Volvo has debuted a new wagon based on the 60-series architecture. The new V60 takes after its elder sibling, the V90 in the way it looks.
Volvo has always been renowned for making wagons that can withstand severe punishment and downright abuse. Cars like the P220, 760, 850 are well-known wagons that have been the subject of many torture tests for automobiles, passing the tests with flying colors. While the wagons were built to outlast the planet, the design was not really their forte. Fast forward to February 21, 2018, Volvo has added another wagon to its lineup. While reliability cannot be judged from photos alone, Volvo has sure got the design part right.
The 2019 Volvo V60 looks much like the V90, although it is shortened by three inches between the wheels. In typical Scandinavian style, the V60 looks absolutely stunning despite employing a simplistic design language. The front fascia is dominated by the Thor-Hammer headlamps, part of the company's design ethos. Chrome is tastefully added to the front end to impart the car a luxurious air. Down the side, there are no unnecessary swooping lines and curves. The rear again is much like the V90, and has to be one of the best looking posteriors out there.
Unveiled in Stockholm earlier this week, the 2019 Volvo V60 shares its underpinnings with the XC60 crossover and gets different engines for different variants. The entry-level V60 gets a 2.0-liter turbocharged inline-4 mill that drives the front wheels. The T6 variant is a step above and gets a 316 hp supercharged and turbocharged version of the same engine that drives all four wheels. Volvo also detailed a plug-in powertrain that uses a 10.4 kWh battery assisting the engine. Called the T6 Twin Engine and T8 Twin Engine, these cars are slated for production, but when they will arrive is a matter of speculation. An eight-speed automatic is the only available transmission as of now.
Inside, Volvo has kept it simple with a vertical infotainment touchscreen infotainment, a clean, uncluttered center console, and a minimalistic dash, reminiscent of the XC60, that benefits from all the above as well. The Swedish automaker hasn't yet revealed other equipment and trim levels, but rest assured that whatever the company chooses to embellish the car with, it will end up looking elegant and classy. What we can be sure of is a long list of driver, passenger, and pedestrian safety systems that has always been Volvo's hallmark.
The 2019 Volvo V60 will hit the market later this year, with its jacked-up twin V60 Cross Country following later on. Who said wagons don't look good?
