Volvo V60 2021 Review

The 2021 Volvo V60 is one of the last of its kind, at least in America. For the past few decades, tastes have shifted from wagons to minivans to SUVs, with most automakers dropping wagons from their lineups. That said, wagon fans are a passionate bunch, and what would Volvo be without a long-roof car or two in its lineup?

The V60 is essentially a wagon version of Volvo's excellent S60 sedan. It's handsome and well appointed, and it includes an extensive list of standard safety features. It might not have the utility of something like Volvo's XC60 SUV, but the smaller size makes it feel more engaging on the road. And if you're looking for something really sporty, the Volvo V60 Recharge Polestar Engineered plug-in hybrid should help satisfy that itch.

There isn't really much on the road that competes directly with the Volvo V60. The Audi A4 Allroad is close in size and price to the V60, but its taller ride height and standard all-wheel drive make it a closer rival to the V60 Cross Country, a model we review separately. The Mercedes-Benz E-Class Wagon is larger and significantly more expensive, as is Volvo's own V90 wagon. And if you're willing to make the leap to a crossover, check out the similar XC60 SUV.

Which V60 does MatoCar recommend?

The 2021 Volvo V60 is a five-seat wagon based on the Volvo S60 sedan. It's available in four trim levels: Momentum, R-Design, Inscription and Polestar Engineered. There's also the V60 Cross Country, which is reviewed separately on MatoCar.

Momentum The Momentum trim might be the base version, but it's well equipped and available with a number of options. Standard features include:

• Turbocharged four-cylinder engine (250 horsepower)
• Front-wheel drive and eight-speed automatic transmission
• LED headlights and foglights
• Roof rails
• Keyless entry with push-button start
• Power tailgate
• 12.3-inch touchscreen display
• Apple CarPlay and Android Auto smartphone integration
• 10-speaker audio system
• Leather upholstery
• Power-adjustable front seats

Since it's a Volvo, the V60 comes with a number of standard safety features such as:

• Blind-spot monitor with rear cross-traffic alert (warns you if a vehicle is in your blind spot during a lane change or while reversing)
• Forward collision mitigation (applies the brakes automatically to stop the vehicle to avoid or minimize a collision)
• Lane departure warning (alerts you if the vehicle begins to drift out of its lane)
• Lane keeping assist (steers the V60 back into its lane if it begins to drift over the lane marker)
• Rear parking sensors

Options on the Momentum include:

• Premium package
• Navigation
• Garage door opener
• Power-folding rear headrests
• Front parking sensors
• Advanced package
• Head-up display
• Adaptive cruise control (adjusts speed to maintain a constant distance between the vehicle and the car in front)
• 360-degree camera (gives you a top-down view of the V60 and its surroundings for tight parking situations)
• Wireless device charging pad
• Climate package
• Heated front seats
• Heated wiper blades
• Heated steering wheel

R-Design The R-Design adds a sporty flair to the V60. Besides the Momentum's features, standard equipment includes:

• Gloss black R-Design grille, mirror caps and window trim
• 18-inch R-Design wheels
• Sport front seats
• Sport steering wheel
• Ambient interior lighting
• Four-zone automatic climate control
• Harman Kardon audio system
• Standard Premium package

Inscription The Inscription sits parallel to the R-Design in Volvo's lineup, opting for luxury touches instead of sporty ones. In addition to the Momentum's features, the Inscription includes:

• Chrome grille and window trim
• Upgraded interior trim
• Ambient interior lighting
• Four-zone automatic climate control
• Harman Kardon audio system
• Standard Premium package

V60 Recharge Polestar Engineered The V60 Recharge Polestar Engineered model has been modified and tuned by Volvo's performance division. It comes with a plug-in hybrid powertrain (415 hp) and all-wheel drive. It can also provide up to 22 miles of all-electric range, according to the EPA. Other upgrades include:

• Adjustable Öhlins dampers
• Sport-tuned suspension
• 19-inch Polestar Engineered wheels
• Brembo brakes with gold calipers
• Gloss black exterior trim
• Gold seat belts
• Standard Advance package
• Standard Climate package