by Anthony Fongaro - Photos by Volvo- 10/08/2024
Volvo is known for a few things: safety, Swedish style, and wagons. They may sell a multitude of SUVs, but Volvo has been making some excellent wagons. Along with the larger V90, Volvo has the V60. Part of Volvo’s appeal also lies in their plug-in hybrid powertrains and creating Polestar Engineered vehicles with many performance upgrades. Combining all these creates a compelling car for those who don’t want an XC60 or another SUV. Regarding competition, only Audi has a vehicle comparable to the A4 Allroad. How does this robust Swedish PHEV wagon fare against wagons and SUVs?
Volvo blends Polestar performance components with their Swedish design for an excellent-looking wagon. At the front, the black grille with the Volvo logo and white Polestar Engineered badge is flanked by Thor’s Hammer headlights. The front left fender houses the charge port, which integrates well with the rest of the body. This V60 T8 wore Crystal White paint with 19-inch wheels and gold Brembo brakes. A large power-operated trunk includes Volvo’s usual L-shaped lights, a large Volvo badge, a V60 badge, and a Polestar Engineered badge. Speaking of, Polestar lowers their models and provides stiffer, manually-adjusted Öhlins dampers and summer tires.
A lovely Charcoal Nappa Leather and Textile interior welcomes the occupants with heated and ventilated front seats. In front of the driver, the steering wheel houses buttons for the digital dials and adaptive cruise control. The dials are clear and there is a map in the middle, but it lacks customization. Thankfully, the V60 comes with a large head-up display. Volvo’s vertical infotainment system has a few issues. It’s clunky, has the climate control and drive modes buried in it, and seems small. There’s plenty of room in the rear and trunk. T8 vehicles receive a pretty crystal gear shifter, gold seatbelts, an excellent Bowers and Wilkens Sound System, and heated rear seats. What’s surprising is there isn’t a lot of storage in the front; both the door pockets and center console are quite shallow.
Powering the V60 T8 is a turbocharged 2.0-liter inline-four mated to an electric motor, producing an impressive 455 horsepower and 523 pound-feet of torque. An eight-speed automatic and all-wheel-drive helps the V60 T8 accelerate from 0-60 MPH in 4.1 seconds. With a 14.9-kWh lithium-ion battery pack, the electric range is rated at 41 miles. Even without the electric assistance, the 2.0-liter engine packs quite the punch. It can also act as a generator to charge the battery pack. On the move, the powertrain is responsive and quick, but the engine can drone. Short trips are great when driving in Pure electric mode. Buried in the infotainment system are four drive modes: Pure (electric-only), Hybrid, Polestar Engineered, and Constant AWD. The V60 returns 27 MPG, but it prefers to use the battery first, so that number varies.
The Brembo brakes help to slow down the V60 while putting the transmission in B almost provides one-pedal driving. Cornering is better than I expected thanks to Polestar’s improved stability. Safety is always a key factor for Volvo, and the V60 T8 doesn’t disappoint. It comes with a fully array of safety systems including adaptive cruise control, blind spot monitoring, emergency braking, and 360-degree camera. Priced at $72,835, the V60 T8 is fully-loaded. If charging is difficult, the regular V60 Cross Country has a higher stance and mild hybrid. For me, I would go with the T8 and use the engine as a generator. The V60 T8 is an excellent vehicle. It combines luxury with a quick but efficient engine and excellent wagon style.
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