2019 Volvo V60: The mid-size V gets redone
Volvo’s lineup transformation continues. One by one, the Chinese-owned Swedish automaker has been overhauling its vehicles with a new exterior design language, a rethought interior control layout, and new modular platforms. The 2019 Volvo V60 is the latest model to make its global debut, having moved to Volvo’s Scalable Product Architecture (SPA) and gaining miniature-V90 curb appeal, multiple four-cylinder powertrains, and the high level of safety features we’ve come to expect from Volvo.
Although the V60 will offer gasoline, hybrid, and diesel powertrains in other markets, the United States will get only two gasoline setups at launch: T5 FWD and T6 AWD. The T5 model uses a turbocharged 2.0-liter inline-four that produces 250 horsepower and 258 lb-ft of torque and pairs with front-wheel drive. The all-wheel-drive T6 model has a 316-hp turbocharged and supercharged fourcylinder that delivers 295 lb-ft of torque.
In Europe, the new V60 will be available with two plug-in-hybrid powertrains from launch, and we expect at least one will become available in the U.S. sometime after the V60 initially goes on sale. The more powerful of the two, the 390-hp T8, is similar to the setup offered in the V60’s SUV sibling, the XC60. Making its debut in the V60 is the new T6 PHEV setup, which has a combined output of 340 horsepower.
Steering is handled by an electrically assisted rack-and-pinion system, and the V60 rides on a control-arm suspension up front and a multilink setup with a transverse composite leaf spring in the rear.
The revamped V60 moves stylistically closer to the larger V90 and V90 Cross Country (a V60 Cross Country should be