The Understated Wagon. The Volvo V60 Recharge T8 review!
When we come to think about wagons in our country, there are plenty of misconceptions as our culture has always come to relate station wagons to a hearse. That is probably why sales number for wagons in our country is rather low, and those seen on the roads are mostly parallel imported units brought in by enthusiasts.
Having said that, Volvo is the only brand in our country that had the courage to not only bring in their wagon models, but to assemble them here as well. We applaud Volvo for making this bold move of fulfilling a niche market of wagon enthusiasts or those who simply wanted a sedan driving experience but with the practicality of a crossover/SUV.
I won’t deny that an SUV may have the upper hand in certain areas such as the more commanding driving position as well as being less flood-prone due to its additional ride height. Wagons will always possess superior driving dynamics and efficiency over a conventional SUV however, as engineers don’t have to compensate for an SUV’s generally larger mass and higher center of gravity.
Over the long weekend, we were handed the keys to a Volvo V60 Recharge T8 in Crystal White for us to review. As with all current Volvos, when we first laid eyes on the V60, we must say that Volvo knocked it out of the park again with it understated elegance. While the V60 has only been around since 2018, its design was based on its larger V90 sibling which itself was launched two years prior. I think it’s fair to say that the design held up very well even after six years.
Overall, the car is just handsome from the broad shoulder lines, perfectly executed proportions, and matching wheel design to go with the whole Inscription package. Size wise the Volvo V60 Recharge T8 may look rather long but doesn’t feel like one behind the wheel. Exterior illumination on the Volvo V60 Recharge T8 is also rather classy with its distinctive “Thor’s Hammer” LED headlights, and full LED rear lamps further accentuates the rear haunches. The door handle welcome lights which greets you every time you unlock the car just adds a subtle touch of occasion.
Entering the vehicle, you will be greeted by Volvo’s familiar layout paired with their super comfortable and supportive nappa leather seats which is great for long drives. The dashboard is finished in an open-pore wood trim with the cherry on top being the Orrerfors crystal gear knob which looks the part when it’s illuminated. Infotainment wise, the Volvo V60 Recharge T8 is equipped with the tablet-style Sensus Connect system and comes with Apple CarPlay and Android Auto as standard unlike some other premium manufacturer who still lock it behind a paywall or not offer it at all.
Audiophiles will also be decently served by the standard 14-speaker, 600W Harman Kardon Premium Sound System, although we hope that Volvo Cars Malaysia could spec it up with the flagship Bowers & Wilkins system or at least offer it as an option as it’s definitely an upgrade worth paying for. Volvo’s Bowers & Wilkins sound system has always been one of, if not the best in the business rivalling those from the luxury segments.
When it comes to interior illumination, it does have ambient lighting but unlike those in current BMWs and Mercedes-Benzes, Volvo’s version is very subtle to the extent that it’s hardly noticeable. Rear seats are also rather comfortable for kids due to its shorter seat base but for taller adults, it may get slightly uncomfortable on longer trips due to the lack to thigh support. There is also a full length panoramic glass roof which helps flood the interior with natural light while not impeding the headroom for the rear passengers. 529 liters of luggage space is what you get with the rear seats folded flat, and we do mean flat which makes loading much easier.
Having clocked 850km with the car over the long weekend, we took the Volvo V60 Recharge T8 for a drive to a small town in Negeri Sembilan called Titi. Roads heading there were rather scenic as we had taken the new Temiang route, and the subsequent B-roads after were rather challenging which made the drive in the Volvo a rather pleasant and enjoyable one. From highways to B-roads, the car faired extremely well where we managed to exploit its total output of 407hp and 640Nm of torque which makes overtaking a breeze and the power delivery is just silky smooth.
As of recently, all Volvo models have a capped speed limit of 180km/h which many people may not agree with, but unless you drive on the German autobahn regularly, this is not something most would miss especially after you experience the class-leading acceleration of just 4.4 seconds from zero to 100km/h which rivals most sports cars.
Speaking of which, while the V60 is no sports car, the handling nevertheless exceeded our expectations. During our drive to Titi we were surprised by how well it hold its line through corners at speeds. Braking through the corners was also rather enjoyable as the regenerative braking system is pretty linear and progressive. Unlike some older Volvo plug-in hybrid models that we have tested before, where the brakes have that spongey regenerative feel to it and the transition from regenerative braking to actual braking is not smooth. Thankfully this new V60 has none of that.
Steering feel could be better as it’s not very communicative in corners but again, this is no sports car and we think most of its ride and handling can be attributed to the Michelin Pilot Sport 4 that was equipped as standard. Damping wise, we find the V60 does it better than its sedan sibling the S60 probably due to its longer body and different weight distribution. Suspension has just the right amount of damping for our Malaysian roads even with the 19-inch rims fitted on the car. The ride quality is just sublime for this segment as it just irons out road undulations and imperfections so well.
Unsurprisingly, the V60 comes fully equipped with all the safety driving aids such as the Cross Traffic Alert which can bring the car to a halt if it detects crossing traffic behind the car when you are reversing. The Pilot Assist System which is an adaptive cruise control that supports the driver with steering, acceleration and braking inputs up to speeds of 130km/h on well marked roads is a much appreciated feature most competitors do not even offer. This can also be activated in stop-&-go traffic which takes some stress off congested city driving.
City Safety is another one of Volvo’s safety feature which help apply the brakes to avoid impending collisions and it’s claimed to be the only system in the market that recognizes pedestrians, cyclist and large animals. Nothing is perfect however, and we have experienced false activations where it detected close oncoming traffic while driving on tight B-roads where the car braked unnecessarily thinking there’s an impending collision. It can be quite shocking when that happens.
With fuel prices on the rise and EV not being a viable option, the Volvo V60 Recharge T8 is a car you should seriously consider in this segment. After travelling 850km, we were averaging around 6.6 litres per 100km which is unheard of for a car with this type of power output. Keep in mind that we were charging the vehicle every night for the past 5 nights for 7 hours which gives us an extra 30-40km of electric range. Imagine if your daily commute to work was within the electric range of the V60 and the amount saved of not needing to go to the pumps. Our calculations of charging the car’s battery fully from empty at home per night is equivalent to RM10 based on our current residential electricity tariff rates. Of course, being a hybrid you can also recharge the battery while driving with the engine running, but that would negate most of the efficiency benefits of a plug-in hybrid.
So is this car for you? If you are already in the market for an SUV/crossover and want something uniquely different, perhaps now is the time to explore the wagon life Europeans have been preaching for decades. Wagon or not, for RM305,888 (on-the-road, without insurance) you will be hard pressed to find another vehicle which offers so much performance, safety and practicality in one handsome package. Just do us a favour and get one in the stunning Fusion Red instead of the usual white, black and grey.
