Used 2019 Volvo V60

The all-new 2019 V60 continues Volvo’s impressively long lineage of station wagons. This 2nd-generation V60 is based on the all-new Volvo S60 sedan, which means it’s built on the company’s rigid new SPA (Scalable Product Architecture) chassis. What’s more, it’s available in four individual models: Momentum, Inscription, R-Design and Cross Country. The Cross Country is an all-wheel-drive V60 station wagon with a slightly raised chassis, so it’s totally at home in snowy or muddy conditions.

Most people agree: The 2019 Volvo V60 is one of the most attractive European station wagons. Competitors include the Audi A4 Allroad Quattro, the BMW 3 Series Wagon and the Mercedes Benz E-Class Wagon.

The proportions of the new V60 look just right, which may be related to an overall length that has been stretched by nearly five inches and a wheelbase that’s up by 3.8. Rear overhang, the section of the V60 aft of its back wheels, has been increased in length by 4.9 inches.

KBB sampled a 2019 Volvo V60 T6 AWD Inscription in Southern California. From the driver’s seat, the V60 feels just like an S60 sedan, and you tend to forget about that wagon body behind you. It’s quiet inside the V60 and the ride quality is excellent, yet that comfort doesn’t translate to any unusual body motions when this Volvo is driven hard on a twisty road.

Other findings: The V60 suspension is tuned more aggressively than the larger V90 wagon, and its electric-assist steering has good feel. Even though the T6 V60 has 316 horsepower, torque steer is not a problem, thanks to its all-wheel-drive configuration and the new double-wishbone front suspension. Although the T6 engine is only a 2.0-liter 4-cylinder, the V60 merges onto the freeway with confidence and easily maintains a brisk pace up long mountain grades.

Of note, the V60 has multilink rear suspension with a transverse composite leaf spring. This arrangement saves weight and minimizes intrusion into the cargo area. As a result, there’s now 23 cubic feet of available load space behind the new V60’s rear seat, an increase of 20 percent compared to the previous V60. Load-leveling air suspension, which eliminates the transverse leaf spring, also is available on the 2019 Volvo V60.

This is a great place to spend time. The interior of the 2019 Volvo V60 is handsomely uncluttered and pure Scandinavian, with a center stack dominated by a large 9-inch Sensus screen. If you swipe the vertically oriented screen one way, you’ll see 19 vehicle functions, everything from ESC Sport mode and Active Bending Lights to cruise control and Road Sign Information. Swipe it another way and you’ll see 22 apps that range from stereo settings and Bluetooth to Spotify and Pandora. While Sensus effectively declutters the V60’s dash, it does force the driver to look away from the road far too often. On a good note, the Sensus chip-set has been upgraded for 2019. This means faster boot times, a quicker rearview camera and speedier navigation recalculations.

Appreciated luxuries in Volvo’s new station wagon include 10-way-power front seats and electronic climate control along with massaging Nappa leather seats (Inscription) and available metallic mesh trim with driftwood inlays (Inscription).

As stated, the V60 is a great-looking wagon. A bit of extra distance between the V60’s front seats and the front wheels has helped improve the proportions of the vehicle, adding presence while making this latest Volvo station wagon look particularly handsome from the side. The roof, 2.2 inches lower than that of the first-gen V60, makes it easier to load bike racks or skis.

When the new V60 is viewed from the front, its LED “Thor’s Hammer” headlights are easy to see, along with its chrome-framed grille and fog lights in the lower front fascia. In back, the V60 is characterized by a pair of tall taillights, plus dual-exhaust outlets and a foot-operated power tailgate.

CITY WEAVE TEXTILE SEATS
Appearing on seats and door panels alike, this gray plaid-like material looks great, reminiscent of the plaid fabric used on the seats of the original Volkswagen GTI. For what it’s worth, City Weave, available only on the Momentum model, looks durable, and we think its cool retro vibe harkens back to a simpler time of picnic baskets and old Volvo wagons like the 240.

FOUR DRIVE MODES
All 2019 Volvo V60s have four Drive Mode settings: Comfort, Dynamic, Eco and Individual. These adjust the V60 accordingly, making it more comfortable, sporty or fuel efficient via adjustments to parameters such as shift points, steering effort and throttle response. The V60 Cross Country, fittingly, also has an Off-Road mode.

In addition to power front seats, a panoramic sunroof and electronic climate control, the 2019 Volvo V60 boasts an 8-inch driver display and a generous amount of other standard equipment. Among the standard safety features is a system designed to keep the V60 from going off the road, plus a forward-collision warning system and collision-avoidance technology that works at speed differentials of up to 37 mph. Standard curtain airbags protect V60 occupants in side-impact collisions, while a collapsible brake pedal and steering column help absorb crash energy in frontal impacts.

The V60’s optional $2,500 Multimedia Package includes a 12.3-inch digital instrument cluster, a navigation system and a 13-speaker Harman Kardon sound system that features an air-ventilated subwoofer mounted behind the dashboard. This stereo system positively fills the 5-seat Volvo V60 cabin with glorious sounds.

Sporting drivers will appreciate Volvo’s Four-C suspension, which features four electronically controlled shock absorbers whose damping characteristics are continuously and instantaneously adjusted for the given driving conditions. Four-C’s active dampers dramatically improve the driving dynamics of Volvo’s midsize station wagon. It’s $1,000 well spent.

The V60 is available with a choice of two powerplants: the T5 and the T6. Both are 2.0-liter inline-4 gasoline engines that make good low-end torque, but they are quite a bit different. The T5 is a turbocharged powerplant that puts out 250 horsepower, while the T6 is turbocharged and supercharged to the tune of 316 horsepower.

The T5 is available in the front-wheel-drive (FWD) V60 and the all-wheel-drive (AWD) V60 Cross Country, while the T6 exclusively powers all other AWD V60s. Both engines, interestingly, feature a 400-watt electrical water pump that improves vehicle fuel economy by reducing frictional losses.

2.0-liter turbocharged inline-4 (T5)
250 horsepower @ 5,500 rpm
258 lb-ft of torque @ 1,500-4,800 rpm
EPA city/highway fuel economy: 24/36 mpg (FWD), 21/31 mpg (AWD)

2.0-liter turbocharged and supercharged inline-4 (T6)
316 horsepower @ 5,700 rpm
295 lb-ft of torque @ 2,200-5,400 rpm
EPA city/highway fuel economy: 21/31 mpg (AWD)