Specifications
- Model 2019 Volvo V60 T5 Inscription
- Engine 1,969cc, four-cylinder turbocharged petrol
- Power 247bhp @ 5,500rpm
- Torque 258 Ib ft @ 1,800rpm
- Kerb weight 1,645kg
- Towing capacity 1,800kg (braked) / 750kg (unbraked)
- Top speed 145mph
- 0-62mph 6.7sec
- Fuel consumption (WLTP) 41.5mpg (combined)
- CO2 emissions 157g/km (NEDC)
- Road tax £515 for first year; £140 for years 2-6 (without options)
- Price from £38,270
- Price with options £45,745
- Options fitted Metallic paint, £650; Intellisafe Pro Pack, £1,625; Xenium Pack, £1,800; Convenience Pack, £500; Tinted rear windows, £600; Winter Pack, £525; Sensus Connect with Harman Kardon audio, £825; Keyless Drive plus handsfree tailgate operation, £500; Smartphone integration, £300; Space saver spare wheel, £150.
Test details
- Test period February – August 2019
- Starting mileage
Updates
March 3, 2019: Can a petrol estate car do a better job than a diesel SUV?
After running what seemed to me to be the perfect family car, a seven-seat Skoda Kodiaq 4×4 SUV, the worry is that this Volvo V60 estate is on a hiding to nothing. So why choose a car that’s smaller, has fewer seats, lacks four-wheel drive, isn’t as economical yet costs more money?
Well, despite their popularity, SUVs are rarely rewarding to drive. Yes, they give you a good view of the road and some do a fair job of smothering the shocking state of Britain’s roads, but when it comes to the way they make you feel when the road ahead unfolds like a vista of driving nirvana from an episode of The Grand Tour, they’re about as satisfying as a soggy cheese sandwich.
So we’re giving Volvo’s mid-range estate — a rival to the BMW 3-series Touring, Audi A4 Avant, Mercedes C-class estate and suchlike — a try. Might it raise a smile on the right road?
At the same time, the Skoda was diesel but diesel is now considered a dirty word. The car makers will tell us that the toxic damage caused by the latest diesels with all manner of fancy-pants emissions treatment is less impactful than an equivalent petrol-powered car. But can we trust them? After all, that’s what Volkswagen told the world before dieselgate. You can understand the public’s concern.
So the V60 has a petrol engine. It’s called a T5, and is the only petrol unit currently available in the V60 range, complete with an automatic gearbox as standard. It’s powerful and so not especially frugal, but its relatively high consumption can be forgiven if it’s found to drive better than a diesel and the car feels as though it’s solid value for money.
Well, that’s another thing: our test car is kitted out in Inscription trim — the second poshest trim level in the range. Volvo anticipates that it’ll be popular, however, only outsold by R-Design versions.
To this, Volvo had already added a hefty range of options before we could intervene, taking the price from £38,270 to £45,745.
This price hike is worth dwelling on momentarily. By pushing it over £40,000, someone buying this car would face a significant hike in road tax, from the second to sixth years included (up from £140 a year to £450).
There are more affordable versions available but only one costs less than £37,000, so anyone who wants to avoid paying such a penalty in road tax will have to go easy on the options or pay for the privilege.
Setting all that to one side, I defy anyone to deny that the V60 is one of the best looking estate cars on the road. Furthermore, it has one of the most calming interior environments of any estate, too. But is there more to this car’s personality beneath the surface? Time will tell.
Thinking of buying a Volvo V60? Or do you already own one? Share your experiences in the comments below, or drop Millsy a tweet.
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The post Extended Test: 2019 Volvo V60 T5 Inscription appeared first on Sunday Times Driving.
source https://www.driving.co.uk/car-reviews/extended-test-2019-volvo-v60-t5-inscription/
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