Ian Lamming goes on a voyage of discovery in Volvo’s latest estate car the V60 Hybrid
SOMETIMES it’s a big ask and this is one of those occasions.
As we head off for an event with Lamborghini I do worry how the Volvo will feel on the way back.
The automotive world can be a cruel one when you are asked to jump from one vehicle to the next without any time to cleanse one’s palate.
But I need not have worried with this particular Volvo as it is more than capable of holding its head up high in any company, even Lamborghini.
One look at the Volvo will have you stereotyping it straight into a workhorse category while the Lambo obviously screams supercar.
V60 is an estate car but do not be fooled. There’s nothing staid about the new Hybrid. It looks crisp and clean, definitely smart, with a high quality sheen. It is also low and wide and the big clue in terms of sportiness lies in the attractive 19in alloys, which come complete with liquorice-thin tyres.
Under that sleek bonnet and lurking behind those Thor hammer lights is a turbocharged petrol engine that would be powerful enough on its own. But it also comes with a plug-in hybrid electric motor offering a combined power output of 350PS. Now that is a lot by any standard and enough to hurl this reasonably sized estate to 60mph in a fraction over five seconds.
That’s sportscar rapid and yet when you cruise down to Silverstone for the big event it returns ridiculously high miles per gallon figures. It’s difficult to know what the average is as it reads in the hundreds on some occasions, in the 30s other times, but the return trip to the spiritual home of motorsport doesn’t seem to take that much fuel out of the tank and the hybrid will actually do 55 miles on the electric alone.
Ride and handling are supreme too. It eats the highway for breakfast, lunch and tea which is just as well as Silverstone is 260 miles away including the diversion needed to drop off the boy.
But with that level of power under the bonnet and all-wheel-drive it’s a car that also loves the bends. The multi-way adjustable sports seats are amazing and will fit every form no matter what the shape or size. The squab extends forward to grip the back of your thighs and there’s all manner of lumbar adjustment to suit the spine. The result is pain-free motoring no matter how many hours you sit in the car.
You could be forgiven for forgetting the V60 is actually an estate car, a fact that didn’t escape my attention when it swallowed our old, rotten front door for a trip to the tip.
The powered tailgate is always a welcome feature as I hate getting my hands dirty.
The spacious, beautifully appointed cabin is familiar to all those who have driven any of the current crop of Volvos.
There’s a large iPad-esque touchy, swipey screen in the centre of the dash with which to operate multiple functions and view the sat/nav etc. It is intuitive and you quickly adjust to its merits.
The interior feels solid and safe, prestigious and comfortable with tactile materials adding to the quality feel and V60 comes with an excellent premium hi-fi which sounds great.
As drivers we seek more and more from our vehicles and with the V60 Volvo has more than met our demands. It is a truly excellent car and can hold its head high in any company – no big ask at all then.
Fact File
Volvo V60 plug-in hybrid
Engine: 2.0 turbo-charged petrol with electric motor
Power: 350PS
0-60mph: 5.2 secs
Top speed: 112mph
Combined MPG: 256
Electric range: 55 miles
Transmission: auto, AWD
CO2 g/km: 18
Price: from £57,565.00
