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Comparing the Volvo V60 and Volvo V90
28 Jun 2023
When it comes to luxury estate cars, Volvo has always been a prominent name thanks to their high standards of safety, elegance, and practicality. The Swedish automaker offers a range of well-priced and carefully built cars that specialise in SUVs and Estates, and two of the most notable estate models are the Volvo V60 and the Volvo V90.
If you find yourself deciding between the two, the good news is that both the V60 and V90 embody Volvo's commitment to safety, innovation, and refined design, ensuring an enjoyable driving experience. The V60 is the sportier and more compact option, whilst the V90 offers a more luxurious and spacious experience. To help you decide between the two, we’ve explored the appearance, practicality, comfort, and performance of both models.
Exterior Design
Comparing the shape of both cars, being a compact and sporty estate, the V60 showcases sleek lines and a dynamic stance, whilst its smaller size and sloping roofline create a sense of athleticism and agility. In contrast, the V90 adopts a more elongated approach with its longer roofline and larger dimensions that create a look of elegance and sophistication. If it’s grace and road presence you’re looking for, it’s the long silhouette and streamlined body of the V90 that you want.
The V60 and V90 also share some design features that are synonymous with the Volvo brand, including a prominent grille with the brand's iconic diagonal slash, and sleek LED headlights incorporating Thor's Hammer daytime running lights. However, the V90's grille and headlights are slightly wider, enhancing its commanding road presence.
While the V60 emphasizes its sporty character, the V90 focuses on luxury and practicality. The V60's compact size and dynamic proportions make it ideal for those seeking a more agile driving experience, while the V90's larger dimensions provide enhanced comfort, interior space, and cargo capacity.
Interior and Comfort
The interior designs of the Volvo V60 and V90 differ in several key ways, but one characteristic they absolutely both share is Scandinavian elegance and functionality that are visible throughout both interiors. From materials to technology, the small details and even the stitching, the V60 and V90 interiors ooze class, and that’s clear from the moment you set eyes on the cars.
The V60 features a sporty and modern interior design that offers a driver-centric cockpit with a focus on functionality and an engaging driving experience. The dashboard is sleek and uncluttered, with clean lines and intuitive controls, and the seats provide excellent support and comfort for everyone in the car. What really drives home the V60’s elegance are the premium materials inside; including leather upholstery, aluminum accents, and high-quality trims.
On the other hand, the Volvo V90 takes a more luxurious and spacious approach to its interior design. With its larger dimensions, the V90’s cabin is sophisticated with its enhanced legroom and headroom which really provide a comfortable experience. Similar to the V60, the V90’s interior is characterized by premium materials such as soft leather upholstery, real wood accents, and meticulously crafted details.
Space and Practicality
Being estate cars, the Volvo V60 and V90 are designed with space and practicality in mind, however, there are notable differences in their size and storage space that potential owners should be aware of.
The Volvo V60 offers a good balance between compactness and practicality, offering plenty of space for passengers. In terms of storage capacity, the V60 offers a respectable 23.2 cubic feet of space behind the rear seats which can be expanded to an impressive 50.9 cubic feet by folding down the rear seats. This makes it suitable for everyday use and accommodating larger items when needed.
The Volvo V90 offers greater overall space and practicality with its larger dimensions that provide enhanced legroom and headroom for both front and rear passengers, space and comfort really are key. Adding to this, the V90's longer body allows for greater storage capacity, with 25.5 cubic feet of space behind the rear seats, expandable to 53.9 cubic feet when the rear seats are folded down. This space makes the V90 ideal for large families, pet owners, or anyone transporting larger objects around.
In terms of practicality, both models offer a range of storage compartments and thoughtful design elements to enhance usability. They feature split-folding rear seats that provide flexibility for both passenger and storage configurations. Additionally, both the V60 and V90 have convenient access to the storage area, with wide openings and low load heights, making loading and unloading items easier.
Technology and Driving Assists
When it comes to technology and driver assists, Volvo impress with their quest for driver comfort, safety, and connectivity. And whilst specific features will vary depending on the trim levels and packages available, both the V60 and V90 share impressive kit…
Both the V60 and V90 boast Volvo's Sensus infotainment system that features a large touchscreen display that serves as the command centre for various functions. The system supports smartphone integration that allows for seamless connectivity with Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, Bluetooth and USB connectivity options are also available.
The V60 and V90 both celebrate Volvo’s commitment for safety, and this is made clear by an array of advanced driver-assist features. These include adaptive cruise control, blind-spot monitoring, lane-keeping assist, and forward collision warning with automatic emergency braking. Both models also offer Volvo's City Safety system which detects pedestrians, cyclists, and large animals, providing an additional layer of protection.
To further improve the driving experience, the V60 and V90 both feature available options such as a head-up display, a premium audio system, and a 360-degree camera system. Both models also offer advanced navigation systems with real-time traffic information, ensuring drivers stay on the optimal route.
Performance
Moving on to performance, the Volvo V60 and V90 offer a range of powertrain options to suit different driving preferences. The V60 is available with a selection of efficient and powerful engines, but it’s the T5 engine that’s most common. The T5 boasts solid performance with its turbocharged four-cylinder, producing respectable horsepower and torque. If that’s not enough performance, then you’ll be happy to hear that the V60 also offers the T6 engine which adds supercharging to the turbocharged setup for enhanced power output and acceleration.
The Volvo V90 offers similar engine options as the V60, including the T5, T6, and T8 Twin Engine powertrain choices. The T5 engine offers a balance of power and efficiency for the V90, whilst the T8 Twin Engine delivers exceptional power and fuel efficiency, making it the top-performing variant.
When it comes to engine technology, both the V60 and V90 feature Volvo's advanced drivetrain technologies, including all-wheel drive which enhances traction and stability in various road conditions. The vehicles also come equipped with smooth-shifting automatic transmissions that contribute to a comfortable and responsive driving experience.