Volvo V60 2019 Review: The Wagon You Should Buy Instead of an SUV

In an automotive industry rife with crossovers and SUVs that are wholly uninspiring, the Volvo V60 stands out as a sleek utility vehicle that puts most other vehicles to shame.

I haven’t been impressed with a crossover or SUV in quite a while. They all do the same thing, and most are exceptionally boring to drive. I used to feel this way about station wagons. They just weren’t that interesting. Enter the V60 Volvo.

Well, now crossovers and SUVs have adopted the boring family car ethos that station wagons used to have. Now, station wagons are interesting utility vehicles. I knew this going into my week of driving the Volvo V60 T6 Inscription, but the car hit it home for me more than anything else on the road.

Performance to Delight You

The Volvo V60 in T6 form gets a 2.0-liter turbocharged and supercharged four-cylinder engine that makes a strong 316 hp and 295 lb-ft of torque. This is the model I drove. The T5 has a more simple and less powerful turbocharged four-cylinder that makes a still very respectable 250 hp. My tester came with all-wheel drive, but you can buy the car with just front wheel drive.

The V60 does a fantastic job no matter where you drive. If you’re stuck in traffic you can sit back and relax. On the highway, there’s plenty of power. On a twisty road, the car’s agility and handling prowess shines. I found its versatility to be fantastic. It’s very good in pretty much all areas.

The low ride height would keep it from taking on any seriously rough terrain, but that’s why Volvo sells the Cross Country model, which I have not driven but comes with a higher ride height for more adventurous buyers. From a driving standpoint, there isn’t much to dislike. Volvo has done an excellent job.

Interior and Exterior Design to Match the Performance

The interior and exterior design of the car is fantastic. The exterior is sleek, elegant, and sporty looking. The wheels, Thor’s Hammer headlights, and overall shape of the car make it one of the most handsome vehicles on the road.

Inside you have a kind of beautiful minimalist design that’s very Scandinavian. Volvo knows what it’s doing here. It feels classy and well-built. The interior materials are also top notch and you can get real wood trim that looks and feels truly luxurious.

The V60 one of the best cabins of any car on sale today.

The seats are extremely comfortable. My tester had the leather seats with a massaging function. A seriously nice addition if you want it and well worth the $2,200 extra for the Luxury Seat Package.

Not Much to Dislike about the V60

I actually have very few criticisms of the Volvo V60. I liked just about every aspect of it. If I had to point to one thing, it would be the Sensus infotainment system. The large screen is gorgeous and really clears up the dash, but it’s a fingerprint magnet.

It can also be a little laggy at times and it controls everything in the car, which kind of sucks for climate controls. If Volvo manages to smooth things out, I’ll have no complaints. There is a lot to the system and it takes some getting used to, but otherwise, it’s darn good, just like the rest of the car.

A Volvo You Shouldn’t Overlook

If you’re thinking of getting a luxury crossover or SUV, don’t. You’ll be more comfortable, and have a better time driving this. The only way you should buy a crossover or SUV over this car is if you absolutely have to sit up high.

Either that or if your knees can’t take the low height of the car. It is quite low, but it gives you confidence on the road and is a better driving position for enjoying the drive.

Volvo is doing a lot of things right with all of its vehicles. I’ve driven almost everyone at this point, and I think I like the V60 best. It’s the perfect combination of utility, style, and comfort, and you should at least take a look at it before forking over any amount for a new car.

At $38,900 for a starting price (my tester was a higher trim level with some options and sat at $61,490), it isn’t exactly the cheapest thing on the road, but it’s worth it.