ROADTEST VOLVO VGO 2.00 163BHP SE AUTO:The Volvo V60 has good looks, great safety features and decent bootspace. But is the estate car priced too closely to its big-name rivals to compete, writes MICHAEL McALEERMotoring editor
BY 2020, NO one will be killed in or by a Volvo. Yes, you’ve read that right, Volvo is aiming to make their cars so safe that occupants and pedestrians will survive a crash or coming together.
It’s a remarkably bold statement, and given its timeframe, one that could easily come back to haunt executives who will still be in the firm when the deadline arrives.
The hope for the brand is that technology will deliver on its goals. Already the latest Volvos boast a host of radars and scanners that work to pre-empt potential problems and remove power or apply braking when absolutely necessary.
Even so, every time we’ve told people about it, they start to come up with scenarios that put the ambition in doubt. “What if a pedestrian leaps out in front of you on the motorway? What if a truck topples onto your Volvo? What if you leave the handbrake off and the car rolls off the edge of a cliff? What if . . .” well you get the idea and the answer to all these seems to be that the statement will come with some sensible qualifiers.
In the normal run of things, where you might expect to be staring into the face of your God of choice, instead you should at worst be staring at a hospital ceiling. Ideally, you’ll be simply staring at a hefty repair bill.
Cynics might rightly sneer at such a wide-ranging commitment, but when you talk with the engineers at Volvo, there is no doubting the sincerity with which they are approaching the challenge, nor the fact that as ambitions go, it’s not a bad one to have.
To judge by the advances already made on models like the S60 and this estate version, the V60, a great deal of the work is underway.
The secret to most of these technologies is linking radar sensors and intuitive camera technology with the throttle, stability, braking and steering systems. With apologies to the big brains behind these projects, a very simplistic explanation is that the radar sensors throw out signals many times a second. When they hit something and bounce back, the on-board computer does a quick calculation based on speed and estimates if it’s all going to end badly. If it equates that the worst is inevitable and the driver is being a moron and ignoring the reality, it decides to take over by reducing input to the throttle and applying braking force. Before you start to question who is driving the car at this stage, responsibility and over-ride opportunities rest with the person behind the wheel. At least for now.
The camera technology is another techno-whizz, using shapes and movement to identify pedestrians at risk. At present the system can avoid a collision with a pedestrian at speeds up to 35km/h if the driver does not react in time. At higher speeds, the focus is on reducing speed as much as possible prior to impact. Speed can be reduced by up to 25km/h.
So what else does the new V60 have to offer? Well, it’s the estate version of a car that we’ve already listed amongst the best-looking new cars of this year. The trade-off for the sweeping lines is a sacrifice in terms of rear-seat headroom and luggage space due to the dipping roofline towards the rear. Similarly, the rear window line sweeps up to give the car a more sporting side profile but this reduces visibility. The end result is a car that still retains a great deal of Volvo DNA, but could easily be re-badged as an Opel or Ford.
Inside and it’s trademark Volvo. The seats are cossetting and you could pass weeks in them without complaint, while the dash and controls are the same as with the new S60. That means a nice brushed-steel look, but some annoying controls, such as radio and air-con knobs that are too similar and close together and a control menu for the audio system that flits back to the main screen too quickly if you don’t react immediately.
The engine range is not yet complete, with the more economical DRIVe version due in spring. That should reduce the price further, but for now it’s pretty competitive – starting at €34,000 for the entry-level petrol version.
The expectation is that the 2-litre diesel D3 with 163bhp in our test car will be a strong seller, but while it packs a decent punch, it’s not as potent as the power figures might suggest, while the Geartronic automatic doesn’t really get the best out of it. That’s particularly the case in the snow. Despite the perception that a big Swedish estate should be the ideal chariot in snowy weather, given their experience with such conditions, this particular Swede doesn’t come with all-wheel-drive and didn’t show any greater ability on the snow than the rest of the traffic skating around the ice rink that passes for our nation’s roads.
The V60 would seem to fit with the idea that buyers are downsizing these days, so the V60 might make the ideal purchase for someone getting out of a soft-roader SUV or perhaps the larger estate. Yet when people are looking at estates, they’re seeking to downsize the motoring costs, not their practicality.
The biggest challenge for the V60 therefore will be the V70, offering as much performance but more practicality, if not quite the panache in terms of styling. The V70 is an icon for the brand and it’s hard to overlook when considering the V60, particularly as the prices are just €4,000 apart for the same level of trim. In terms of emissions, the V70 is lower, even if it doesn’t benefit from lower tax.
The all-important bootspace in the V60 measures in at 430 litres to the glass line, compared to 575 litres in the V70, but both manage 1,600 litres to the roofline with the rear seats down. It’s a judgement call on the average load-lugging requirements you need, but it’s a difficult call between the two for a family that needs the space, particularly if you consider the 1.6-litre diesel DRIVe version of the V70 starts at €37,995. While it’s underpowered for long runs, if you’re just lugging loads about town then it’s a tempting proposition.
For us, the proximity to the V70 is just too great to overcome, even at a time when every euro counts. The precedent is there from other brands: both BMW and Mercedes have recorded significant swings towards the 5-Series and E-Class from 3-Series and C-Class owners as the price gap between these cars dramatically shrunk in the last 18 months.
There is the argument that the V60 is a better-looking car, and that not everyone needs the extra space, but then why would you be buying an estate if space was not an issue?
There is about €4,000 between equivalent specification levels on both cars, and the V60 boasts the latest in safety technology. That’s effectively pitching two cars from the same company up against each other. When you start to expand outside direct rivals, others start to come into focus, like the BMW 520d SE Touring at €44,880 for a manual version. Ultimately, the V60 is up against some real heavyweight challengers and even with all its safety gadgets and good looks, it can’t quite see off the challenge of these rivals.
Factfile
Engine1,984cc five-cylinder 20-valve transverse common-rail diesel engine putting out 163bhp at 2,900rpm and 400Nm of torque at 2,850rpm
Performance6.1l/100km – combined (46.3)
Emissions162g/km
Motor tax€447
SpecificationsFront, side and rear airbags; electronic climate control; 5-inch colour screen; cruise control; leather steering wheel; Bluetooth connectivity; 17-inch alloys
Bootspace430-1,600rpm
Price€42,730
The rivals
Audi A4 Avant 2.0 TDI
Bhp: 143
Torque 320Nm
Bootspace 490-1,430 litres
L/100km (mpg) 5.9 (47.9)
0-100km/h 9.7 secs
Emissions (motor tax) 155g/km (€302)
Price €43,250
BMW 520d SE Touring Auto
Bhp 184
Torque 380Nm
Bootspace 560-1,670 litres
L/100km (mpg) 5.3 (53.3)
0-100km/h 8.3 secs
Emissions (motor tax) 139g/km (€156)
Price €47,094
Volvo V70 2.0D Geartronic SE
Bhp 163
Torque 400Nm
Bootspace 575-1,600 litres
L/100km (mpg) 6.1 (46.3)
0-100km/h 9.4 secs
Emissions (motor tax) 159g/km (€447)
Price €46,995
Honda Accord Tourer 2.2
Bhp 148
Torque 350Nm
Bootspace 406-1,183 litres
L/100km (mpg) 5.9 (47.9)
0-100km/h 9.6 secs
Emissions (motor
tax) 157g/km (€447)
Price €37,795