THESE WAGON WHEELS CAN SPIN
Despite lower ride height, Volvo V60 is superior to many upscale family haulers
OK, it might not be as rare as sighting Sasquatch riding a unicorn. But here in Canada, seeing a new station wagon on the road is a noteworthy event. And yes, Volvo’s redesigned V60 is neither an SUV nor a crossover, but an honest-to-God of Thunder station wagon. True, the Swedish automaker prefers the European term “estate” rather than wagon, but that’s Volvo’s issue, not mine. “The family estate driver is an important customer for our business and has been for generations,” says Hakan Samuelsson, president and chief executive of Volvo Cars. “The new V60 honours that tradition, but also takes it much further.” The mid-size V60 has been around since 2011, though not sold in North America until 2014. While retaining its everyday practicality as a family vehicle, the new-generation 2019 model adds a longer wheelbase and a larger measure of elegance and sophistication. It shares Volvo’s Scalable Product Architecture (SPA) platform with the almostas-new XC60 and the top-line 90-series vehicles. The company ambitiously states the V60 introduces “a new standard to the mid-size premium wagon segment, with a luxurious interior, increased levels of space and advanced connectivity,” plus Volvo’s latest driver-support systems and other safety technology. However, it’s a short list of competitors and they all come from Germany: Audi A4 Allroad Quattro, BMW 3 Series Touring, Mercedes’ C- and E-Class wagons and the smaller, less expensive VW Golf Alltrack. The V60 is a seriously stylish car, with a sloping roofline and short overhangs. There’s no need to include the qualifier “for a wagon” here. For the Canadian market, Volvo has chosen to bless us with two versions of the V60, the T5 FWD and the T6 AWD. Turbocharged 2.0-litre four-cylinder engines power both. The T6 has a supercharger under the hood as well, which gives the wagon a dramatic boost (no pun intended) in the jump department: 316 horsepower and a strong 295 pound-feet of torque versus the T5’s 250 hp and 258 lb-ft. An eight-speed automatic transmission sends that power to all four wheels. Although it weighs 1,818 kilograms, the T6 will accelerate from zero to 100 km/h in 5.6 seconds, says Volvo. Yet despite having the muscle, the V60 T6 is not quite as sporty as it might initially appear. The car doesn’t have the same handling dynamism of some of its Teutonic rivals. Only in Dynamic driving mode, which is the wagon’s “high-performance” setting, does the V60 feel ready to take on twisty tarmac with verve. In Comfort and Eco modes, the Volvo is far more relaxed, the suspension softer and the steering lighter. That’s not meant as a criticism, but more of a personal observation. The V60 is one of those cars you can drive all day and still feel refreshed after the experience. Volvo’s seats have long been lauded for their long-distance comfort, and the V60’s are extraordinary. They are heated and ventilated, of course, and because the tester is the top Inscription trim level ($55,400 to start), they also come with a standard cushion extension, a boon for those with long legs. The rest of the fully contented cabin is typically Scandinavian, with light colours, nice driftwood-like trim and a minimalistic use of buttons and knobs. Most everything is controlled via a nine-inch touch screen that contains Volvo’s Sensus infotainment system. I haven’t been a big fan of Sensus; the screen operates like a tablet, with the usual swipe, poke and pinch motions to activate the car’s myriad functions, and my issue is that viewing and using the screen requires glancing away from the road. Depending what you’re trying to access — seat and steering wheel heat levels, fan level, radio stations, etc. — it can require multiple pokes. Cargo room is family-getaway generous: 529 L behind the rear seats and 898 when they’re folded flat. A couple of the more notable safety features are the standard City Safety system with Autobrake technology and the optional Pilot Assist system (part of the $1,500 Convenience package). The first uses automatic braking and detection systems to assist the driver in avoiding potential collisions (Volvo claims it’s the only system on the market to recognize pedestrians, cyclists and large animals). The upgraded and semi-autonomous Pilot Assist supports the driver with steering, acceleration and braking “on well-marked roads up to 130 km/h.” The V60 is a great set of wheels. Except for lacking the jacked-up ride height of crossovers — and there’s always the XC60 if you absolutely need it — the wagon is as good, if not superior, as an upscale family hauler than most of those other vehicles. While the T6 Inspiration tester was fully kitted out with about $10,000 worth of options (including $3,750 for the outstanding Bowers & Wilkins sound system) and has a $65,600 sticker to show for it, the V60 can be had for significantly less. The T6 Momentum starts at $48,900. And if you can forego all-wheel drive and the performance benefit of the supercharger, you can save $4,000 and choose the T5 Momentum instead.