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The start point for the best source of fleet information |
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Volvo is adamant that the new V60, the estate version of the recently launched S60, is not an estate. The reason? The brand's internal classification for an estate is that it must be able to carry a washing machine, and the V60 can't, so it's called a sports wagon.
That doesn't, however, stop the V60 being a proper rival to the likes of Mercedes' C-class estate, the BMW 3-series Touring and Audi's A4 Avant. Volvo has been refreshingly honest with its boot space figures, saying the boot is 'only' 430 litres, making it one of the smaller ones in the upper medium sector. In reality, the boot is actually 460 litres thanks to a usefully shaped under-floor compartment where the spare wheel would be, but UK cars are instead taking a tyre inflation system.
Couple this usefully large boot to rear seats that are 40:20:40 foldable as standard and a front passenger seat that also folds flat, and you've got a seriously practical boot with a flat load area that can take 1794 litres of luggage.
Like the S60, there's plenty of rear leg room, but because of the estate roofline, there's better rear headroom.
Boot aside, the rest of the car is pure S60. Trim levels run from ES with a healthy list of standard kit including City Safety, cruise control, aircon and alloys, through SE, which adds rear parking sensor, Bluetooth, larger alloys and auto wipers, to a range-topping SE Lux, which adds leather and powered seats with memory.
The engine line-up will be identical to the S60, too, but the V60 will be the first of the pair to be fitted with Volvo's new 1.6-litre turbo petrol engine producing either 148hp badged T3 or 178hp badged T4. Both 1.6 petrols are expected to come in below 160g/km with a targetted figure of 149g/km, and because of this are expected to pick up some fleet sales. However, the majority of both fleet and overall sales will go to the 161hp 2.0-litre D3 and 202hp 2.4-litre D5 diesels.
Again Volvo is being overly honest, this time with the CO2 figures, stating that the European-spec D3s available on the launch came with a 144g/km figure. However, UK cars are expected to duck below 140g/km, dropping to a 19% BIK banding in the process.
The D3 will remains the fleet choice, at least until the Driv-e version with a 1.6 diesel arrives next year. On the smooth asphalt of the European launch the V60 showed none of the fidgety ride that the S60 displayed in the UK, and the D3 engine had plenty of power to make for safe overtaking.
If this mix of good ride, plenty of powerful shove and good body control continues in right-hand drive cars, the V60 will be a credible alternative to its premium rivals as well as taking sales from volume brands. This is helped by a competitive price and kit structure, even if the ultimate CO2 and mpg is bettered elsewhere in the sector.
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VerdictEven better proposition than the S60 thanks to excellent load-carrying flexibility |
7/10 |
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