With the new Volvo V60 in the offering, Volvo have the goods to take on any rivals with new vigour. The V60 wagon design provides 430 litres of luggage space with the seats up, and the 40/20/40 split rear seat enlarges the load carrying capacity even further, when required.

Smooth and aerodynamic, the Volvo V60 has a high waistline, tall taillight clusters and the sexy C30-like tapered roofline. Its shark-like front nose is striking and better looking than most cars in the competition. The low-raking A-pillar slants nicely into the long, swooping roofline. Take a look at the 2.0T, D5 AWD and T6 AWD models, and you’ll find they are exceptionally racy – especially with big alloys, low profile rubber and twin exhausts. Sporty appeal continues through to the cars incredibly well appointed interior.

Suave and tactile, the Volvo’s interior is upmarket – to say the least. The large speedometer and rev-counter dials are rimmed with silver, banded in white and have a circular blue ribbon which seats the white figures clearly and simplistically.

It’s the way the steering wheel feels; the way the seats cosset your figure; the ride refinement, and little luxuries like climate control and crystal clear music that enables the all new Volvo V 60 to be a cut above the competition.

Chrome trim against black upholstery gives an air of sophistication, while the simplistic layout across the trendy dash results ergonomical switchgear. Reversing cameras; a push-button engine start/stop function; two-toned R-design, heated leather seats and a Driver’s Support package that incorporates Adaptive Cruise Control with Queue Assist and Distance Alert, Collision Warning with Full Autobrake and Pedestrian Detection, Driver Alert Control (DAC), Lane Departure Warning (LDW) and Blind Spot Information System (BLIS) means that you feel pampered and well and truly secure inside the new Volvo V60 wagon. The number of protective safety features and preventative safety features onboard the olvo V60 make this arguably the safest medium-sized wagon on the road.

If you like, you can add to your feature list a memory function that will record my own preference to the car’s set-up to suit my tastes. My preferred, security and handling settings were tailored and recorded using the simple computer interface. This is where you configure the audio and climate settings, adaptive cruise control, steering force level, seat and mirror positions, navigation, communication, central locking, Approach and Home Safe lighting and the Intelligent Driver Information System.

To drive, the V60 is exceptionally stable and nimble. High speeds are well controlled and quiet. From the driver’s perspective, the Volvo V60 is entertaining to drive. And whether you opt for the performance versions or not, the Volvo V60 is an effortless and refined traveller.

Under the low-slung bonnet could lie any of seven engines to power you forward. It’s your choice.

The latest direct injection turbo charged 2.0-litre petrol engine boasts double variable camshafts, plenty of grunt and top fuel consumption figures. It might be only two-litres, but the maximum 300 Nm torque figure is sensational across a wide rpm. I was reading over some material last night which touched on BMW’s 740i, E38, 4.4-litre model putting out 400 Nm of torque at a single high rpm. Go figure! The power output of the 2.0T is quite an achievement.

Want to beat the BMW 740i with a smaller engine? Volvo’s in-line 3.0-litre six-cylinder petrol engine will do the job. Twin-scroll turbo technology delivers immediate response at all revs, with a maximum torque of 440 Nm available from low revs.

Two low pressure turbo-petrol engines are available as well: the T3 and T4. These are refined, powerful units that keep you on the move effortlessly. The T5 is another very high performance, five-cylinder, front –wheel drive petrol wagon.

Let’s look at the diesels. Volvo offer the V60 with an all-new 2.0-litre, five-cylinder, D3 turbo diesel. Power is huge – even just above engine idle. A 400 Nm twist is available from 1400 rpm. A handy 5.5 l/100 km fuel consumption average has to be good, too.

The latest generation 2.4-litre five-cylinder D5 turbo-diesel is very nice. It features the latest turbo and Piezo high-pressure injector technology to allow a maximum of 420 Nm to be accessed. The D5 also features an over boost function that can give you 30 Nm of extra torque for a few seconds.

All Volvo’s have CO2 reducing brake energy re-generation technology. This optimises fuel efficiency.

The T6 and D5 are AWD versions. These performance machines know how to get around corners very quickly, indeed.

Volvo makes great cars. Did you know they also build, design or supply buses, trucks, aeroplanes and construction equipment on a massive scale worldwide? Check their cars out. You’ll be impressed.

The current model series includes the:

• Volvo V 60 2.0T
• Volvo V60 T3
• Volvo V60 T4
• Volvo V60 T5
• Volvo V60 T6 AWD
• Volvo V60 D3
• Volvo V60 D5
• Volvo V60 D5 AWD

For anymore information on the Volvo V60, or for that matter any other new car, contact one of our friendly consultants on 1300 303 181. If you’d like some fleet discount pricing (yes even for private buyers!), we can submit vehicle quote requests out to our national network of Volvo dealers and come back with pricing within 24 hours. Private Fleet – car buying made easy!

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