this new modular engine strategy from Volvo. Like, oh, the entire future of what’s left of the Swedish auto industry. But I’d say they are on to something here. Not only is the supercharged/turbocharged strategy petty cool and unique (yes, VW has a 1.4L unit in Europe), it delivers on its promise of power and efficiency.
Back to the sexy wagon. Efficient front-wheel-drive four-cylinder power is all very nice, but my advice would be to go for the 55 grand V60 T6 AWD R-Design Platinum in Rebel Blue. With its 325-hp turbo six-pot, your Billy bookcase will make it home from Ikea in a quarter of the time it takes to find out that pesky fastener is missing.
Competitors:
Audi Allroad
BMW 3-Series Touring
Cadillac CTS Sport Wagon
