Space, pace and grace: New V60 is just ace!
has a raft of such systems, from City Safety with Steering Support (which includes pedestrian, cyclist and large animal detection, and front collision warning with fully automatic emergency braking and steering assistance) to Oncoming Lane Mitigation – which automatically provides steering assistance if you unwittingly drift out of your lane.
Then there is Run-off Road Protection – which automatically tightens the front seat belts should the car inadvertently leave the road, while front seat frames have a collapsible section to reduce vertical forces and help prevent spinal injuries in a crash.
But there is also a long list of the latest must have gadgets like a large swipeable central touch screen for infotainment, sat-nav and driving data plus controls for the two-zone climate system. And on the comfort and convenience front all V60 models have a power tailgate, rear parking sensors, cruise control and hill start assist.
Our D4 Momentum Pro (which starts at £36,610 on the road) also boasts premium leather electric memory seats (heated in the front) and came with almost £10,000 worth of extras - the highlights of which were adaptive cruise control, 360 camera system, panorama power tilt and slide glass sunroof, parking assist (parallel and 90 degree) with the biggest extra cost going to a Premium sound system by Bowers and Wilkins which alone added £2,500.
Most owners will probably pass on the majority of that plumping for the base Momentum D3 model which comes with all the kit you really need from £31,810 and 150bhp from its diesel power plant.
All engines are the same basic 2-litre, four cylinder arrangement but our D4 has 40 more horses and the quite quick T5 petrol has 250bhp for you to play with.
Trim-wise there are six levels to choose from topping out at the T5 Inscription Pro auto priced from £40,670.
Describing the new V60 as ‘elegant, sporty, spacious and versatile... welcome to the new generation of Volvo estate car’ the manufacturer boasts that: “We designed the new V60 to be the ultimate lifestyle enabler. Smart versatility combined with dynamic elegance helps you to do what you want to do. The load compartment offers class-leading capacity and accommodates almost anything you need to bring
“From the moment you settle into your seat and close the door behind you, the V60 is a car that is set up for driving pleasure. It has a dynamic driving character that inspires confidence, with an advanced chassis designed to provide perfectly balanced road holding and comfort.”
I, for one, can’t argue with that and suspect many more will agree - especially as Volvo has just announced its global sales went up by 12.9 per cent in September compared with the same period last year!
More info at www.volvo.co.uk