The Volvo V60 hasn’t seen a redesign since 2010, and it’s showing its age. Still, it’s right in Volvo’s strike zone: a stylish, comfortable, and capable wagon with enough luxury to satisfy most.
What's New for 2018
The V60 will see a redesign for 2019, so there aren’t any significant changes for the coming year. The base T5 trim has disappeared, which leaves the Dynamic as the base model.
Choosing Your Volvo V60
Three engines power the different trims of the V60. The first is a turbocharged 2.0-liter four-cylinder unit producing 250 horsepower and 258 pound-feet of torque. It returns 25 mpg city, 36 mpg highway, and 29 mpg combined in front-wheel-drive guise, while the available all-wheel-drive model can net 22 city, 33 highway, and 26 combined. This engine is only available on the base V60 Dynamic.
Step up to the R-Design, and you'll score a standard 2.0-liter four-cylinder that's turbocharged and supercharged to put down 302 hp and 295 lb-ft. All-wheel drive is standard on this trim, but despite the extra power, it's not that much less efficient than the base 2.0-liter, losing just one digit on the freeway.
For the high-performance Polestar, the same twincharged engine is tuned to produce 362 hp and 347 lb-ft. EPA estimates drop precipitously here, to just 20 mpg city, 27 highway, and 22 combined. But on the upside, the highest-performance V60 can hit 60 miles per hour in around four-and-a-half seconds.
The V60 is well-equipped to start, and all models come with leather steering wheels, leather seats, and aluminum accents. On the tech side, USB connectivity, voice control, and Volvo’s Sensus Connect system are all standard. A high-riding Cross Country variant is available, but it's marketed separately.
If you love an exciting car and you can afford it, get the Polestar — it’s an amazing machine. Otherwise, stick to the Dynamic trim and add AWD or luxury options as you need them. Volvo’s package structure is fairly flexible, so it shouldn’t be hard to match exactly what you need. Then again, you could also wait for the redesigned V60, which should arrive in the next year – look to the new XC60 for the best idea of what kind of technology, style, and content to expect.