Volvo V60 (Z) and V60 Cross Country (Z)

Since 2010, Volvo introduced the first-ever V60, which served as the station wagon equivalent of the Volvo S60, one of the safest Volvos introduced in this decade, and by some odd turn, the station wagon equivalent of the S60 received a full model change, leaving its sedan equivalent what might have been. Anyway, while this is basically a full model change, there's something about the all-new V60 range.

2019 Volvo V60

2019 Volvo V60 Cross Country

One look on the all-new Volvo V60 and you'll know that it has the case of "Honey, I shrunk the V90" because the styling of the new V60 looks very similar to its flagship equivalent, the V90, meaning that the Swedish carmaker went through the Russian doll effect like most luxury cars adorned so when you parked this car next alongside the V90, drivers can get easily confused between the two cars after a quick trip to the grocery store. Confusing looks aside, the Volvo V60 comes with two different versions such as the normal V60 and the tough-looking but not-so-tough Cross Country variant with a slightly raised height similar to what jacked-up versions of everyday cars looked like such as the Subaru Outback for example.

2019 Volvo V60 interior

The new V60 sports a typical Volvo interior that has been on every lineup since the XC90 SUV, meaning that you will still be greeted with the big touchscreen on the dashboard that terrifies speedo boys everywhere, the steering wheel, the knob, the high-tech instrumental panel, and so on. Although nothing special about the driver's side because of the uniform Volvo dashboard, it's surprisingly as comfortable as a family car, which isn't so bad for a five-seater station wagon for a change and the boot space wasn't half bad, meaning that you can store as many as you want unless if you're the sort of person who spends the rest of the week buying stuff from the thrift store or jacking up space with loads of gym equipment for no reason at all.

2019 Volvo V60

2019 Volvo V60 Cross Country

On the normal V60, it's been offered with a choice of T5 or T6 petrol engines, D3 or D4 diesel engines (which doesn't make sense in Europe anymore due to anti-diesel issues), and then this; a T8 Twin Engine which combines a 2.0L turbocharged engine with a plug-in hybrid powertrain and an 8-speed automatic gearbox. It's capable of producing 390PS of total power output and can go from 0-100kph in less than five seconds and it is electronically limited to 250kph. Simple as that.

The V60 Cross Country, meanwhile, is only offered with a 190ps 2.0L D4 diesel engine, so if you're European and if you're in tune with the times, better ignore this until Volvo offered cleaner variants of the V60 Cross Country so better cross that out. It's a shame really because I was going to mention about its increased ground clearance, its specially developed Cross Country chassis and suspension, its standard all-wheel drive and its special Off-Road driving mode but because it's offered in diesel only at launch, no way, Jose.

Anyway, because both models running on the Scalable Product Architecture that has been adorned to today's Volvo models since the XC90, the new V60 range always enjoy its new lease in life with its more rigid body, lighter weight, better dimensions, and safety features such as the City Safety with Autobrake technology and the Pilot Assist system. Coupled that with its clever suspension and chassis setups and the result is a station wagon that feels better to drive than the original, although it can be considered to be OK for most drivers. Nothing more, nothing less. It's just an okay sport wagon that it feels so decent to drive from the comfort of your Camellia Homes to Isdaan when you and your mates are having a bit of a food trip.

The V60 range starts at 317,000 Swedish Krona (around $35,450) which is basically reasonable enough for people to own one or if you have a Care by Volvo subscription, you can drive one right away while letting the monthly fees do the talking. So, while the V60 suffers the Russian doll syndrome, the way it performs wasn't so bad for a station wagon of this size and it's a good wagon full-stop.

Photo: Volvo Cars

Volvo S60 Cross Country and V60 Cross Country

2016 Volvo S60 Cross Country

2016 Volvo V60 Cross Country

Following Volvo's rebirth of the Cross Country lineup starting with the V40 Cross Country tall hatchback, looks like the Swedish carmaker decided to give the S60 midsize saloon and the V60 station wagon a more rugged and outdoorsy experience and by judging on its character, it's hard to say if these latest versions are proven to be quite a handful to be lifestyle vehicles targeted for people who want to go out and do leisure stuff on the weekends.

On the contrary, they're nothing but just an S60 and V60 with some fat chunky tires, added ground clearance, and that's about it. There's nothing you can expect that these Cross Country models are made to go anywhere when the elements are thrown at them. The V60 Cross Country isn't so bad, especially it was made for those who can't afford an XC60 crossover, which is usually based on that car. As for the S60 Cross Country, looks like the big tires really spoils the sports saloon's looks. It looks like a ghetto man's donk car going on the alleyways on the evening playing with some rap music on his radio. Ooh, how would the neighbors think when they see one of these?!

Despite their odd appearances, the added ground clearance, the chunky tires, and the ALL WHEEL DRIVE system are all here to keep the car going while facing numerous road conditions like cobbled roads, slippery roads, speed bumps from your local suburbs, loose gravel, and many others. They're not really scary to drive as well especially on elevated roads like the ones you'll face somewhere between Gemini St., Leo St., and Pisces St.

Even though the V60 Cross Country and the S60 Cross Country are relatives, their engine choices are ironically different. In the S60 Cross Country model, the only engine offered is a 2.0L D4 engine producing 190PS of power output while mated with a 6-speed MT or a 8-speed AT. In the V60 Cross Country, on the other hand, it has a smaller 2.0L D3 engine, 2.0L D4 engine, and a 2.0L T5 engine producing 245PS of power. Now that's a lot of power for a station wagon of that size.

The S60 Cross Country starts at 373,200 Kr while the V60 Cross Country starts at 320,000 Kr, which is cheaper to buy than the saloon counterpart! How's that possible? No one really knows but either way, both the S60 Cross Country and the V60 Cross Country are well-targeted niches targeted for the lifestyle enthusiasts who prefer to go outdoors. Yes, they may not be as tough or rugged as any other SUVs know and they're big and horrible, but these cars aren't just cars. They're lifestyles in their own rights.

Photo: Volvo Cars

Volvo V60

2011 Volvo V60

2011 Volvo V60 interior

If you taught that the second-generation Volvo S60 was naughty enough with its innovative City Safety and Pedestrian Detection system, wait until you will get a load on Volvo's naughtiest sport wagon that North Americans will never get. The Volvo V60 does everything naughty as its sedan counterpart do when it comes to stay safe on the road, aside from being the naughtiest wagon ever built.

The design part of the V60 truly celebrates to the new Volvo design language as seen on the Volvo XC60, but in relationship terms, the V60 is the sports tourer version of the second-generation S60. Back then, the V70 used to be the wagon version of the first-generation S60. Now, the V70 looks more like the latest S80 luxury sedan. The V60 name is somewhat new and it is a nice addition to the Volvo wagon line ranging from the S40 and the V70. In conclusion, the V60 seems more like a five-door coupe rather than being called a sports tourer.

As for the interior, the V60 shares the same luxury from the new S60 sedan, only this time, spacing is the prime aspect for the V60. Perfect enough for the adventurers who are going for some trailblazing moments

The Volvo V60 features a wide array of engines available to suit your adventurous needs of naughtiness. With the range consisting of five gasoline engines (T3, T4, 2.0T, T5, T6) and two diesel engines (D3, D5), choosing which naughty engine for the naughty wagon can be a decent strategy. The naughtiest for the naughty Volvo V60 is always the turbocharged engines because not only it delivers a good speed, but also delivers a fun to drive experience. Depending on the engine a six-speed manual, six-speed auto, or Powershift transmission can be equipped. Finding which naughty transmission for the V60 is a great key, but the naughtiest is always the manual transmission.

My thoughts about the V60:
Expect this wagon never come to North America for now because no word for Volvo on bringing this naughty wagon to the U.S., as for the Philippines, no word for Viking Cars yet because the V60 seems too blurry to sell. Do not fret, the S60's City Safety feature will take place being Philippine's naughtiest car, which means, there is no need for us having the V60. However if we want this V60 very soon, could we make a simple request to Viking Cars to distribute the new V60 soon? The answer has yet to be determined, as for that, you have to go all the way to Europe to indulge ourselves in the naughtiest Volvo wagon built for safety.