V60

Were diesel cars just a hoax? The last word after the emissions scandal has not yet been said, and the biggest cities are threatening with spontaneous driving bans for diesel cars. No wonder that many prefer to choose alternative fuel sources.

I think most of us are happy to switch fuel. Worse is changing car brands. One of the car brands with the most loyal followers is Volvo. If you've driven Volvo for several years, you don't switch to Nissan or Toyota just to get a better deal on electric cars or hybrids. That is perhaps what makes many people still choose diesel.

Many switched to diesel when diesel cars became tax-favorable overnight. They still are. Take today's Volvo, for example. In Sweden, the Volvo V60 D2 (120 HP) costs SEK 20 the sea than the petrol car T3 (152 HP). In Norway, the starting price for the V60 D2 is NOK 372, while the T900 starts at NOK 3. The T392 is undoubtedly a good engine choice, but the D900 offers more value for money, at least compared to Sweden.

One of the reasons why many choose the D2 engine in their V60s is because it is so well adapted to Norwegian taxes. In Germany, for example, the D2 is only offered for the V40, – not the V60. I can confirm that the D2 (115 HP) works better in the V40 than in the 170 kg heavier V60. Nevertheless, I have no problem recommending the D2 in the V60 as well. That is, I have only driven the 2015 model's D2 engine, - the French PSA engine of 115 HP. From 2016, Volvo replaced this with a detuned version of its own D3 engine. With 120 HP, it is in the same price range in terms of taxes.

Which engine should you choose for your new V60 - if not the D2?

So you have D2 (120 HP, 280 Nm at 1500 revs). You have to add NOK 20 for the D000 (3 HP, 150 Nm at 320 rpm) or the petrol-powered T1750 (3 HP, 152 Nm at 250 rpm). You have to add NOK 1300 for the new Twin-engine hybrid engine with both diesel and electricity. Then you get 160 HP and a torque of a formidable 000 Nm. A drive I really believe in, but I think the price difference is too high for D231 and Twin-engine to be considered competitors.

Volvo's Twin engine costs 160 more than the D000. — Volvo's Twin-engine costs 160 more than this D000.

There is also a new petrol engine, the T2, at the same price as the D2. I have seen the torque curve to this one. You get the torque of 220 Nm from approx. 1200-3500 revolutions. This is an interesting alternative to the D2, - and since the power comes from a scaled-down 1,5 liter turbo engine, the tax level is probably favorable, but the engine characteristics are unlikely to differ much from the diesel alternative. Like the D2, the T2 is primarily a V40 engine.

I have featured the Volvo V60 D2 with the 2015 model's 115 HP engine former.

When you shift up to sixth at 80 km/h, the revs are at 1500 revs. I'm impressed with how well it holds up there. The traction is incredibly good, and by keeping the revs so low, the sound in the cabin is nice. It is only when you need to accelerate that the engine can fall short. As is known, turbodiesel engines pull best in a narrow rev range, for example between 1750 and 2500 revs. When you step on the gas, you notice that the car accelerates in this rev range, and that the acceleration can stop suddenly when "the gear is empty". Then the next gear must be engaged. To get maximum acceleration, it is necessary to let the engine work within the favorable rpm ranges. This takes some getting used to.

With the D2 engine (115 HP), I think the engine power does not disappear as quickly as the engines from, for example, the Volkswagen group. The Volvo engine continues to pull when you push it, even when the engine has fallen outside the favorable rev range, - when the gear is 'empty'. It makes the engine feel a little more flexible. If you are in the middle of a demanding traffic situation, for example merging into heavy motorway traffic from a short acceleration lane, you can hold the gear for a few seconds to merge safely before shifting.

The D2 machine is therefore not the most demanding to drive

When I mentioned the V40 D2, I used the word “feelgood”. It is an expression that is primarily associated with Volvo – not the D2. That is why I am showing some pictures taken in yesterday’s nice autumn weather. I like myself in my Volvo. If you are considering the new V60, you must expect to bring extra equipment. In terms of feelgood, my priorities are as follows: (1) Volvo’s lovely leather interior, (2) the nice digital instruments, and then (3) more engine power.

I think there is plenty of feelgood in the V60, also with the D2.

Fantastic headrests. Not only comfortable, but also safe.

The V60 has sacrificed luggage space for its good looks.

The luggage compartment of 430 liters is perhaps the car's biggest disadvantage. With the rear seats folded down, you get a completely flat floor.

Link to torque curve for 2017 Volvo T2 engine

See

The Volvo front gives goodwill in traffic.

Turbo diesels require the right transmission!

I would not claim that the V60 is a premium car - nor a station wagon. It is nevertheless undoubtedly a Volvo.

Look-and-feel

A weekend with Volvo is not a bad weekend. I must honestly admit that for a man who grew up with great cars like PV and Amazon, it is always a special feeling to get behind the wheel of a Volvo. Although the V60 is far from a retro design. A modern car that challenges the Audi A4 and BMW's 3 series.

I raised the seat a little in height, adjusted the seat angle separately and the seat back continuously. The lumbar support was perfect. The only thing missing would be that with my height of 1,88 and 46 in shoes I would not find a comfortable driving position. This is, after all, a Volvo built at Volvo's factory in Torslanda - for tall Norwegians.

Before I turned on the ignition, I got the feeling of a somewhat simple and outdated driving environment. Deep clocks, small screen and center console with many buttons are a thing of the past. After all, it has been over 10 years since the special center console won awards for good design. When I turned on the ignition, however, I discovered that the instruments were digital computer screens, which raised the impression considerably.

I conclude that the interior is more than sensible, at least in the basic version with fabric seats. Yet there is something solid and robust about it – in typical Volvo fashion. The exterior design of the V60 is continued in the V50's style, and given a front reminiscent of the V70. I like the rounded back. Here, more emphasis has obviously been placed on style than space.

I am left with somewhat mixed feelings. On 16-inch standard wheels, it looks fairly ordinary, and parked alongside SUVs and large family cars, it seems a bit small. I think the rounded corners contribute to that. Nevertheless, I cannot deny that the Volvo character actually gives an ever-so-slightly good feeling - completely subjective, that is.

volvo-v60-686-1

Driving pleasure

Turbodiesel with 115 horsepower and torque of 270 Nm is not a bad source of power. After a few kilometers I thought "Citroën C4", - a car I have driven a lot in recent years. The 1,6-litre in the V60 is the same 1,6-litre The PSA group uses in its cars, and the same one that Ford uses. It is a legacy from the time when Ford owned Volvo. In Volvo's 2016 models, the D2 has been replaced with a new engine of 120 horses. Whether this is the same 120 horsepower that PSA offers in its model range, or an engine developed by Volvo, is not clear. On paper, it has the same characteristics as today's engine. Although, that can only be found out by test driving the cars that are out at the dealers these days.

Volvo has chosen a six-speed gearbox that is perfectly suited to Nordic speed limits. It's easy to find the power when you use the gear lever, and you cruise nicely in sixth gear in the 80-zone and above.

I also noted that the car felt a bit more like a compact car than a large car on the road, without any inconvenience. I also noted that the height difference between gas and brake felt somewhat higher than what I am used to.

Award-winning center console over ten years ago.

Comfort

The V60 in the standard version does not excel in terms of comfort - at least not on first impressions. The seats are the car's biggest plus. I could sit effortlessly behind the wheel for several hours without discomfort of any kind, - something I would characterize as discreet comfort. The comfort er there, but you don't think about it.

Considered as a premium class, the soundscape is characterized by quite a lot of unattractive engine hum, but feels more pleasant from 80 upwards with the sixth gear engaged. The suspension is a bit firm, but far from uncomfortable.

The bike test was only barely passed. — The bike test was barely passed, but this is, after all, a large men's bike with 27,5″ wheels.

Place

I usually don't focus so much on luggage space in the cars I come across, but make an exception for station wagons. The V60's body shape reveals that there isn't room for too much in the boot. It is the loading opening in particular that presents problems. My men's bike barely had room with the rear seats folded down - but only barely. The biggest problem was the width of the rear door. It was actually easier to get space for the bike in the e-Golf I tested a couple of weeks ago. With the rear seats folded down, the specs say it actually is the sea more space in the Golf than in the V60, and then we are talking about a regular 5-door Golf - not the station wagon.

However, the trunk is easy to use for more manageable items. It is easy to fold down the seats to a completely flat floor. On the rear seat backs there is a pull-out luggage compartment net to secure the load in typical Volvo fashion. I also liked that the window pillars were covered with washable hard plastic on the inside - and not fabric. Then the car stays just as nice, even after I drove a full load of waste onto the rubbish heap.

The distinctive rear lights have become a Volvo hallmark.

Safety

According to NCAP, the V60 scores almost evenly with competitors such as the Audi A4 and BMW 3 Series, and thus places itself in the top tier. You can order your V60 with lane departure warning and blind spot warning, - and from 2016 also adaptive cruise control.

Economy

With a starting price of 360 without winter tires and additional equipment, the V800 places itself in the same price range as the Audi A60 and the BMW 4 series. When I watch Finn.no I see that there are high prices for used V60s, also for models before the facelift in 2014. To ensure the second-hand value, I would order my V60 with slightly larger rims. The test car had sensible additional equipment such as reversing alarm, towbar, digital instruments and automatic lighting.

The PSA engines have been praised for their low consumption and durability. They easily cover both 200 and 300 thousand kilometers without problems, not only in Volvos, but also cars from Peugeot, Citroën and Ford.

From an economic point of view, I think the D2 is the best engine choice in terms of economy.

The V60 oozes honesty, simplicity and robustness - everything we associate with Volvo and Nordic car ownership.

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The Volvo seats
Interior that can withstand rough use

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Small boot to be a station wagon

Volvo-V60-13

HONEST ABOUT CARS

Feel good with D2?