Cars Info: Volvo

2019 Volvo V60: This is Volvo's gorgeous new compact wagon

If you’ve been following Volvo for the past few years, the V60 should be a foregone conclusion. After all, it’s based on the same Scalable Product Architecture as the rest of the revamped Volvo lineup, preceded by the XC90 and XC60 crossovers and V90 wagon. In the U.S., the V60 will be available with three powertrains, dubbed T5, T6 AWD and T6 AWD Twin Engine. Despite the name variation, the powertrains all share a common 2.0-liter I4. The differences between the alphanumeric badges are what Volvo adds to that 2.0-liter.

The V60 T5 FWD will sport a turbocharger and an intercooler, good for 254 hp in the XC60; we don’t know exact V60 numbers yet, but expect them to be close. The T6 AWD-powered wagon adds a supercharger to that turbocharged 2.0-liter, making it a "twin-charged" engine. In the V60, Volvo says this combination is good for 310 hp. Volvo is also adding a hybrid T6 that makes 340 hp combined with its electric motor. There are diesel engines, and a T8 version making 390 hp as well, but as of now, they aren’t coming stateside.

All the safety and semi-autonomous tech from the bigger V90 will make its way to the scaled-down wagon. That means the Pilot Assist system will be able to help you stay between the lanes on your early-morning commutes and make your life easier in stop-and-go traffic. City Safety with Autobrake will try to help you avoid hitting pedestrians along that commute. There is also Run-off Road Mitigation and Oncoming Lane Mitigation, which, like the names suggest, help keep the V60 on the road and out of the path of oncoming traffic. Like the V90, these semi-autonomous safety features are standard issue for the V60. There is an optional cross traffic alert that automatically brakes when the car senses rear cross traffic, but you probably won’t miss it if you leave that box unchecked.

The V60’s interior looks as comfortable and welcoming as its full-size siblings. The massive infotainment screen is in the middle of the minimalist dashboard and is Apple CarPlay- and Android Auto-ready. Like the XC60 and the V90, you’ll control most of the comfort functions through the infotainment screen. The exterior looks, well, like a shrunken V90 -- that’s a good thing. The stylish taillights that climb the wagon’s rear complement the Thor’s Hammer headlights.

There’s no word on how much this will cost, but the current V60 starts just shy of $40K. We imagine there will be a slight price bump with the new V60, but Volvo will still keep it far enough away from the V90’s starting price for it to make sense.

FIVE THINGS YOU NEED TO KNOW ABOUT 2019 VOLVO V60

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We generally like the current V60, especially in Polestar form. Even with a dated infotainment system and confusing center console, it pairs wagon practicality with some of the most comfortable seats on the market. But after Volvo showed off the larger, all-new V90, the smaller V60 suddenly felt like yesterday’s news. That was, until today when Volvo revealed the redesigned V60 in all its wagon glory. If the promise of a wagon that shares the V90’s good looks at a more affordable price has piqued your interest, then here are five facts about the 2019 Volvo V60 that you need to know.

It shares a platform with the XC90

The original XC90 impressed us enough to win our Sport/Utility of the Year award back in 2003, but the 2016 redesign was such a huge leap forward, it didn’t even feel like it had been built by the same company. A large part of that improvement can be attributed to Volvo’s new Scalable Product Architecture. But the SPA platform was designed to underpin more than a large SUV. It’s flexible enough to be used on a midsize crossover like the XC60, a midsize luxury sedan like the S90, and now a smaller wagon like the V60. Because of that, you can expect the V60 to have a lot in common with the larger, more-expensive vehicles in Volvo’s lineup.

U.S. customers get two engine choices

When the 2019 Volvo V60 goes on sale, European customers will have two gasoline engines, two diesel engines, and two plug-in hybrid powertrains to choose from. But if you’re already imagining the fantastic fuel economy you’ll get in your new diesel-powered Volvo wagon, don’t get too excited. Customers in the U.S. will only have two options: the front-wheel-drive T5 with 250 hp and the all-wheel-drive T6 with 316 hp. Like with the S90, there’s a good chance the T8 plug-in hybrid will eventually make it to the U.S., but if you’re waiting for a diesel, don’t hold your breath.

Safety features abound

For the last several decades, Volvo has worked hard to cement its image as one of the safest automakers in the world. To make sure the V60 continues that tradition, Volvo gave it the same driver-assist features found in the S90 and XC60. That includes an automatic emergency braking system that Volvo claims can recognize pedestrians, bicyclists, and even large animals. The V60 also gets an advanced version of adaptive cruise control that can handle some of the steering in clear conditions on well-marked roads. At speeds of up to 80 mph, the system can also brake to minimize or avoid accidents.

Plaid seats will be an option

Customers who want to sit on good old-fashioned leather will have plenty of options to choose from, including a couple different types of Nappa leather upholstery. Anyone looking for a Swedish station wagon with a little extra flair, however, should get excited about the plaid seats in these press photos. The V60 looks great no matter how it’s equipped, but it looks extra cool when the interior is decorated with plaid.

It’s part of the Care program

For customers who like the idea of getting a new car every few years, Volvo created Care. Officially called Care by Volvo, it’s an update on traditional leasing that lets members swap their old car for a new one every 24 months. Unlike a traditional lease, Care also includes all maintenance, registration, taxes, and insurance. If members need a different vehicle for a short trip or special occasion, they’ll also be able to get a temporary loan. So theoretically, if your out-of-town friends come for a visit, you could swap your V60 for an XC90 while they’re in town. Once they leave, you get your V60 back.

Volvo V60 wagon is all new, will feature turbo hybrid power

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It's telling that Volvo's chosen venue for the global unveiling of its brand-new V60 wagon was the driveway of a typical suburban family home, showing the new Volvo V60 in the natural habitat in which it is designed to operate. Very pragmatic. Very Swedish. And revealing of the newfound confidence in Volvo. Chinese owners Geely take an admirably stand-off approach to letting its Scandinavian identity once again define the brand — something the more globally minded Ford and GM failed to appreciate in their respective custodies of Volvo and Saab. The latter disastrously.

Thankfully Volvo survived and is on a roll, a 7 percent boost to sales resulting in production exceeding half a million cars in 2017 and China alone (Volvo's biggest market) seeing a 25.8 percent year-on-year increase. Meanwhile a $1.1 billion investment in a new production facility in South Carolina will bring 4,000 jobs and production of the new S60 sedan, underlining the importance of the American market to Volvo's ambitions.

This comes on the back of significant investment and high-quality product, the proprietary Scalable Platform Architecture under this new V60 shared with the XC90, S90 and V90 and the new XC60. A pledge to include part-electric propulsion on all new products by 2019 and ambition that no occupant of a Volvo will suffer death or serious injury in an accident post-2020 fulfill its image as an environmentally conscious and safety-aware brand. Beyond those worthy goals, the cars are also more stylish, better equipped and better built than ever.

Highlights of this new V60 include a symbolic break from the Ford era architecture of the outgoing model. Powertrains are Volvo's own. Expect Europe to get the V60 with plug-in hybrid options based on the familiar T6 and T8 Twin Engine AWD options available on the XC60, XC90 and others. T6 gets 340 horsepower and the T8 390 hp, while at launch the sole non-hybrid option will be the 310-hp T6 AWD, all models based around the same turbo/supercharged 2.0-liter gasoline engine. In due course expect a turbo-only, non-hybrid, front-driven T5, and diesel markets will get D3 and D4 options where appropriate. In the U.S., we'll have solid specs later, but you can safely expect the base FWD T6 to start, driven through an eight-speed auto.

Losing two inches in wheelbase and seven inches overall to its V90 big brother, this new V60 is still significantly longer, wider and lower than the car it replaces. Criticisms of the existing V60 include a surprising lack of interior space given the practical image, this new one increasing cargo capacity from 43.2 cubic feet to 48.2 and rear legroom by two inches. Like other models on the SPA platform, the V60 runs a quirky, Corvette style transverse leaf spring rear suspension setup.

Those proportions make the new V60 the sleekest Volvo in the range, the brand's newfound confidence reflected in its crisp, modernist styling. Cues like the cool-sounding 'Thor's Hammer' running light signature balance assertiveness to compete with the premium German rivals with a more understated overall look demonstrating Volvo has its own way of playing the same game. Inside and out this is a great looking car, and any worries the puny-sounding cylinder count and displacement may not deliver silenced when you hear the hybrid T6 version will blitz 0-62 miles per hour in just 4.8 seconds — a whole second faster than the T5. The rest of the family may not appreciate you nailing sports cars off the line at the lights, but the knowledge a Volvo station wagon is capable of such things will put a smile on your face.

Keep that one to yourself. More familiar Volvo attributes are of course present and correct, the new V60 building on the outgoing model's already strong safety offering. The existing standard-fit City Safety system has been expanded, Autobrake interventions now possible when sensors detect pedestrians, bicyclists or large animals. The ability to do the same in the face of oncoming vehicles and mitigate head-on impacts is claimed as a world first. An upgraded Pilot Assist, familiar from the XC60 and others in the current range, is also available and uses steering interventions to counter lane departure and oncoming vehicles. Optionally it can also include Cross Traffic Alert.

All being well these are features you'll never need to test, technology you can appreciate on your daily commute including the latest Sensus infotainment system with its large, vertically oriented touchscreen. As you'd expect, Apple CarPlay, Android Auto and 4G integration are all in place, the screen being your main interaction for everything from navigation to heating and ventilation. The better for realising the clean, uncluttered and typically Scandinavian interior design philosophy that makes other new-school Volvos such relaxing places to rack up the miles.

Pricing and availability are at this stage are not yet available, but by putting a modern twist on its traditional strengths Volvo's revival looks right on course.