2024 VOLVO V60 PLUG-IN HYBRID MORE THAN JUST A WAGON!
VOLVO V60 RECHARGE
Tires: 235/40R19
Wheelbase: 113.1 inches
Length: 187.4 inches
Width: 75.4 inches
Height: 56.6 inches
Weight: 4,500 pounds
Fuel capacity: 15.9 gallons
Combined electric: 74 MPGe
Combined gas: 31 mpg
Base price: $71,250
Price as tested: $72,925
Web site: www.volvo.com
Who says wagons belong to the past? It’s true you can count the wagons, primarily made by Audi and Mercedes-Benz, at your fingertips. And then there is Volvo with the V60 and larger V90.
Based on the popular T8 S60 sedan, the 2024 Recharge plug-in hybrid V60 is fitted with a 2.0-liter inline-4 turbocharged and direct-injection engine. It is paired with two electric motors backed by an 18.8 kWh lithium-ion battery to produce 455 horsepower and 523 pounds-feet of torque. Essentially, the V60 can go 41 miles on purely electric. Add an 8-speed auto gearbox and the start-stop feature (engine stops when the vehicle halts) to the mix and you have substantial savings in fuel as well as weight to produce an exceptional wagon.
Our test drive was equipped with the Polester Engineered (PE) upgrade, which translates into immediate and enhanced engine/throttle response and steadfast gear accuracy for an exhilarating drive. A partnership with Ohlins, a Swedish suspension technology brand, means road bumps are felt minimal and the driver is in complete control at sudden or quick turns on the road. Car racing enthusiasts, this is your dream ride!
Up front sits a high-gloss black mesh grille hosting not just the familiar Volvo iron mark but also the Polester Engineered motif, surrounded by horizontal LED headlights and a PE strut bar. Walk around the wagon and the PE signature gold-colored brake calipers and tire pressure monitor caps will pique interest. The gold theme continues as you step into the cabin with the metal color evident also on the seatbelts. Conveying an upscale aura is a 12.3-inch instrument panel and Nappa leather seats, tailored sport tilt/telescopic steering wheel and gear shifter. Volvo Sensus infotainment, with a distinct vertical 9-inch display touch screen, is essentially made up of four tiles: navigation, media, phone and user-defined. Activate one and watch it expand while keeping the other tiles visible for future use. Fairly new for 2024 is a Google built-in Assistant, Maps and Play store. Standard amenities include two-zone auto a/c, charcoal headliner, Bowers & Wilkins sound system, panoramic sunroof and head-up display.
The Chinese-owned but Swedish-made car company is renowned for safety. Continuing the tradition, the V60 gets dual front and side airbags, side curtain airbag, driver knee airbag, lane departure/keep aid, blind spot information, cross traffic alert, rear park assist and sensors, adaptive cruise control, four-wheel antilock brakes, three-point seatbelts for all, side impact protection, dynamic stability and traction control, 360-degree camera, hill start assist and descent control, forward collision warning, tire pressure monitoring system and daytime running lights.
Yes, it’s a wagon but don’t for a minute believe that your pricey ride will be slow. The all-wheel-drive vehicle can take off 0 to 60 mph in a mere 4.4 seconds. Apart from incredible nimbleness, the V60 boasts an extravagant cabin and no-frills capabilities. Volvo’s long safety list makes it a no-brainer!