Will the Volvo V60 T8 Inscription change your mind

Volvo is back in the performance game with this V60

Can this all-new Volvo sports wagon convince Malaysian SUV buyers to trade-in their SUVs for a station wagon infused with high performance?

V60 Wagon

First a little history, the humble station wagon is a car with a large load area at the rear with an upright hatchback tailgate. The sports utility vehicle or ‘SUV’ is actually a product of a station wagon with ‘raised’ height and a 4x4 drive system underneath on some models, please take note that some SUVs still carry a two-wheel drive system. This Volvo V60 carries the S60 sedan’s styling with a hatchback rear and a large luggage area.

V60 Cabin

Inside this all-new V60 you will find the same high-quality cabin already experienced in the latest Volvo S60 sedan. With well-sculptured seats wearing high-quality materials, it is a great place to spend time, particularly on long drives, whether you are the one gripping the 3-spoke sports leather steering wheel or you are just sitting in the 12-way electric contoured seats with perforated Nappa leather & Nubuck combination leather. This is a luxury cabin space.

The cabin is spacious and exceptionally driver-friendly with well-engineered switchgear, logically arranged controls and crystal clear dials.

There is smartphone charging, electric parking brake, 2-zone climate control, an easy to use and learn touch screen central infotainment display and a multitude of airbags to keep all cabin occupants safe.

Volvo engineers have provided a 4 stage Drive Select with an instant reacting switchable driving mode system (there is a choice of Comfort, Efficiency, Sport and Individual which takes control of the suspension settings, handling, steering weight and engine response to suit your driving needs.  

V60 Drive

Using Drive Select's Comfort mode allows the driver to make an impact on the highway with a quick throttle response and tighter steering feel and when in heavy traffic, the driver can choose to be relaxed and sip less fuel.

What surprises many behind the wheel is that even in ‘Comfort’ mode the driver on twisty B-roads will still enjoy good handling with the V60 holding its driving line tenaciously through the many bends it is pushed into.

Selecting Sport mode serves up encouragingly sharp and focused handling and provides the driver with hot hatch performance that will have VW Golf R, Mercedes A35 AMG and even BMW 135i drivers working their machines hard to keep up.

Under the low profile bonnet sits Volvo's tried and tested 2.0L petrol engine that punches out an impressive 320 bhp and an impressive 400 Nm of torque from a low 1,200 rpm via an 8-speed gearbox.

This is before the electric motor (this is a plug-in hybrid) comes into action (as long as the battery system is charged up) to reach 100 kmph from rest in 6.1 seconds. Add in the fully charged battery working with the electric motor and the power delivery of this V60 moves up to 407 bhp and a supercar high 640 Nm of torque. This petrol engine and the electric motor combination provide a 0-100 kmph acceleration time of just 4.8 seconds which is very worrying for BMW ‘M’ tuned car owners who used to laugh at Volvo drivers.

We suggest you take this V60 T8 for a test drive, before a meal and then decide over a meal if this is the car to suit your lifestyle and driving speed needs.

Volvo V60 T8 Inscription Specifications

Engine: Inline-4, Turbocharged, Supercharged, PHEV electric motor

Capacity: 1969-cc

Gearbox: 8-speed Semi-Automatic

Max power: 320 hp at 5700 rpm (407 hp with electric drivetrain)

Max torque: 400 Nm at 1200 rpm (640 Nm with electric drivetrain)

Top Speed: 180 kmph (manufacturer restricted)

0-100 kmph: 4.8 seconds

Price: RM 286,474.00

Also read: Volvo C40 coming soon to Malaysia