Euphemisms are arguably a plague of our modern society. A form of thought control, euphemisms are typically used to conceal meaning with the purpose of hiding a truth. In the motoring world a prime example is that of the station wagon and if someone mentions the term your mind would probably conjure up an image of the 80′s Volvo 240 GLE. Insipid? Yes.

In the 90′s Volvo began to shift perceptions of their station wagons by introducing the 850 ‘estate’ and entering the 1994 British Touring Car Championship where they finished 6th in the manufacturers title.

Another millennium, another decade and another euphemism later, Volvo have just launched their V60 sport wagon, but in Volvo’s defense the term ‘sport wagon’ is not unjustified.

The new Volvo V60 is built on the foundations of the recently launched S60 sedan, adding further space and practicality to the ‘Sixty’ series. The extra sheet metal has been styled to include a ‘double wave’ character line that crests slightly over each wheel arch and gives the impression of a low stance. Short overhangs both front and rear are bridged by a sloping roof- and window-line, giving the car a sleeker and lower look that disassociate Volvo entirely from any previous brick-like styling notions. It looks good.

As with the S60 sedan, in European and South African markets the Volvo V60 sport wagon is underpinned by Volvo’s dynamic chassis, whereas most markets in America and Asia will have the comfort chassis as standard. The benefit of the dynamic chassis is to be found in the dampers and the front and rear subframes, which are firmer, providing better roadholding and agility. In addition, the software in the AWD (All Wheel Drive) system fitted to the range-topping V60 T6 has been tweaked to take advantage of the sportier chassis. The result is that around the winding roads of the Western Cape’s Elgin Valley, the V60 cornered well, remaining composed over the odd mid-corner bump and left us quietly confident from behind the V60′s sporty steering wheel.

Inside, the V60 shares its racetrack-inspired interior design with the S60 sedan, meaning the lines on the instrument panel and the doors don’t end abruptly but instead create a continuous flow. Volvo offer a refreshing alternative with their interior design, prompting your eyes to pause momentarily on the details rather than give them a passing glance. Interior materials are of high quality, solid build and offer tactility to match. The 5-seater V60 sport wagon offers added practicality via a 40/20/40-split rear seat and the fold-flat front passenger seat. The cargo area behind the rear seats offers 430-litres of space, with easy access provided by the 1 095 mm wide tailgate. The rear seats offer a good amount of legroom can be specified with integrated child booster cushions in the two outer seats.

Volvo’s emphasis on safety is undisputed and the sixty series features the company’s latest safety technology. Pedestrian Detection with full auto brake is one such example. At speeds of up to 35 km/h, the system can detect pedestrians who walk into the road in front of the car, warn the driver – and automatically apply full braking power if the driver does not respond in time, either via steering or pedal inputs. At higher speeds, the focus is on slowing down the car as much as possible prior to the impact. City Safety is standard on all models, allowing the car to brake automatically if the driver fails to react in time when the vehicle in front slows down or stops – or if he or she is driving too fast towards a stationary object. The system can lessen or even entirely avoid low-speed rear-end impacts at speeds up to 30 km/h an hour.

The V60 is available with one of seven engines. The petrol units include the 4-cylinder T3, T4, T5, 2.0T and the six-cylinder T6, which range in power out from 110 kW to 224 kW. The T6 is available exclusively with Volvo’s traditional ‘Geartronic’ transmission, while the T4, T5 and 2.0T models are available with a 6-speed manual or 6-speed dual clutch ‘Powershift’ transmission. We sampled all derivatives at the launch and came away most impressed by the entry-level T3. Its 110 kW and 240 Nm of torque provide ample motivation and while it does require more work to maintain its pace over mountain passes, the standard 6-speed manual gearbox offers positive shifts with an added level of involvement. Fuel economy is also admirable at a claimed 6.7 L/100km.

Two five-cylinder diesel engines are also included in the engine line-up, namely the D3 and D5. The D3 produces 120 kW and 400 Nm and sips a claimed 5.5 L/100km of diesel when mated to the 6-speed manual gearbox, or 6.1 L/100km when mated to the 6-speed ‘Geartronic’. The twin-turbocharged D5 diesel unit offers 151 kW and 420 Nm of torque, is equipped as standard with Volvo’s Geartronic transmission and uses on average 6.4 L/100km.

Volvo has high hopes for their ‘Sixty’ range and rightly so. Thankfully the new Volvo V60 is not simply being marketed on the back of a euphemism, but instead offers real substance to match its ‘sport wagon’ label.