Managing editor Darren Cassey has taken delivery of a Volvo V60 to see how it holds up to family life. With a three-year-old boy assisting with the test procedure, this will be no easy task.
This is my new daily driver, a proper posh family wagon in the form of a Volvo V60. I can’t wait to see how it handles the next three months – particularly with a boisterous three-year-old keen to help me put it to the test.
I’ve definitely entered my dad era, because I’m genuinely over the moon about grabbing the keys to this practical, comfort-focused estate car. But that’s not the only reason I want to run one, there are two key things I want to learn.
The first is whether plug-in hybrids actually make sense, and I also want to see if we should be sad that most families go for SUVs these days, leading to the demise of the estate. The V60 is not long for this world, so it seems like an excellent car to investigate in.
Introducing my Volvo V60
So let’s start with an introduction. ‘My’ V60 is an Ultra, which means it’s the top-spec and therefore gets lots of nice-to-haves that you can’t get, or have to pay extra for, on the entry-level Plus model.
My favourite upgrade is the Harman Kardon Premium Sound System, which lets you really crank your music volume without distortion, while my son is a big fan of the panoramic roof because he can keep an eye out for planes flying overhead.
Other useful extras include the 360-degree parking camera, electrically adjustable passenger seat, and full-LED headlights with an adaptive high beam so you don’t blind oncoming drivers.
Pilot Assist is also included on Ultra models, but not the Plus. This is a kind of semi-autonomous driving aid that not only maintains your speed and distance to the car in front, but can also keep you centred in your lane.
I’ve never got on with these systems that nudge and tug at the wheel, so I like the fact it’s really easy to flick to the regular adaptive cruise control via a button on the steering wheel.
Being an Ultra model means it has the more powerful plug-in hybrid engine. Called T8, it has a healthy 455hp as well as an official range of 56 miles – though the car is showing 40 miles fully charged at the moment.
I’ve always been dubious of plug-in hybrids, beyond being tempting for company car buyers thanks to the low benefit-in-kind rate. You need to have access to regular charging at home or work to see the fuel economy benefits, but if you can charge at home then an electric car will work for the vast majority of people.
I’ll be charging the car regularly to see what economy I can achieve, and noting my journey lengths to see if any wouldn’t have been possible without stopping to charge in an electric car with even modest range. We’ve leased a Cupra Born for the past two years, so have the benefit of home charging and a cheap overnight EV tariff.
How much does all this cost? Well, posh doesn’t come cheap. There’s just one optional extra – the Denim Blue metallic paint at £745 – but this V60 comes in at £60,105.
First impressions of my Volvo V60
The Volvo V60 has quickly settled into the demands of family life. The rear seats have loads of space, so it’s easy to get the child seat in place and my son has room to stretch his legs.
This also means my girlfriend doesn’t have to push the front passenger seat too far forward to accommodate him, which can be a problem even in relatively large cars, so she’s perfectly comfortable in the Volvo.
I love the built-in Google infotainment system. Android Auto and Apple CarPlay are available and I’m more than happy to use them, but they drain the battery on your phone so on longer journeys you either need to overheat your phone on a wireless charger or plug into a USB-C slot, which introduces pesky wires.
The joy of the Volvo system is that I can sign into Google through the car and Maps has all my saved locations. I can also sign into Spotify and play my playlists without streaming from my phone. I just tuck my phone away in the centre console and forget about it, knowing I’ll have enough charge at the end of my commute to get through the day. You can still connect to Bluetooth and make hands-free calls.
I’m yet to be convinced by the plug-in hybrid system. It’s great that I can do all of my local journeys on electric power and it costs me next to nothing, but I’m yet to do a journey that wouldn’t have been perfectly easy in a full EV, even my chunky commute from the south coast to London.
Stay tuned for more updates on my time with the car – will the PHEV win me over? Only time will tell.
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