FAMILY PRACTICALITY COMES IN A SLEEK, SPORTY DESIGN
When Volvo introduced the Duett in 1953, the automaker pledged allegiance to the wagon. One of the latest examples of the breed is the 2020 V60.
Based on Volvo’s scalable product architecture, the V60 rides on the same platform that underpins the 90 and 60 Series vehicles. Available with front-wheel drive or all-wheel drive and three powertrain options, the V60 also comes in Cross Country trim.
Calgary-based Mike Kwiatkowski learned to drive in Unionville, Ont. His first car was a handme-down Mercury Sable station wagon, which proved to be handy because he was a drummer in a rock band. Since the Sable, all of his vehicles have been fullsize SUVS, including two Ford Expeditions and two Cadillac
Escalades. His current vehicle is a 2018 Escalade.
With partner Rachael Tweedy, Kwiatkowski has a blended family with four children. They spent a week with a 2020 Volvo V60 Cross Country, equipped with a 2.0-litre turbocharged four-cylinder engine, eight-speed automatic transmission and all-wheel drive.
Kwiatkowski says until the test drive, he had never even sat in a Volvo. His tester rang in at $58,900, and it was equipped with numerous packages and standalone options, including the Premier and Premier Plus packages and 19-inch alloy wheels.
Kwiatkowski was immediately impressed by the charcoal-coloured leather seat that’s heated and power adjustable. He says it had a good degree of side bolstering and he felt well placed.
“I also noticed the size of the rear-view mirror,” he says. “It was huge, in my opinion, and I felt like it was in my face. But the rest of the interior was nicely appointed, and it all felt luxurious. I had no trouble seeing or reaching any of the controls, either.”
During the week of Kwiatkowski’s test drive, the temperature hovered near -30 C, which gave him an opportunity to fully appreciate the heated leather steering wheel that’s part of the Premier Package. It had three heat settings, and Kwiatkowski said it was a great feature.
“The interior was really more than I expected to find in the car,” he says. “It was nicely appointed and even the vent styling was unique — someone put some thought into designing those.”
The 2.0-L turbocharged four-cylinder engine puts out 250 horsepower, and Kwiatkowski says the power plant was quick but also quiet. There are four drive modes: Comfort, Eco, Offroad and Dynamic. Kwiatkowski spent most of his time driving with the system set to Dynamic. He says the Haldex all-wheel drive system, which sends most of the power to the front wheels unless the rear wheels are slipping, worked very well.
“The suspension was compliant, and the ride was smooth and comfortable.”
From the driver’s seat, he didn’t like having to hold the power liftgate button for four seconds before the hatch would open.
“I timed it; I just don’t know why it would take that long before it would do its thing,” he says. “I did like the power-folding rear head rests, and the kids liked the heated rear seat but they would have liked the back to warm up, too.”
Kwiatkowski says the V60 Cross Country is a really good family car. “You can easily seat four adults with lots of leg room, and it has great cargo-carrying capability. And, it looked way sleeker and sportier than what I think of as a wagon.”