Station wagon meets sports car. Did you think you would ever have those two together? Station wagons are great if you need to carry a surf board in your car but often they aren’t very sporty. Well, let me introduce the Volvo V60 T5 AWD Crossover a station wagon that handles the road like a sports car but has the space that a station wagon is favoured for.
At first glance, one may want to classify the V60 as a hatchback given its handsome styling and sloping roof line. But, on second glance, you realize that your eyes are playing tricks on you and there is more to see.
The Front of the V60 Cross Country features a black honeycomb grill with metallic detailing which not only looks great but ads to the aerodynamics of the vehicle. This same metallic detailing can also be found on the sides and rear of the vehicle. The rear has two large exhausts housed in silver that ads to the overall sportiness.
The model that I had for the week was the V60 T5 Crossover in automatic with all wheel drive. This is a four-cylinder direct injection turbo petrol engine giving 180 kW and 245 horse power which has loads of oomph to get you where you need to be. At 7.4L per 100km this vehicle is also pretty fuel efficient.
On or off road, the V60 T5 is well powered to handle any situation you may be driving in. Rugged and versatile, the V60 Cross Country has a 65mm more ground clearance and with All-Wheel Drive (AWD) as standard, it’s ideal for weekends away. A feature that I really enjoyed on the road is Corner Traction Control which helps you grip the road if you take a corner at high speed. At highway speeds, the steering is firm and positive. When parking or in slow traffic, the steering is light and effortless. This ensures that turns are safe but also effortless.
It may be hard to get out of the comfortable and sporty interior. The leather sport seats are so supportive, you will just want to sit and adventure on. With premium sound, giving enhanced bass performance and the ability to play music from a USB, auxiliary and Bluetooth devices, you will be the best DJ on the road. Your passengers will also enjoy playing with the 7 inch display while easily finding the next song to play!
Your driving changes depending on how you are feeling. Some days you may want an active driving experience, others you just want to sit back and let the car cruise for you. The Adaptive Digital Display allows you to choose a speedometer that suits your mood. You can choose from Elegance, Eco and Performance. It actually took me a KM or 2 to realize that you can actually change the speedometer but once I did, I knew that the performance version suited my driving style.
Volvo knows that you are always online and it’s important that your vehicle allows you to be connected. Sensus Connect works with the 7-inch center display and converts it into an internet connected infotainment hub. This hub comprises loads of apps for entertainment, navigation, control, connectivity and service assistance. There is also an app for your phone that can be used to lock/unlock the doors, start the engine heater and checkup on the overall status of your vehicle.
Sensus Navigation is one step better than conventional navigation. The navigation system connects with Volvos cloud based services and navigation apps to provide an experience that will make your drive that much easier. For example there is an app that can help you find and pay for parking. Another app allows you to easily share your location with friends. These and other apps aim to keep your attention on the road and not on the display. I find in other vehicles using the navigation takes a lot of my attention and it is best to pull to the side to enter an address. This is not always possible.
Volvo are well known for their safety features. Here are some of the top safety features of the V60:
Lane Keeping Aid technology ensures that you don’t veer off-course when you are travelling between 65 km/h and 200 km/h. If you get too close to a lane, this clever system that uses high res cameras will gently steer the vehicle back into the lane. If you do cross the lane markings with the indicator off, you will be notified by vibrations in the steering wheel or a warning sound.
Blis will alert you if a vehicle has entered your blind spot or is approaching fast from behind. A warning light will then help you assess the feasibility of a lane change. Blis is activated once the car goes faster than 12km/h and works for any type of vehicle.
Cross Traffic Alert uses rear radar sensors to alert you of crossing traffic from the sides when you are reversing out of a parking bay.
Driver Alert Control compares your driving at speeds over 65 km/h to your normal driving. If the system senses that you are driving more erratically or there are signs that you are tired or not concentrating, it will give you an audible warning and message notifying you that you should take a break.
Collision avoidance technology which is active at speeds above 4 km/h gives off an audible and visible warning if you are too close to the vehicle in front of you. If you don’t react to the warning and a collision is imminent, full auto – braking is engaged to avoid an impact.
What is the verdict? The V60 is a Rugged and versatile vehicle that is comfortable on and off road. It is one of those vehicles that you want to take on all your adventures. The luxurious interior will keep even the most difficult passenger happy and heads will certainly turn as your head off into the distance.
