Volvo->ke3667 is the king of the wagon. From the Duett in the ‘50s, to the Amazon wagon in the ‘60s and all the way up to the bonkers five-door, speed demons, like the 850 R, Volvo is one of the few brands that has continually advanced the art of the station wagon->ke143 on U.S. shores. Even today, when more and more buyers are shunning the five-door wagon and moving to SUV->ke145s worldwide, Volvo has not given up on its heritage.

This is the 2015 Volvo V60 Sportswagon->ke3667.

The V60 combines the style and luxury of the successful S60 sedan, and combines it with the utility and space of a wagon. The newest V60 has already been on sale in Europe since 2013, and now we finally get a chance to taste the forbidden fruit. The car is scheduled to hit showrooms early this year and comes powered by one of three turbocharged engines. AWD will also be offered.

Read on to learn more about the new 2015 Volvo V60 and see our exclusive photos from a recent drive.

Updated 2/3/2014: We got a first-hand look at the 2015 V60, have a look at what we thought of it after the jump.

Click past the jump to read more about the upcoming 2015 Volvo V60

2015 Volvo V60

Specifications
  • Make: Array
  • Model: 2015 Volvo V60
  • Engine/Motor: inline-4
  • Horsepower: 240
  • Torque: 258
  • [do not use] Vehicle Model: Array
Pros
Cons

Exterior

Like all of the cars currently in the Volvo lineup, the V60 features a restrained design that is inoffensive yet elegant. The subtle creases on the hood, gently flared fenders and the sharp character lines that accentuate the V60's shoulders at the rear all combine to create a sporty feel without a boy-racer vibe.

Chrome details scattered across the outside combine with the trapezoidal exhaust tips and alloy wheels to make the design feel premium and upscale.

Exterior Dimensions

Inches

Height

58.4

Length

182.5

Width

73.4

Wheelbase

109.3


Interior

The interior features the same attention to detail and restrained finish that defines the exterior. Sculpted seats with contrast stitching provide a nice balance between support and comfort while enhancing the look of the cabin. Almost everything you can touch feels very high quality and luxurious. The dash mounted “key” slot can seem a little weird, but it shouldn’t take long to get used to.

Like basically every modern Volvo, the center stack is well laid out and easy to use, even if it does seem that some of the buttons are small. We really appreciate having large knobs for audio and climate controls. It makes adjustments quick and easy.

Drivetrain

When it hits showrooms, the V60 will be sold with three different engine choices. The base engine is a four-cylinder, 2.0-liter turbocharged unit with 240 horsepower and 258 pound-feet of torque. This is Volvo’s new Drive-E engine that is built to be as light as possible and provide the greatest fuel economy. This is the engine in our test car you see here. The Drive-E engine comes mated exclusively to a new eight-speed automatic transmission and front-wheel drive.

The traditional T5 five-cylinder engine is also available. This turbocharged mill produces 250 horsepower and 266 pound-feet of torque. It comes mated to an older six-speed automatic transmission versus. The power differential may be miniscule over the Drive-E engine, but the five-cylinder comes with an AWD drivetrain exclusively.

For the most power and performance, the T6 turbocharged in-line-six is the way to go. With 300 horsepower and 325 pound-feet of twist, the T6 makes for one quick wagon. Just like the five-cylinder, this engine only comes with a six-speed auto and AWD. For even more speed, the T6 is available with the Polestar Performance tuning package. This bumps horsepower up to 325 and torque up to 354 pound-feet.

Volvo has said that eventually it will be moving exclusively to the Drive-E drivetrain, so if you want a 300-plus horsepower AWD Volvo wagon, you should buy one soon.

Suspension and Brakes

The V60 demonstrates a sporty quality to its handling. Thanks to electronic wizardry, like Corner Traction Control to reduce understeer and Dynamic Stability, and Traction Control to keep you out of trouble when you overdo it, the V60 is a playful partner for the back roads. When you really want to have some fun, activate Sport Mode, and the electronic nannies will ease up.

The T6 comes with an R-Design Sport Chassis that sits 15 mm (0.59 inches) lower and features upgraded suspension components on all four corners, including 15-percent stiffer springs. That equates to flatter cornering and a more dynamic drive overall.

Tucked into the wheels are a set of anti-lock brakes with brake assist and Ready Alert Braking systems.

Pricing

Model

Trim

Price (MSRP)

V60 T5 Drive-E

Base

$35,300

V60 T5 Drive-E

Premier

$37,100

V60 T5 Drive-E

Premier Plus

$37,850

V60 T5 Drive-E

Platinum

$40,450

V60 T5 AWD

Base

$36,800

V60 T5 AWD

Premier

$38,600

V60 T5 AWD

Premier Plus

$39,350

V60 T5 AWD

Platinum

$41,950

V60 T6 AWD R-Design

Base

$44,300

V60 T6 AWD R-Design

Platinum

$47,300


Competitors

Audi Allroad

The Audi->ke14 Allroad is a natural competitor of the V60. It provides the same level of luxury while maximizing performance and AWD capability thanks to Quattro. The Audi will likely suffer a loss in fuel economy numbers however.

BMW 3 Series Wagon

The BMW->ke178 3 Series Wagon provides German build quality and rear-wheel-drive handling characteristics in the same practical shell as the Volvo. Thanks to an available turbo-diesel engine option, it should best the Volvo in fuel economy as well. The Swedes have a tough battle on their hands against this Bavarian.

Conclusion

The new 2015 Volvo V60 gives fans exactly what they want. It’s a stylish five-door with a well-appointed interior and plenty of engine options. From fuel-sipping four-cylinders to the fire-breathing T6 Polestar, there is sure to be a V60 that fits most buyer’s needs and wants.