![A Volvo V60 on a country road](/https/www.telegraph.co.uk/content/dam/motoring2/2015/12/01/1-Volvo-V60-main-image_trans_NvBQzQNjv4BqZgEkZX3M936N5BQK4Va8RUbgHFEZVI1Pljic_pW9c90.jpg?imwidth=680)
2016 Volvo V60 review: a left-field alternative to an Audi A4 Avant?
![A Volvo V60 on a country road](/https/www.telegraph.co.uk/content/dam/motoring2/2015/12/01/1-Volvo-V60-main-image_trans_NvBQzQNjv4BqZgEkZX3M936N5BQK4Va8RUbgHFEZVI1Pljic_pW9c90.jpg?imwidth=680)
Think Volvo and estate cars big enough to double as removal vans tend to spring to mind. However, the V60 is different because it's a "sportswagon".
Good looks take precedence over outright space, but the V60 still promises plenty of versatility, along with the cutting-edge safety technology that you expect from Volvo.
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Space 7/10
Rivals offer more, but the V60 is still a reasonably practical choice
![The rear seats of a Volvo V60](/https/www.telegraph.co.uk/content/dam/motoring2/2015/12/01/2-Volvo-V60-space-2_trans_NvBQzQNjv4BqpVlberWd9EgFPZtcLiMQf1X_50byq9Ah3wJAV0YS_Ms.jpg?imwidth=350)
The V60 has a smaller boot than rivals such as the Audi A4 Avant and BMW 3-series Touring, but the space is wide and well shaped. This means it’s fine for suitcases or the family dog, while a divider folds up from the floor to stop shopping bags sliding around.
Pulling a catch drops the rear seat backs, giving you a larger load area with a level floor. However, even then the V60 isn’t the sort of fridge-swallowing estate that Volvo is famous for.
Put the rear seats back in place and the V60 can seat four adults in comfort, although the shape of the rear seats makes life uncomfortable for a fifth person.
![The boot of a Volvo V60](/https/www.telegraph.co.uk/content/dam/motoring2/2015/12/01/2-Volvo-V60-space-1_trans_NvBQzQNjv4BqpVlberWd9EgFPZtcLiMQf1X_50byq9Ah3wJAV0YS_Ms.jpg?imwidth=350)
Comfort 7/10
You have to choose your model with care
![The driver's seat and front passenger seat of a Volvo V60](/https/www.telegraph.co.uk/content/dam/motoring2/2015/12/01/3-Volvo-V60-comfort-1_trans_NvBQzQNjv4BqpVlberWd9EgFPZtcLiMQf1X_50byq9Ah3wJAV0YS_Ms.jpg?imwidth=350)
The front seats are comfortable and supportive, plus they get lumbar adjustment as standard. The one thing that lets the driving position down is the fact there's no rest for your left foot.
Go for the R-Design specification, and the V60 also thumps over bumps and potholes. Fortunately, other models have softer suspension and are generally pretty forgiving.
The D4 diesel engine is even more impressive, staying smooth and quiet at all times. Its a much better option than the other diesels, which transmit vibration into the car and sound boomy on the motorway.
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Dashboard layout 7/10
Some lovely touches, but too many fiddly controls
![The dashboard of a Volvo V60](/https/www.telegraph.co.uk/content/dam/motoring2/2015/12/01/4-Volvo-V60-dashboard-layout-1_trans_NvBQzQNjv4BqpVlberWd9EgFPZtcLiMQf1X_50byq9Ah3wJAV0YS_Ms.jpg?imwidth=350)
Most of the controls in the V60 are angled towards the driver to make them easy to reach. And Volvo offers neat, customisable instruments that let you choose what information is displayed and the prominence it’s given.
Human-shaped buttons, which allow you to direct airflow to different parts of your body are another inspired touch.
Unfortunately, the buttons and knobs for the stereo, vehicle settings and satnav are nowhere near as user-friendly; they’re small, confusingly arranged and rather distracting to use while driving.
At least the dashboard looks refreshingly different and is built from materials that feel classy.
Easy to drive 7/10
Make sure you avoid the weakest engine
The D2 diesel engine forces you to change gear a lot, just to keep up with traffic. And this is made all the more frustrating by Volvo’s manual gearbox, which has a long and vague shift action.
We’d recommend upgrading to the D4 diesel, which is much stronger than the D2. And the optional automatic gearbox on this model is also worth considering; it changes gear intelligently, whereas the auto that’s available with the D2 is rather slow-witted.
The V60’s steering is light enough to make parking easy, and there are no major blind spots to worry about.
Fun to drive 4/10
Plenty of rivals are better here
![The rear of a blue Volvo V60 as it is driven up a rural road](/https/www.telegraph.co.uk/content/dam/motoring2/2015/12/01/6-Volvo-V60-fun-to-drive_trans_NvBQzQNjv4BqZgEkZX3M936N5BQK4Va8RWtT0gK_6EfZT336f62EI5U.jpg?imwidth=350)
Unless you opt for the R-Design specification - and accept the uncomfortable ride that this brings - the V60 doesn’t feel particularly well controlled when you turn into a corner at speed.
Vague steering further undermines confidence, so the BMW 3-series Touring is a lot more fun to drive.
Reliability 9/10
Volvo has an excellent customer satisfaction record
This is clearly an S60 strength, because it finished eighth out of 116 cars in the 2013 JD Power customer satisfaction survey.
Volvo also matches Audi in offering a warranty that lasts for three years or 60,000 miles, whichever comes first. However, BMW is slightly more generous here, covering the 3-series for three years, no matter how many miles you do.
Fuel economy 9/10
Up with the class leaders if you have a manual gearbox
The D4 diesel model averages over 70mpg in official Government tests, which puts it in line with the most efficient versions of the BMW 3-series Touring. However, those figure do fall slightly if you specify an automatic gearbox, whereas the 3-series is just as efficient with an auto as it is with a manual.
On the other hand, the V60 is more efficient than the Audi A4 Avant and the Mercedes C-class Estate, whichever gearbox you choose.
Affordability 8/10
Attractively priced and affordable to run
The V60 is priced to undercut most of its German rivals. And while it doesn’t hold its value as well, it should still cost you less than a BMW 3-series Touring or Mercedes C-class Estate.
Servicing and insurance bills are also comparatively low. And the S60’s low list prices combine with competitive CO2 emissions to make it a relatively affordable company car choice.
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Safety 8/10
Available with some very sophisticated driver aids
![An illustration of City Safety, which allows a Volvo V60 to recognise pedestrians and cyclists ahead, and is part of the optional Driver Support Pack](/https/www.telegraph.co.uk/content/dam/motoring2/2015/12/01/8-Volvo-V60-safety-2_%281%29_trans_NvBQzQNjv4BqgsaO8O78rhmZrDxTlQBjdMrCYOIHjH5ODDpJLCunRBI.jpg?imwidth=350)
Independent crash test specialists Euro NCAP awarded the V60 their maximum five-star rating. Just bear in mind that the rival BMW 3-series scored even better for adult occupant, child occupant and pedestrian protection.
The list of standard safety features on the V60 includes six airbags, a system that reduces the likelihood of a skid, and a City Safety system that stops you running into the car in front in stop-start traffic.
And you can add an optional Driver Support Pack, which brings systems that warn if there’s a vehicle in your blind spot and help you stay in lane, as well as a more sophisticated version of City Safety, which recognises pedestrians and cyclists.
Standard spec 9/10
Cheapest model comes very well equipped
![A multimedia display panel in a Volvo V60](/https/www.telegraph.co.uk/content/dam/motoring2/2015/12/01/9-Volvo-V60-standard-spec-1_trans_NvBQzQNjv4Bq5yQLQqeH37t50SCyM4-zeERf_Wk3V23H2268P_XkPxc.jpg?imwidth=350)
The entry-level V60 is the Business Edition. Designed to tempt company car drivers, it comes with climate and cruise control, a digital radio, rear parking sensors, a Bluetooth hands-free phone connection and satellite-navigation.
The pricier SE specification adds automatic windscreen wipers and flashier interior and exterior trim. But, strangely, you lose the digital radio and satnav system.
Alternatively, if you want your V60 to look and feel sportier there’s the R-Design spec, which brings larger wheels, more aggressively styled bumpers and front sports seats. It returns the Business Edition’s digital radio, too, but satnav remains a cost option.
Finally, Volvo offers Lux versions of both the SE and the R-design, with leather upholstery, an electrically adjustable driver’s seat and more powerful, Xenon headlights.
Our favourite version
D4 Business Edition, list price £25,745
Options you should add: Geartronic automatic gearbox (£1550) and metallic paint (£625)
The verdict 7/10
The Volvo V60 is a safe and stylish estate, and if you choose the D4 diesel engine, it’s a quiet, powerful and efficient one, too. Just bear in mind that a Ford Mondeo Estate offers a lot more space, while the BMW 3-series Touring is more fun to drive.
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