Gorgeous styling. If there's a brand that knows how to do wagons it's Volvo. Borrowing heavily from the more upscale, more luxurious, and more expensive V90, the 2019 Volvo V60 is by far one of the prettier wagons on the market. Sleek lines and a handsome design ensure the V60 stands out in the sea of crossovers and SUVs.
The lush design continues on the inside, where the V60 is plush in every way. The seats are supremely comfortable, there's the brand's massive 8-inch vertical touchscreen, and everything you touch feels upscale. The wagon design also brings a great amount of interior space with it.
SUV-besting cargo. Since the V60 utilizes the same underpinnings as the Volvo XC60 and has a boxy shape, the wagon allows it to get close to its high-riding counterpart when it comes to cargo capacity. With the second row in place, the V60 has 32 cubic feet of cargo space. Lower the rear seats down, and that figure opens up to 51 cubic feet.
So-so fuel economy. Despite being offered with a turbocharged 2.0-liter four-cylinder engine, the V60 isn't the most fuel-efficient mid-size luxury vehicle. Front-wheel-drive models get an EPA-estimated 24 miles per gallon city, 36 mpg highway, and 28 combined. Adding all-wheel drive brings those numbers down to 21/31/25 mpg (city/highway/combined).
A comfortable all-around vehicle. The V60 doesn't pretend to be a sports car or an over-the-top luxury vehicle, but somewhere in between instead. Power ranges from 250 horsepower from a turbocharged 2.0-liter four-cylinder to 316 hp. With the more powerful engine, the V60 provides passengers with brisk acceleration, while the eight-speed automatic transmission is quick and smooth.
Where the V60 really shines isn't on curvy roads, but on the highway, where the wagon makes it incredibly easy to travel an insane amount of miles in comfort. The available electronically controlled suspension is firm, yet supple and provides an extra level of body control. If having a good mix of sportiness and comfort is what you're looking for, the V60 is a great mix.
Final thoughts. In a market that has all but given up on wagons, the 2019 Volvo V60 is a breath of fresh air. It's got the storage capacity to rival SUVs, while having a much more enjoyable ride. There's also the V60's gorgeous exterior and interior design, which are unparalleled.
While we would want a sportier ride and some more power, the V60's compliant ride on the highway should appeal to more drivers, while the wagon's current lineup of engines produces adequate, if not a thrilling, level of performance. For the V60's power level, though, we were expecting better fuel economy numbers.
The V60 exists in its own little space. There's the Volkswagen Golf SportWagen, but that's not nearly as luxurious or as handsome. The Audi A4 Allroad is an off-road-oriented wagon, as is the Buick Regal TourX. The Mercedes-Benz E-Class wagon offers much more performance, but costs a lot more money. The Jaguar XF Sportbrake is a similar story, being much larger, more powerful, and more expensive. If you're looking for a mid-size luxury wagon, the V60 is it, but boy is it an excellent option.
