Volvo V60 gives the Swedish station wagon a fitting farewell

SINGAPORE – The V60 – Volvo’s last combustion-engine station wagon – is back for a swansong.

Long before sport utility vehicles (SUVs) conquered the world’s roads, Volvo built its reputation on station wagons. They were practical, safe and comfortable over long distances, becoming rolling symbols of Scandinavian common sense.

The V60 represents the final chapter of that story.

As Volvo moves towards an all-electric future, the 2025 retirement of the larger V90 leaves the V60 effectively as the Swedish marque’s final petrol-powered station wagon.

However, the V60’s future is uncertain. The model is eight years old, global demand for wagons continues to shrink and any successor, if there is one, is almost certain to be electric.

Volvo’s Singapore dealer, Wearnes Automotive, sold its last V60 in September 2025 and, for almost a year, Volvo had no station wagon in its Singapore showroom. The V60 returned only in July 2026 in what is likely to be the model’s final run here.

Its return inevitably evokes nostalgia. But sentiment counts for little if the product itself disappoints.

Thankfully, the V60 remains faithful to the “Volvo-ness” of its predecessors.

The model has aged, but its design has weathered remarkably well. First introduced in 2018 and refreshed in 2022 with a mild-hybrid power plant, it still looks fresh compared with some newer rivals.

The long bonnet, pronounced shoulders and low-slung stance give it proportions that SUVs cannot match. This latest version sharpens the look with gloss-black detailing on the grille, mirror caps and roof rails, complemented by 19-inch diamond-cut alloy wheels that suit the car’s sleek profile.

Open the door and the Scandinavian theme continues.

The cabin feels calm and uncluttered. A delightful detail is the crystal gear selector crafted by Swedish glassmaker Orrefors. It serves no practical purpose beyond selecting gears, but adds a touch of craftsmanship by catching the sunlight that streams into the cabin through the panoramic sunroof.

Volvo’s seats remain among the industry’s benchmark. They may not hug occupants as tightly as sport seats in German competitors, but they remain among the best in the business, with the extendable thigh cushions for front occupants making a noticeable difference in comfort on long drives.

Technology has also kept pace. The Google-powered infotainment system in Volvo cars is among the industry’s more intuitive interfaces. Native Google Maps provides capable navigation guidance and voice commands work naturally. After logging into the Google account of the test car, I say, “Hey Google, navigate to work”, and it instantly knows where I want to go.

Ahead of the driver, a crisp head-up display projects speed and Google navigation instructions directly into the line of sight, allowing eyes to stay focused on the road instead of repeatedly glancing down at the instruments or sideways at the infotainment screen.

Audiophiles will appreciate the Harman Kardon sound system. Its 14 speakers and 600-watt output produce a soundstage that does justice to everything from Beethoven to podcasts.

Under the bonnet sits Volvo’s familiar 2.0-litre turbocharged four-cylinder engine paired with a 48-volt mild-hybrid system. Producing 197hp and 300Nm, the mild-hybrid power plant delivers brisk rather than blistering performance, completing the century sprint in 7.6 seconds.

Performance figures tell only part of the story. The V60 has never been about outright speed. Instead, it excels in smooth and refined power delivery, with the seven-speed transmission shifting unobtrusively.

On the move, the car retains the planted, reassuring character that has long distinguished Volvo station wagons.

Where many SUVs feel top-heavy and slightly detached from the road, the V60 feels settled. Its lower centre of gravity inspires confidence through the sweeping bends of Neo Tiew Road, while the suspension soaks up the uneven tarmac in Commonwealth Avenue with effortless composure.

Over 150km of mixed driving, the V60 returned 7.5 litres/100km, slightly above Volvo’s official figure of 6.8 litres/100km.

Safety, of course, remains the V60’s defining attribute.

Its extensive driver-assistance package includes adaptive cruise control; collision mitigation capable of detecting pedestrians, cyclists and even large animals; blind-spot monitoring with steering assistance; cross-traffic alert; lane-keeping aid and a 360-degree camera. Volvo also deserves credit for calibrating these systems well. Unlike some newer cars whose driver-assistance features constantly interrupt with chimes and warnings, the V60 intervenes only when genuinely necessary, rather than constantly reminding the driver of its presence through chimes and beeps.

Practicality remains another compelling reason to choose a station wagon over an SUV. The V60’s 519-litre luggage compartment expands to 1,431 litres when the rear seats are folded, while the low loading height makes heavy luggage far easier to lift than into a taller crossover. It also edges out its XC60 SUV sibling, whose luggage compartment measures 483 litres, expanding to 1,410 litres.

The V60 is not without its flaws. The cabin now shows its age beside newer electric cars. Its 11-inch touchscreen feels modest in an era of 15-inch displays, the automatic stop-start function cannot be permanently disabled, wired Apple CarPlay remains necessary for iPhone users, and enthusiastic drivers may miss steering-wheel paddle shifters.

These imperfections aside, while much of today’s automotive industry chases ever-larger SUVs with increasingly complex styling, the V60 quietly offers better aerodynamics, sharper handling, superior ride comfort and arguably more grace than some SUVs costing considerably more.

That is why its looming departure feels like the end of something bigger than a single model.

The V60 marks the closing chapter of a body style that Volvo helped perfect.

If this really is Volvo’s final combustion-powered station wagon, it leaves the stage exactly as its predecessors did: with practicality, poise and just enough nostalgia to make enthusiasts wish there had been one more encore.

Volvo V60 B4 Plus

Price: $320,000 with certificate of entitlement (COE) before applicable discounts
Engine: 1,969cc 16-valve inline-4 turbocharged
Transmission: Seven-speed automatic with manual select
Power: 197hp at 5,250rpm
Torque: 300Nm at 1,500-4,500rpm
0-100kmh: 7.6 seconds
Top speed: 180kmh
Fuel consumption: 6.8 litres/100km
Agent: Wearnes Automotive
Rating: ★★★☆☆

Comparable considerations

BYD Seal 6 DM-i Touring Dynamic ($268,388 with COE before discounts)

The station wagon version of the BYD Seal 6 DM-i is a plug-in hybrid with a 10kWh battery, giving it an all-electric range of about 50km. It is also powered by a 1.5-litre petrol engine with a 65-litre fuel tank. The power train pairing promises a mixed fuel consumption of 3.8 litres/100km and a range of about 1,700km. This is the only current station wagon offering – in both plug-in hybrid and all-electric forms – by a Chinese carmaker in Singapore. 

Skoda Octavia Combi 1.5 TSI; RS 2.0 TSI ($270,900 with COE; $361,900 with COE, both before discounts)

Skoda Centre Singapore has three station wagons, or Combis, in its line-up. The smaller Octavia Combi comes in two forms: a pocket-friendlier Category A COE 1.5-litre mild-hybrid engine that offers practicality and a cushy ride, and a high-performance RS version with a 2-litre engine. The Octavia is shorter in length (4,698mm versus 4,778mm) but taller (1,468mm versus 1,432mm) compared with the V60, and its cargo compartment offers more space at 640 litres, expanding to 1,700 litres.

Skoda Superb Combi Laurin & Klement 1.5 TSI ($319,900 with COE before discounts)

The large Skoda Superb Combi stands out as the only large station wagon sold by authorised agents that is not incredibly powerful or from a premium brand. Compared with the V60, it is longer (4,902mm versus 4,778mm) and taller (1,482mm versus 1,432mm). Although it qualifies for the Category B COE, its 148hp 1.5-litre mild-hybrid engine trails the Volvo V60’s 2-litre engine in output, but it offers additional amenities such as a massage seat for the driver, an electrically operated luggage compartment cover, and significantly more cargo space of 690 litres, expanding to 1,920 litres.