Used 2021 Volvo V60

The 2021 Volvo V60 is a premium station wagon, essentially a more practical, cargo-swallowing version of the S60 sedan. It is the kind of vehicle the Swedish luxury automaker does best. And while rivals such as BMW have largely abandoned wagons in the U.S., the V60 is alive and alluring.

Far from the dowdy design of past Volvos, the V60 could be the first car that combines the words “station wagon” and “sexy.” The standard V60 includes a long list of standard features and is front-wheel drive only. With one-time competitors like the BMW 3 Series wagon and Buick Regal gone, the V60 has the compact luxury wagon market to itself.

Introduced just last year is the even more versatile V60 Cross Country. It has extra ground clearance, standard all-wheel drive, and a more rugged design. Its primary rival is the Audi A4 Allroad.

Also new last year is a high-performance plug-in hybrid V60. Formerly called the Polestar Engineered, for 2021, it is named the V60 Recharge. It packs over 400 horsepower and 22 miles of electric-only range, but at over $67,000, it isn’t cheap.

Whichever 2021 Volvo V60 you go with, you’ll get a stylish and practical vehicle packed with technology and blessed with all manner of safety systems – as if you’d expect anything else from this Swedish brand.

Wagons have only a fraction of the sales of crossover SUVs, but a car like the V60 is a nonconformist’s delight for those in the know. It boasts much of the practicality of an SUV while retaining a European sport sedan’s excellent road manners.

We call the Volvo V60 an “anti-SUV” because it has excellent and practical cargo capacity like a sport-utility vehicle, but doesn’t drive like one. The V60 is more akin to a sedan, and a good one at that. The standard 250-horsepower turbocharged 4-cylinder engine is beguilingly energetic. This is one seriously willing engine, and changing drive modes makes notable differences in the way the V60 handles. In Dynamic mode, for example, throttle response is livelier, and steering feel stiffens, while Eco mode enables the highest efficiency.

V60 Cross Country models drive similarly to the standard V60 but are ever so slightly less athletic in corners due to the higher ground clearance. Still, we’d take that for its standard all-wheel drive and added capability in snow and on trails.

The V60 Cross Country also has an off-road mode that works at speeds up to about 25 mph. It optimizes the vehicle for traction on dirt and slippery roads, and enables hill-descent control, which automatically slows the car on steep grades. In testing that feature in the Canadian Rocky Mountains, though, we found it too abrupt and opted instead to just regulate downhill braking ourselves. Speaking of brakes, those on the V60 are fabulous, enabling “right now” stops.

The Volvo V60 Recharge pairs a turbocharged and supercharged 4-cylinder engine with a plug-in rechargeable battery. The result is 415 horsepower, 494 lb-ft, and bonkers acceleration from this all-wheel-drive sleeper. It will do 0-60 mph in just 4.3 seconds, yet scores 69 miles per gallon equivalent (MPGe) and can travel up to 22 miles on battery power alone. How’s that for nonconformity?

Like a sedan or 2-row SUV, the Volvo V60 can seat five people. As a wagon, though, its X-factor is the ability and ease with which its rear cargo area can hold stuff. There’s nearly 20 cubic feet back there, plenty for suitcases and shopping bags. Lowering the rear seats creates 50.9-cubic feet of storage and creates a flat area that’s ready to accept longer items. Pragmatics aside, the Volvo’s interior design continues to be among the best out there. It combines Scandinavian minimalism with premium touches and great technology.

All models feature a horizontally oriented, crisp 9-inch central display, plus a slick 12.3-inch all-digital instrument cluster. These may sound daunting, but they will become easier to use with practice. For the tech-savvy, you can dig down into menus to customize features. Our editors found the front seats comfortable, and they aptly fit a variety of body shapes and sizes. The driver’s seating position is excellent. Several colors of leather upholstery are available, but we are also fond of the blond-weave textile pattern. It makes a posh interior look even classier.

Forget those dowdy, square station wagons of old. If you’ve ever wondered if a wagon can look gorgeous, consider the Volvo V60 Exhibit A.

This sleek Swedish car boasts a long hood, slightly raked roof, and Volvo-specific features like LED headlights with “Thor’s Hammer” daytime running lights. A power tailgate and panoramic sunroof are also standard.

The 2021 Volvo V60 Cross Country deftly blends toughness and elegance. This adventurous model has over two inches more ground clearance — 8.3 inches total — revised fascia and fender flares.

ALLURING DESIGN
Volvo has a knack for making station wagons sexy, and this latest V60 is its best-looking yet. As a statement of style, individuality, or counterculture, the V60’s elegant design nails it.

SAFETY AND DRIVER ASSISTANCE
A Volvo wouldn’t be a Volvo if it didn’t put safety first. Nowadays, that means active features like the ability to keep from drifting lanes, detect pedestrians and animals in the road, and automatically apply the brakes to prevent a collision — both in forward and reverse.

A base Volvo V60 is called the Momentum, and though this is the least expensive version, it’s well-equipped. Included are Volvo’s Sensus infotainment system with a 9-inch screen and Apple CarPlay/Android Auto integration, a power liftgate, dual-zone climate control, panoramic sunroof, textile upholstery, power front seats, and 18-inch wheels. Newly standard for 2021 are LED headlights and fog lights, auto-dimming rearview mirror, and Volvo’s Care Key that lets parents set limitations on the car’s top speed before their teen or other family member gets behind the wheel.

Standard safety features include lane-keeping assist, automatic emergency braking, and Steering Support, which can further help you steer clear of a collision. New for 2021, it also now includes the formerly optional blind-spot monitoring with rear cross-traffic alert. Also included are four years of complimentary Volvo On Call, which lets you remotely connect to the car via a smartphone to lock and unlock doors, check the fuel level, and more.

V60 Cross Country models also have all-wheel drive, an off-road mode, and a leather interior.

Stepping up to a sporty R-Design V60 adds Nappa leather upholstery, Harman Kardon audio, navigation, a universal garage-door opener, 4-zone climate control, front-seat cushion extender, paddle shifters, blind-spot monitoring, and parking sensors. Inscription V60 models are similar to R-Design models, but with luxury-oriented aesthetics.

The Volvo V60 Recharge plug-in hybrid includes the turbocharged/supercharged and electrified powertrain, all-wheel drive, Bowers and Wilkins audio system, Polestar-tuned chassis, and otherwise optional features like heated front seats and steering wheel, and a 360-degree camera.

Major options for the V60 and V60 Cross Country are bundled into packages. One particularly recommendable one is the Advanced Package that includes Volvo’s Pilot Assist – an excellent semi-autonomous driver-assist system with adaptive cruise control. It also includes a head-up display, 360-degree camera, and wireless phone charger.

Newly available as a single option for the Volvo Cross Country is a backrest massage function for the front seats.

The Volvo V60 and V60 Cross Country come with a 2.0-liter turbocharged 4-cylinder engine called the T5 that makes 250 horsepower. As we’ve said, it’s a strong engine and feels mightier than that number suggests. Standard V60 models with that engine are front-wheel drive (FWD), while Cross Country models are all-wheel drive (AWD).

The Volvo V60 Recharge, formerly called the Polestar Engineered, a 4-cylinder engine that is both turbocharged and supercharged, plus a plug-in hybrid electrified powertrain that has up to 22 miles of range thanks to its 11.6-kWh battery. Volvo called this powertrain the T8. The V60 Recharge is a performance monster with 415 horsepower, but its electrified powertrain also makes it efficient with up to 69 miles per gallon equivalent (MPGe). The T8 also features Ohlins suspension with adjustable shock absorbers.

All models use a slick 8-speed automatic transmission. Note that premium unleaded gasoline is recommended for these Volvos. The Volvo V60 has an engine idle start/stop feature that can be permanently disabled via the touchscreen menu.

2.0-liter turbocharged inline-4 (V60, V60 Cross Country T5)
250 horsepower @ 5,500 rpm
258 lb-ft of torque @ 1,500-4,800 rpm
EPA city/highway fuel economy: 23/34 mpg (FWD V60), 22/31 mpg (AWD V60 Cross Country)

2.0-liter turbocharged and supercharged inline-4 + electric motor (V60 Recharge T8 twin-engine)
415 horsepower total
494 lb-ft of torque total
Electric-only range: 22 miles
EPA combined city/highway fuel economy: 30 mpg, 69 MPGe equivalent