2015 Volvo V60 T5

2015 Volvo V60 T5 (Courtesy of Volvo)

Volvo must have heard this week was my birthday, since they brought me a very cool V60 T5 Drive-E Sportswagon that is a treat to look at and to drive. So thank you Mr. Volvo!

Unfortunately I have to give it back next week, but in the meantime it’s been a blast to drive around Dallas in the cool metallic blue turbo-charged, 2.0-liter, direct-injection wagon. The V60 is a brand new model offered by Volvo, and my test model’s available four-cylinder Drive-E engine provided an extra boost to the V60’s performance. The V60 drove like a sedan and not a wagon, and its smoothly contoured lines made it look subtly different and a great deal sportier than bulkier wagons.

The V60 is available in a 240-hp 2.0-liter 4-cylinder, a 250-hp 2.4-liter 5-cylinder, and a 325-hp 3.0-liter 6-cylinder engine, with an extra bonus provided by all models using regular gas. Mine came with 8-speed Geartronic automatic transmission with advanced quick shift, dynamic stability traction control, touring chassis with advanced stability control, and corner traction control. The V60 T5 Drive-E had more than enough power for this driver, easily impersonating a much racier vehicle.

The V60 boasted a new technology for Volvo with its cyclist detection system. Safety and security features are state of the art for this new vehicle, with low speed collision avoidance system, all available safety belts and air curtains, whiplash protection system for driver and front passenger, security system with back-up battery for siren, child safety locks, and City Safety are standard on all V60s, plus a large menu of optional tech and safety features are also available.

Luxury touches are plentiful in the uncluttered cabin, with 8-way power driver seat with 3-position memory, shimmer graphite aluminum inlays, leather and silk metal steering wheel, electronic parking brake, dual zone electronic climate control, power sunroof, and 40/20/40 flat folding seats with center arm rest in the rear. 

All the technology that buyers would expect from a luxury brand like Volvo is on the V60, with Sensus and a 7-inch color LCD monitor, high performance audio system, Bluetooth hands-free with audio streaming, and SiriusXM satellite radio. 

The V60 T5 Drive-E Sportswagon has an MSRP of $35,300, and averages 29 miles per gallon with 25 in town and 37 on the highway or 3.4 gallons per 100 miles. V60 owners can expect to save $2,000 in fuel costs over 5 years compared to the average new vehicle.

Maybe because they knew it was my birthday, Volvo had added a few additional items to the already great V60. These included the sparkling Blue Metallic Paint ($550), Premier Plus package with leather seating surfaces, Adaptive Digital TFT Display, side window brightwork, silver roof rails, keyless drive with personal car communicator, rear park assist camera, digital compass, grocery bag holder, and HomeLink integrated garage door opener (if I only hadn’t lost the garage door opener!) for $2,550.

Volvo also added a Sport Package for $1,500, which switched the standard 17-inch alloy wheels for 19-inch BOR Diamond Cut Alloy Wheels, paddle shifters, sport chassis, and sport seats. Also added was the invaluable Blind Spot Information System, Cross Traffic Alert, Lane Change Merge Aid, and front and rear park assist, plus heated front seats ($500). With a destination charge of $925, the total MSRP for the test model was $42,225.

Jo Ann Holt is a journalist and car columnist based in Dallas and a member of Texas Automobile Writers Association (TAWA).