Volvo V60 2015 D5 tested in SA
I remember spending the better years of my youth strapped into the backseat of my grandparents old wagon. It was an old fashioned boxy thing that seemed to have unlimited boot space. Thankfully those rectangular vehicles have been replaced with the well sculptured beauties of today, much like our recently tested Volvo V60.
The Volvo V60 is on point and elegantly wrapped in its Swedish apparel, the car design blends so well with its elongated profile. The sloping roofline adds a hint of sportiness as it tapers to give a coupe-like stance that’s often missing in the alternative SUV genre. The front-end is distinctively Volvo thanks to the instantly recognisable grille which is flanked by the sharp headlights. The Swiss know how to finish off a car with neat, subtle touches and the V60 is a testament to that.
Moving inside, I have to admit, in a world where minimalism is king, the Volvo V60, like the rest of the line-up excluding the recently launched XC90, has a rather busy centre console. While I do like the ‘floating centre console’ design housed in the V60, the button heavy tele-dial piece does seem outdated and confusing to work.
That said the rest of the interior is pure bliss. The layout is superb and magnificently put together. All the touchy feelies are within reach and the space is abundant. Thanks to its long silhouette, the rear occupants benefit from decent legroom and the 430-litres of luggage space means the boot can swallow almost anything thrown at it. The seats orthopedically shaped and stitched with the most exquisite leather.
Powertrains and Volvo’s go together like Swedish potatoes and herring. They just know how to do it right. And it was no different with our Volvo V60 test mule. Equipped with the latest oilburner from Volvo as part of the Drive-E range, the D5 is a 1969cc turbocharged diesel engine and it is superb and efficient. Boasting 165kW and 470Nm of fire power, the powertrain’s healthy torque gets the V60 moving briskly.
The V60 has impeccable road manners even if it doesn’t benefit from the new scalable architecture that will underpin all upcoming Volvos. The drive is smooth and clinical with any sign of loss traction resulting in Dynamic Stability and Traction Control stepping in. <It’s like learning to ride a bicycle with your father running behind you to make sure you safe. And that’s exactly what Volvo is renowned for.
The incredible safety features are reassuring. However, the very clinical drive does mean there is little fun to be had behind the wheel.
The gear shifts from the eight-speed Geartronic automatic transmission are smooth and the power delivery flawless. It’s exactly what you would expect from a Volvo. Throw into the mix a 67.5 litre petrol tank and a claimed fuel consumption figure of 4.8 litres/100km and you are in for a long, a very long, fuel range.
Ultimately, I must admit the Volvo V60 didn’t raise my pulse but it’s hardly designed with that in mind. This isn’t some boy racer hot hatch, or a performance hungry machine. It’s a silky smooth drive with sippy fuel consumption and abundant space. And you know what, if you look at it for exactly what it was designed to be, the V60 ticks just about every box. It’s loaded with luxury features, is as safe as ever, and will quite comfortable usher you and your family around in comfort to just about anywhere – what more could you ask for?
Quick Facts
Base Price R421 600
Warranty 5-year / 100 000 km
Engine Capacity 1 969 cm³
No. Of Cylinders 5-cylinders
Aspiration Turbo
Power 165kW @ 4 250 r/min
Torque 470Nm @ 2 500 r/min
Transmission 8-speed automatic
Drive type Front-wheel drive
Acceleration 0-100 km/h in 7.4 seconds (claimed)
Top Speed 230km/h (claimed)
Fuel Consumption 4.8l/100km (claimed combined)
CO2 Emissions 125/km
