Volvo V60 T5 2012 Review

Station wagons - as Australians term sedans with a bum - are becoming sexy. The Europeans and the Japanese knew this but we weren't listening.

We were too wrapped up in the sugar-coated gloss of all things American, a place at the centre of the universe where only Moms piloted family wagons while Pa was seen in something snappier.

Well, for those left a bit jaded by SUVs and still want a bit more room for hauling stuff like garage sale bargains, mud-caked mountain bikes or Fido the Fluffy, there's a growing list of sharp-edged station wagons that won't turn you into Mrs Cunningham.

The Volvo V60 here is a stunner - both in looks and how it functions. I didn't want to get out of it and neither did the wife nor the kids. How's that - a wagon that doesn't embarrass children.

VALUE

As a Euro-built wagon, you can put it against similar haulers such as the Volkswagen Passat ($40,990), a Skoda Superb ($40,990), BMW 3-Series (320i from $59,300) and Audi A4 Avant for $57,900. 

It's $54,950 price slots right in here and though the Passat and Skoda clearly appears to be the value winner, accept the fact that the Volvo is quicker, has more features and until the new Passat wagon arrives, is prettier.

It has more features for your bucks than the BMW and Audi and entices prospective wagon owners to looks to Japan for even better value - but arguably less panache - at Mazda and Subaru. There's also very good value and quality at Skoda, so competition is keener than you may first believe.

DESIGN

Sleek, wedge-nosed and almost seductive with its chamfered tail, it is a car that - like the C30 coupe - is as far away from what a Volvo used to be as possible. The good thing is that it all works. Perhaps the only downside is the invisible grille - a common problem - which may make the $325 front park sensor option a good deal.

TECHNOLOGY

Big news is the same 2-litre engine that will, later this year, be an option in the Ford Falcon. The four-cylinder, direct-injection turbo-petrol is rated at 177kW/320Nm and claims 8.3 l/100km and 194g/km CO2, though city/suburb/highway on test wouldn't get better than 10 l/100km.

It's a great engine mated to one of the industry's best dual-clutch transmissions - one that doesn't hiccup and lag and pause and die when you hit the loud pedal, as some Volkswagen Group models tend to do. These oily bits bolt to a delightful chassis that loves a fast run through winding roads as much as a leisurely cruise down the highway. The mind-numbing crawl down the freeway is helped only by a decent audio system.

Things that matter include the two flip-up child booster seats within the rear seat. There's two heights so children have a view out the windows. Safety gear is excellent but there's still no spare wheel as standard. A space-saver tyre is optional and bolts on top of the cargo floor where it eats into available luggage space.

SAFETY

Hard to go past this one. Standard gear includes a full complement of airbags, a five-star crash rating, clever electronic stability control, big four-wheel disc brakes with ABS and City Safety - the radar-sensor system that automatically brakes the car at low speeds to prevent rolling into the back of another car or into your garage door.

DRIVING

The V60 puts the exhilaration of driving ahead of carrying loads of gear. If you want cargo room, buy Volvo's bigger V70. Even driving down the street, feeling the way the transmission's cogs replace each other so quickly, hints at how responsive the wagon is to a driver's demands.

It constantly feels like a dog on a leash and that's a big change for a carmaker often accused of being safety-driven masters of lethargy. 

But it's not only the way the V60 responds. It feels good from the driver's seat. It has a simple, Ikea-like simplicity but you can see it has lots of features. It is quiet and comfortable and feels rock solid - all inspiring confidence which makes it a car to at least consider for the family. As I said, it's a car I always felt safe and comfortable in and never tired of enjoying how it performs.

VERDICT

One of the better wagons on the market that is a must-see for families as much as for the person who enjoys to drive. The S60 sedan has the same qualities.

VOLVO V60 T5

Price: $54,950
Warranty: 3 years, 100,000km, roadside assist
Resale: 65%
Service Interval: 15,000km or 12 months
Economy: 8.7 l/100km; 205g/km CO2
Safety: six airbags, ESC, ABS, EBD, EBA, TC.
Crash rating: 5 star
Engine: 177kW/320Nm 2-litre turbo-petrol
Transmission: Six-speed dual-clutch auto
Body: 5-door, 5 seats
Dimensions: 4628 (L); 1865mm (W); 1484mm (H); 2776mm (WB)
Weight: 1653kg
Tyre size: 235/45R17
Spare tyre: None