2015 Volvo V60 (© Volvo Cars of North America)Click to enlarge picture
     This review was done by MSN autos
The V60 sport wagon is the most stylish of the three fresh 60-series Volvos. Thanks to an all-new power train, the midsize Volvos have jumped from worst- to best-in-class fuel economy.
With a big investment from new owner Geely Automobile, Swedish automaker Volvo is accelerating its presence in the marketplace. Last year, Volvo updated their interior and exterior designs; for 2015, they are addressing the mechanicals, starting with all-new state-of-the-art engines. The new engines are debuting in the S60 sedan, XC60 crossover and the V60 sport wagon that we are highlighting here. Known as Drive-E ("efficient") by Volvo, the new engines combine strong power with excellent fuel economy.

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Model lineup
The new V60 — like its S60 sedan and XC90 crossover siblings — is an upscale, midsize offering with extensive standard features. A moonroof is standard equipment, for example, and while cloth seats are standard, Volvo shoppers can expect to see the optional heated leather seats and other near-luxury items on showroom models. A short series of option packages — Sport, Technology — and the well-equipped Premier Plus trim level help bundle the options in meaningful groups.
To point out two of the V60's niceties, it comes with dual-zone climate control and a three-piece rear seat that includes pass-through capability. Integrated child seats are optional.
Safety, naturally, is a Volvo strong suit. Numerous new electronics have brought Volvo into the lead group of electronically assisted cars. The three 60-series vehicles boast collision warning with auto braking, radar-assisted cruise control and blind-spot detection as standard.
Those in a hurry can seek out the Polestar, a very limited edition of the V60. It boasts a sporty suspension, 6-piston Brembo brakes and 350 horsepower.
View Pictures:  2015 Volvo V60
Under the hood
The big news for Volvo is its all-new, turbocharged Drive-E engine series ranging from 150 to 300 horsepower in either 4- or 6-cylinder form. These are Volvo engines — not rehashed mills from previous owner Ford — and besides solid engineering basics they exhibit fresh thinking on the higher-powered models by adding supercharging to the already turbocharged engines. This is a somewhat pricey but effective solution to engine downsizing. It doesn't hurt that supercharging powerhouse Lysholm is also a Swedish company. Other state-of-the-art features are variable valve timing, low-friction cam bearings and a variable speed electric water pump.
Central to the Drive-E concept is reducing engine size and weight while boosting output. The new engines are tuned for high torque to ease standing starts and deliver a pleasingly muscular response at normal driving speeds, but also to breathe freely at high speeds for satisfying freeway manners. Typical engine weight savings are 100 pounds when moving from the older 6-cylinder models to the more powerful 4-cylinder Drive-E.
The V60 sport wagon's typical configuration is the 240-horsepower 4-cylinder Drive-E engine driving the front wheels. An older 250-horsepower 5-cylinder mill is currently offered in the all-wheel-drive option, but it will eventually be replaced by a Drive-E variant as well. An R-Design variant is also in the works; it will have a 325-horsepower 6-cylinder Drive-E engine and AWD.
All 60-series Volvos employ an 8-speed automatic transmission developed to complement the new engines. They offer full auto or paddle-shift operation. The new gearbox also supports the V60's three driving modes: Driving, Sport and Eco+. Each selection adjusts both engine and transmission response.