If you are in the market for a station wagon, there aren't many new options available locally. One of the few companies that still offer a new vehicle this body style in South Africa is Volvo with its V90 Cross Country, however, if that option is a bit too dear for you, why not consider a used Volvo V60 model on AutoTrader. The Volvo V60 is a slightly smaller model that was first introduced in 2011.
In 2014 the Scandinavian automaker applied some revisions to the model which saw quite a few new features incorporated. Sadly while there is a brand new V60 model available in other markets, locally Volvo ended sales of the V60 model in 2018 and instead has focussed its efforts towards the compact-SUV and SUV segments. Regardless the last Volvo V60 we got is a stylish option and won't leave those considering a station wagon wanting for more but let us take a look at exactly what you should look out for when driving the V60.
Space
One of the main reasons for you to consider a station wagon of any brand is that you are looking for the added luggage space and the Volvo V60 offers just that. Without inconveniencing the rear occupants you are able to take advantage of 430-litre boot capacity, however, if you need even more space, by lowering the rear seats you will gain access to 1 246 litres.
Seats
As you would expect from a vehicle of this size, the Volvo V60 offers comfortable leather seating for up to five occupants. As alluded to earlier, you can lower the rear seats and this can be done in a 40/20/40 configuration. One area feature that stands out above the rest in terms of the seats is the two-stage integrated booster cushions. The cushions have been developed with children age three years and above in mind. The cushions pop up with one simple movement and raise the seating for a safer height for children.
Infotainment
With the update of the V60 that came in 2014, Volvo developed a new infotainment system installed on the centrally fitted 7.0-inch touch screen display. The new system, named Sensus Connected Touch, allows for the owner to connect a 3G or 4G internet dongle directly to the vehicle or connect to the internet via a paired smartphone. Furthermore, the driver can share this internet connection with other occupants via the built-in WiFi system.
The internet accessibility allows for streaming of music, internet radio, (Google) Maps and Search, 3D navigation with online traffic info weather information as well as a number of native and web applications. The screen itself is also very clever in that it incorporates infrared beam scanning of your finger position allowing the driver to use the screen even with gloves on. Alternatively, the driver can also control the infotainment functions via voice commands.
Safety systems
Volvo has acquired a great reputation for the safety of its vehicles, and it is no different for the V60 model range. Fitted as standard is Volvo's IntelliSafe active safety systems. The latter incorporates city safety technologies which work at speeds of up to 50 km/h and will keep an eye out for pedestrians and automatically brake if it detects a person walking into the path of the vehicle.
While test driving a used Volvo V60 model from AutoTrader be sure to check if it comes specified with the optional Blind Spot Information, Cross Traffic Alert and Road Sign Information systems. These systems utilize cameras, sensors and radars to monitor the surroundings of the vehicle and relay this information to the driver to mitigate accidents.
