sport wagon | The Car Magazine

Amid the best month of Outback sales Subaru Canada has ever had, resulting in 3,455 units down the road in April for a 21.4-percent gain over the same month last year, the refreshed 2023 model was revealed…

Latest News

Subaru reveals refreshed 2023 Outback including new Onyx trim

A 2023 Subaru Outback going up a hill on the trail. — Other than more rugged looking fender flairs and new wheels, changes to the Outback’s rear are less noticeable than those up front, but its new bumper is visually cleaner.

This mid-cycle update integrates the brand’s new WRX-inspired grille design, showing a wider, happier grin-like shape that should put a smile on the faces of brand loyalists, plus even more radical (although not as aggressive) front fascia updates than outgoing Wilderness trim, which include massive matte black end pieces that square off the frontal design as they wrap upwards to underscore a complex set of new multi-angle LED headlamp clusters. Additionally, new fog lights are integrated within a tougher looking lower fascia below.

The edgier new fender flares look as if they’re pulled right off of 2022’s Wilderness model, which ironically sees no visual updates for the new model year, while the rocker panel cladding appears unchanged. The meaty roof rack and sizeable rooftop spoiler look the same too, but the new Outback’s matte black rear bumper shows a less aggressive design, incorporating smaller horizontally positioned reflectors to each side in place of the outgoing model’s vertical set that featured larger, angular bezels. A variety of new wheels round out the updates.

New Onyx trim follows the popular blacked-out trend

The black-painted wheels from new Onyx trim. — Black-painted alloy wheels come as part of a new Onyx trim line (also shown above), which includes more blackened elements as well.

A new Onyx Edition, previously only available in the U.S., will be positioned just below Wilderness trim for 2023. As the name implies, exterior elements that might otherwise be bright metal are finished in black, including the 18-inch gunmetal alloy wheels, while Subaru has even gone so far as to apply black badging, and an exclusive grey two-tone cabin. The seats are covered in a soft-touch, all-weather water-resistant material to enhance comfort and durability, while other features added over Touring trim include alloy foot pedals, heatable rear outboard seats, and dual-function X-MODE.

Unlike the American-spec version, which solely utilizes the optional XT powertrain, which is a 2.4-litre turbocharged boxer-four that’s good for 260 horsepower and 277 lb-ft of torque, the Canadian iteration gets built upon naturally-aspirated Touring trim, which includes a 2.5-litre four-cylinder engine making a more modest 182 horsepower and 176 lb-ft of torque.

All 2023 Outback models, which remain five-seat crossovers in all trims (Subaru buyers that need more seating will want to look to the larger Ascent), come standard with Subaru’s Lineartronic continuously variable transmission (CVT) touting eight-speed manual mode, complete with steering wheel paddles. Subaru Canada estimates 9.0 L/100km in the city, 7.1 on the highway and 8.2 combined for the base engine, or 10.1, 7.9 and 9.1 respectively for the XT turbo, while the Wilderness is separately rated at 10.9 L/100km city, 8.9 highway and 10.0 combined.

Subaru adds new standard and optional features across the Outback line

2023 Subaru Outback cockpit showing the updated infotainment system. — The Outback gets plenty of technology updates for 2023, including wireless Android Auto and Apple CarPlay, plus USB-C ports and a wireless charging pad in Touring trim.

All 2023 Outback trim levels, including Convenience, Touring, Onyx, Limited, Wilderness, Limited XT, and Premier XT, receive plenty of interior updates including new four-way adjustable power lumbar support for the driver’s seat, plus a rear USB-C port, while all the standard features from the previous base model continue forward, including heated side mirrors with welcome lighting, LED interior dome lights, a full-circumference heatable steering wheel rim, heated front seats, automatic climate control (dual-zone in second-rung Touring trim), a power-adjustable driver’s seat, front and rear USB-A ports, and one-touch folding rear seatbacks.

Of course, Subaru’s symmetrical full-time all-wheel drive is standard too, as is active torque vectoring, Vehicle Dynamics Control and X-MODE with Hill Descent Control. Of note, regular Outback models get 220 mm (8.6 in) of ground clearance, while Wilderness trim adds another 10 mm (0.4 in) to 230 mm (9.0 in). Notably, this is more ground clearance than many so-called SUVs, yet Subaru keeps the Outback’s overall ride height closer to terra firma in order to provide easier access via a lower step-in height.

EyeSight safety and convenience tech has been improved for 2023

A 2023 Subaru Outback driving through heavy rain. — Safety is still ultimate important in the new 2023 Outback, causing Subaru to add many new features.

Subaru’s latest EyeSight driver assist technology is standard too, although the system has been improved for smoother operation under more variable conditions. This is managed by providing cameras with a wider field of view, while the control software has also been updated, and an electric brake booster added. Advanced Adaptive Cruise Control with Lane Centering Assist is also included, while Touring trim and above receive Reverse Automatic Braking and Subaru Rear/Side Vehicle Detection {SRVD) with Blind Spot Detection and Rear Cross-Traffic Alert.

Safety in mind, the 2023 Outback will continue forward with eight standard airbags, including one for the driver’s knees, while all of the above, as well as the Outback’s 2017 update to the Subaru Global Platform, which helped to increase torsional and front-suspension rigidity by 70 percent, front lateral flexural and rear subframe stiffness by 100 percent, and overall crash protection via more than 40-percent more energy absorption in front/side crashes than the prior model, the new model should once again qualify for a another five-star rating from the U.S. National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA), as well as an additional Top Safety Pick+ placement from the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety (IIHS).

New Outback extras join long list of carryover options

The new LCD Smart Rearview Mirror in the 2023 Subaru Outback Premier XT. — A full LCD Smart Rearview Mirror is new for top-tier Premier XT trim.

Additional new items for Touring trim include wireless Android Auto and Apple CarPlay as part of this model’s carryover upgrade to the larger 11.6-inch high-resolution Starlink infotainment touchscreen (increased from 7.0 inches in the base model), while a front USB-C port and a wireless phone charger is now also included in this trim (which is made more useful thanks to the wireless smartphone integration).

What’s more, an additional bit of Touring (and above) tech dubbed what3words (W3W) could be quite popular once users adapt to it. It’s an innovative location system that allows for easy navigation to just above anywhere in the world via a short three-word prompt. As Subaru explains it, “W3W has divided the world into a grid of 3-metre squares and given each square a unique combination of three words — a what3words address. Customers can navigate to and share trailheads, scenic overlooks and other hard-to-find places with precise accuracy using just three words.” Cool, eh?

Carryover items in this Touring model continue to include proximity-sensing access with pushbutton ignition, a windshield wiper de-icer, an auto-dimming centre mirror with a Homelink universal remote and compass, Subaru Starlink connected services, and a moonroof. Additionally, on Touring trims and above, which come standard with aforementioned SRVD and more, EyeSight includes new Automatic Emergency Steering that works in conjunction with Pre-Collision Braking to help in collision mitigation at speeds below 80 km/h.

Subaru gives customers plenty of good reasons to move up into higher trims

The rear seating area in every Outback is as least as spacious and comfortable as in other five-passenger mid-size crossover SUVs. — The Outback continues to be very roomy in all five seating positions, while access is easier than most SUVs thanks to a lower overall ride height.

Having already gone over Onyx features, next-in-line Limited, plus upper-level Limited XT and Premier XT trims gain a DriverFocus Distraction Mitigation System that utilizes a dedicated infrared camera and facial recognition tech to identify signs of driver fatigue, such as tired eyes, or distraction before providing audible and visual warnings to alert the driver and passengers that it might be time to rest.

Moving up, the Outback’s most off-road capable Wilderness trim, along with its top-tier Premier XT model, now have the option of a Front View Monitor, which shows a 180-degree forward video image of the driver’s blind spot ahead of the front bumper on the 11.6-inch infotainment display, increasing safety in all types of conditions, whether parking or off-road.

The 2023 Subaru Outback out on the trail. — The new 2023 Subaru Outback, shown here in Onyx trim, will arrive in Canada later this year.

Lastly, the range-topping Premier XT gets a new Wide-Angle Mono Camera that works in tandem with the Outback’s main dual-camera EyeSight system to further expand its overall field of vision. It now has the ability to more quickly recognize pedestrians and bicycles when entering an intersection at low speed. Once a potential collision is detected, EyeSight alerts the driver, and if required applies the brakes automatically. A full LCD Smart Rearview Mirror is also new for Premier XT trim, complete with auto-dimming capability, a compass, and a Homelink universal remote.

So far Subaru Canada hasn’t announced pricing for the refreshed 2023 Outback, but these should be available on their website fairly soon, with deliveries starting later in the year. Until then, the 2022 Outback starts at $31,195 plus destination, while Touring trim can be had for $35,395, Limited for $39,595, Premier for $41,395, Wilderness for $41,995, Limited XT for $42,395, and Premier XT for $44,195. New 2023 Outback prices should remain fairly close to those for the outgoing model.

Story credits: Trevor Hofmann

Photo credits: Subaru

Hey wagon lovers! Take a look in our garage this week. This is the entirely new-from-the-ground-up 2019 Volvo V60 in top-line Inscription T6 AWD trim, which means that it looks fabulous, comes filled…

In Our Garage

2019 Volvo V60 Inscription T6 AWD

It’s also really roomy. In fact, we think the new V60 is targeting previous V70 customers just as much as those who loved the outgoing V60, thanks to a substantive 124-mm (4.9-inch) greater length overall, plus a 9.6-mm (3.8-inch) longer wheelbase that results in the most spacious rear seating area in the luxury D-segment. The new model is 51 mm (2.0 inches) lower than its predecessor too, which adds to its long, sleek visual stance, but nevertheless it provides ample headroom and legroom for a six-foot passenger behind a six-foot driver, or so reports claim, while the new V60 also boasts 20 percent more cargo room than the outgoing car.

The new V60 sits atop the same Scalable Product Architecture (SPA) chassis architecture that underpins the larger V90 sport wagon, not to mention everything else in today’s Volvo lineup other than the compact XC40 crossover that utilizes the brand’s new Compact Modular Architecture (CMA) platform, which incidentally will support a new 40 series line of cars in the near future. SPA and the models built upon it have been widely praised by auto critics like us and Volvo customers alike, while sales of new Volvo products have been skyrocketing since the brand’s transformation that started with the second-generation XC90 SUV back in 2015.

We’re not expecting this V60 sport wagon to sell anywhere near as well as that XC90 mid-size SUV or the more recently introduced XC60 compact crossover SUV, or for that matter the new V60 Cross Country that adds a little more off-road flair via the way of a raised suspension and rugged looking matte black body cladding, but the regular V60 should provide more road-hugging handling prowess, which we’ll report on later in our upcoming road test review. Big sales or not, the V60 supplies a major dose of Volvo DNA to the entire brand.

After all, Volvo has had a wagon in its lineup longer than most people can remember, and now that the larger V90 has been slated for cancellation in Canada (it was only ever available via special order in the U.S.), availability of this V60 is critical for keeping up the Swedish brand’s pragmatic image.

Pragmatic yes, but sitting down inside replaces any such practical thoughts with feelings of pampering hedonism, being that the 2019 V60 continues Volvo’s new brand ethos of providing more luxury than any rival. We won’t tell you all of our experiences yet because we’ve only taken delivery of the car and haven’t even written our notes down, but being that it looks much like everything else from the Swedish carmaker we’re expecting to find more soft-touch surfaces, satin-silver trim, jewellery-like detailing, and genuine hardwood inlays than rivals from Germany, Japan or the U.S., while Volvo’s electronic interfaces are some of the best in the business, from its standard 8.0-inch digital driver display within the gauge cluster to the optional 12.3-inch version of those same primary instruments, not to mention its standard 9.0-inch tablet-style Sensus centre-stack touchscreen.

Volvo’s Sensus touchscreen has become our go-to example of how to do infotainment systems correctly, thanks to incorporating one of the most user-friendly and feature-filled interfaces in the auto industry. The new V60’s boasts 50 percent faster processing speeds than previous iterations used in other models resulting in quicker startup, faster response from the backup camera, much improved voice activation, and speedier navigation route calculation. The standard backup camera includes dynamic guidelines and graphics for the standard rear parking sensors, while other standard functions include Apple CarPlay and Android Auto smartphone integration, 4G LTE in-car Wi-Fi, a 10-speaker 330-watt audio system, satellite radio, a four-year subscription to Volvo On-Call that features remote start and vehicle tracking, and lastly two standard USB charging ports.

The base 2019 V60 Momentum T5 FWD starts at just $43,900 plus freight and fees, which is only $50 above than last year’s base V60 despite its all-new design and upgraded everything, including those aforementioned “Thor’s Hammer” LED headlamps. Additional standard features include 18-inch alloy wheels, metal door sill treadplates, rain-sensing wipers, a powered panoramic glass sunroof, an auto-dimming rearview mirror, a three-spoke leather-wrapped multifunction steering wheel, dual-zone automatic climate control with a Clean Zone Air Quality system and a humidity sensor, unique Iron Ore decor inlays, Moritz leather upholstery, power-adjustable heated front seats with two-way powered lumbar support and driver’s memory, a 120-volt household-style power outlet in the rear console, a powered liftgate, power-folding rear seat headrests, power-folding rear seatbacks with controls in the cargo compartment, a semi-automatic cargo cover that conveniently slides up and out of the way when opening the tailgate, a metal cargo scuff plate, black integrated roof rails, dual chromed tailpipes, and more.

This being a Volvo means plenty of safety gear comes standard too, so therefore all 2019 V60 trims get City Safety automatic front collision warning with full low- and high-speed autonomous emergency braking, plus Driver Alert Control, steering support, Run-Off Road Mitigation, Lane Keeping Aid and Oncoming Lane Mitigation, as well as all the usual active and passive safety features including an airbag for the driver’s knees, front seat whiplash protection, and pyrotechnical seatbelt pretensioners in all positions front to rear.

Of special note, the 2019 V60 introduces a new Oncoming Braking system to the entire Volvo lineup, which if sensing an imminent head-on collision will automatically actuate maximum braking force two-tenths of a second before impact. This is said to reduce vehicle speed by 10 km/h ahead of an impact, which could potentially be a lifesaver and certainly help to minimize life-altering injury.

Momentum trim is available with the choice of two powertrains, the first being the T5 FWD that consists of Volvo’s well-proven 2.0-litre direct-injected and turbocharged engine, good for 250 horsepower and 258 lb-ft of torque, and the second the T6 AWD that costs an additional $4,000 for a total of $48,900 yet adds a supercharger to the turbocharged four-cylinder resulting in 316 horsepower and 295 lb-ft of torque. The former allows for a zero to 100km/h sprint of 6.6 seconds and a top speed of 225 km/h (140 mph), whereas the latter cuts standstill acceleration runs down to 5.7 seconds and ups maximum velocity to 249 km/h (155 mph).

Both use a quick-shifting and highly efficient eight-speed “Geartronic” automatic transmission with manual mode to transfer power to the drive wheels. The new V60 can also be had with available Drive Mode Select that includes Comfort, Eco, Dynamic sport, and Individual driving modes, while fuel-saving and emissions-reducing automatic start/stop, that shuts the engine off when it would otherwise be idling, comes standard. The V60’s official Transport Canada fuel economy rating are 10.2 L/100km in the city, 6.8 on the highway and 8.7 combined for the T5 FWD, or 10.9 city, 7.7 highway and 9.5 with the T6 AWD, which puts it right in the hunt for top efficiency within the ultra-narrow niche known as the compact luxury D-segment wagon category.

To be clear, the V60 is only up against the BMW 3 Series Touring, the least efficient 2018 model of which bested the most economical V60 by a very slight margin, while turbo-diesel and plug-in hybrid variants were even thriftier, for a price (most expect the 2019 3 Series to be even more of a fuel miser, although they haven’t shown a Touring version yet), whereas the all-new 2019 Mercedes-Benz C-Class Wagon only comes with one engine and driveline so far with no fuel economy specifics yet announced.

The V60’s Dynamic Chassis is comprised of aluminum double wishbones up front and an exclusive integral link rear suspension design featuring a transverse lightweight composite leaf spring, Volvo promising both a comfortable ride and sporty handling from this fully independent setup that we’ll report on in our upcoming review.

Being a niche model within a shrinking non-crossover/SUV category there aren’t any adaptive suspension options, but those choosing base Momentum trim can swap out the standard Charcoal (black) or Blond (beige) leather upholstery with sharp looking $400 City Weave plaid textile inserts in either colour, while standard Black Stone or Ice White exterior paints can be upgraded to one of nine $900 metallic finishes. Additionally, a set of $1,000 18-inch five Y-spoke diamond cut alloy wheels can be added too, while individual options include a $250 Charcoal headliner, $1,150 graphical head-up display unit, and $1,200 14-speaker, 600-watt Harmon/Kardon audio system.

Momentum buyers can also add a $1,250 Climate Package that includes heated Aquablades windshield wipers, a heatable steering wheel, and heated rear seats; a $1,500 Convenience Package with Volvo’s advanced Pilot Assist semi-autonomous drive system featuring Adaptive Cruise Control, plus a Homelink garage door opener and a compass integrated into the rearview mirror; an $1,800 Vision Package with a 360-degree surround parking camera, Park Assist Pilot semi-autonomous self parking, front parking sensors, auto-dimming power-retractable side mirrors, and blindspot monitoring with rear cross traffic alert; and lastly a $3,400 Momentum Plus Package incorporating dynamic cornering headlamps, headlight washers, fog lamps, proximity-sensing keyless access with a hands-free tailgate function that lets you open the liftgate by waving a foot below the rear bumper, the aforementioned 12.3-inch digital instrument cluster, Drive Mode Select, four-zone automatic climate control, navigation (that lets the cruise control access map data for adjusting vehicle speed through corners when appropriate), Road Sign Information, and more.

If you opt for the T6 AWD, all of the same standalone options and packages remain, except for wheels that start with a unique set of open-spoke 18-inch alloys as standard equipment and can be upgradable to a set of $1,000 19-inch alloys, while special Amber caramel brown leather becomes an interior option.

Moving up to $55,400 Inscription trim adds the T6 AWD powertrain as standard equipment, plus a unique chromed waterfall grille, bright metal integrated roof rails, unique 10-spoke 18-inch diamond cut alloy wheels, fog lamps, cornering headlights, a special leather-wrapped and metal edged Inscription key fob, low, medium or high steering assistance via Power Steering Personal Settings, Driftwood decor inlays, the 12.3-inch digital gauge cluster, perforated Nappa leather upholstery, four-way powered lumbar support, ventilated front seats, and more.

Option out a V60 Inscription T6 AWD and you can have special $1,000 19-inch multi-spoke alloys, the aforementioned Charcoal headliner and graphical head-up display, as well as a $3,750 19-speaker 1,400-watt Bowers & Wilkins audio upgrade, and $1,300 massaging front seats. The Momentum Plus Package is no longer offered due to most of it being standard in Inscription trim, but the three remaining Climate, Convenience and Vision packages are still available.

And by the way, all 2019 Volvo V60 pricing was sourced from CarCostCanada, where you can find detailed pricing on trims, packages and standalone options for every other new vehicle sold in Canada, plus otherwise hard to get rebate information and dealer invoice pricing that could save you thousands.

While Momentum and Inscription are the only two trims currently available, we’d like to think that a sportier V60 R-Design will arrive at some point in the near future, which we’d hope would add special 18-inch alloy wheels with the option of unique 19s, plus steering wheel-mounted paddle shifters, and slightly edgier interior and exterior design, while it would incorporate most of the same features offered in the Inscription. Likewise, we hope the V60 will also be available with Volvo’s T8 Twin-Engine powertrain that uses a plug-in hybrid drivetrain to increase engine output to 400 horsepower while reducing fuel consumption considerably. Additionally, the outgoing V60 was also available in factory-built Polestar trim, a car we covered in 2017 guise right here. This was a fabulous performance, so needless to say we’d love to see something similar recreated for this all-new V60.

For now we’ll enjoy a double dose of our more luxury-oriented 2019 V60 Inscription for two weeks no less, much thanks to Volvo that provided an extra week of pampering comfort over the holidays. This will give us plenty of time to experience all of its goodness while doing our best to suss out any weaknesses (sorry Volvo). So until our full road test review arrives make sure to peruse our photo gallery above…

Latest News

All-new 2019 Volvo V60 sport wagon available now for $43,900

Wagon lover alert: In case you hadn’t heard, the all-new 2019 Volvo V60 is now available nationwide from just $43,900 plus freight and fees. That’s only a token $50 more than last year’s base V60, and it’s an entirely new car from the ground up, not to mention filled with state-of-the-art standard features.

The new 2019 V60 sport wagon’s value proposition becomes even more appealing when factoring in its larger dimensions and more accommodating interior. This in mind, the new model probably targets previous V70 customers as much as those who loved the outgoing V60, thanks to a substantive 124-mm (4.9-inch) greater length overall, plus a 9.6-mm (3.8-inch) longer wheelbase that results in the most spacious rear seating area in the luxury D-segment. The new model is 51 mm (2.0 inches) lower than its predecessor too, which adds to its long, sleek visual stance, but nevertheless it provides ample headroom and legroom for a six-foot passenger behind a six-foot driver, or so reports claim, while the new V60 also boasts 20 percent more cargo room than the outgoing car.

The elegant new design sits atop the same Scalable Product Architecture (SPA) chassis architecture that underpins the larger V90 sport wagon, not to mention everything else in today’s Volvo lineup other than the compact XC40 crossover that utilizes the brand’s new Compact Modular Architecture (CMA) platform, which incidentally will support a new 40 series line of cars in the near future. SPA and the models built upon it have been widely praised by auto pundits and Volvo customers alike, while sales of new Volvo products have been skyrocketing since the brand’s transformation that started with the second-generation XC90 SUV back in 2015.

No one expects this V60 wagon to sell anywhere near as successfully as that XC90 mid-size SUV or the more recently introduced XC60 compact crossover SUV, or for that matter the upcoming V60 Cross Country that adds a little more off-road flair, a la raised suspension and tough looking matte black body cladding, to this sport wagon’s road-hugging handling prowess. Still, it supplies a major dose of Volvo DNA to the entire brand. After all, Volvo has had a wagon in its lineup longer than most people can remember, and now that the larger V90 has been slated for cancellation in Canada (it was only ever available via special order in the U.S.), availability of this V60 is critical for keeping up the Swedish brand’s pragmatic image.

Climb inside and any such practical thoughts may at least temporarily be swept away by feelings of pampering hedonism, being that the 2019 V60 continues Volvo’s new brand ethos of providing more luxury than any rival. Expect to find more soft-touch surfaces, satin-silver trim, jewellery-like detailing, and genuine hardwood inlays than rivals from Germany, Japan or the U.S., while electronic interfaces are some of the best in the business, from its standard 8.0-inch digital driver display within the gauge cluster to the optional 12.3-inch version of those same primary instruments, not to mention its standard 9.0-inch tablet-style Sensus centre-stack touchscreen.

Sensus boasts one of the auto industry’s most user-friendly and feature-filled infotainment interfaces that includes 50 percent faster processing speeds than previous iterations used in other models for quicker startup, quicker response from the backup camera, much improved voice activation, and faster navigation route calculation. The standard backup camera includes dynamic guidelines and graphics for the standard rear parking sensors, plus Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, 4G LTE in-car Wi-Fi, 10-speaker 330-watt audio, satellite radio, a four-year subscription to Volvo On-Call that features remote start and vehicle tracking, plus connects to one of two standard USB charging ports.

The base 2019 V60 is dubbed Momentum, and not only includes the aforementioned items but Volvo’s signature “Thor’s Hammer” LED headlamps as well, plus 18-inch alloy wheels, metal door sill treadplates, rain-sensing wipers, a powered panoramic glass sunroof, an auto-dimming rearview mirror, a three-spoke leather-wrapped multifunction steering wheel, dual-zone automatic climate control with a Clean Zone Air Quality system and a humidity sensor, unique Iron Ore decor inlays, Moritz leather upholstery, power-adjustable heated front seats with two-way powered lumbar support and driver’s memory, a 120-volt household-style power outlet in the rear console, a powered liftgate, power-folding rear seat headrests, power-folding rear seatbacks with controls in the cargo compartment, a semi-automatic cargo cover that conveniently slides up and out of the way when opening the tailgate, a metal cargo scuff plate, black integrated roof rails, dual chromed tailpipes, and more.

Of course, this being a Volvo means that safety is of the highest priority, therefore the new V60 features standard City Safety automatic front collision mitigation featuring collision warning, steering support, and full low- and high-speed autonomous braking, plus Driver Alert Control, Run-Off Road Mitigation, Lane Keeping Aid and Oncoming Lane Mitigation, as well as all the usual active and passive safety features including an airbag for the driver’s knees, front seat whiplash protection, and pyrotechnical seatbelt pretensioners in all positions front to rear.

Of note, the 2019 V60 introduces Volvo’s new Oncoming Braking system, which if sensing an imminent head-on collision will automatically actuate maximum braking force two-tenths of a second before impact. This is said to reduce vehicle speed by 10 km/h (6 mph) before a crash, which could potentially be a lifesaver and certainly help to minimize life-altering injury.

Both use a quick-shifting and efficient eight-speed “Geartronic” automatic transmission with manual mode to transfer power to the drive wheels. The new V60 can also be had with available Comfort, Eco, Dynamic sport, and Individual Drive Mode Select driving modes, while fuel-saving and emissions-reducing automatic start/stop, which shuts the engine off when it would otherwise be idling, comes standard. The V60’s official Transport Canada fuel economy rating is still to be determined, but expect it to be one of the segment’s more efficient packages.

Volvo’s Dynamic Chassis is made up of aluminum double wishbones up front and an exclusive integral link rear suspension design that features a transverse lightweight composite leaf spring, the fully independent setup reportedly balancing a comfortable ride with sporty handling.

Those choosing Momentum trim can swap out the standard Charcoal (black) or Blond (beige) leather upholstery with slick $400 City Weave plaid textile inserts in either colour, while standard Black Stone or Ice White exterior paints can be upgraded to one of nine $900 metallic finishes. Additionally, a set of $1,000 18-inch five Y-spoke diamond cut alloy wheels can be added too, while individual options include a $250 Charcoal headliner, $1,150 graphical head-up display unit, and $1,200 14-speaker, 600-watt Harmon/Kardon audio system.

If you opt for the T6 AWD all of the same standalone options and packages remain, except for wheels that start with a unique set of open-spoke 18-inch alloys as standard equipment and can be upgradable to a set of $1,000 19-inch alloys, while special Amber caramel brown leather becomes an interior option.

Option out a V60 T6 AWD and you can have special $1,000 19-inch multi-spoke alloys, the aforementioned Charcoal headliner and graphical head-up display, as well as a $3,750 19-speaker 1,400-watt Bowers & Wilkins audio upgrade, and $1,300 massaging front seats. The Momentum Plus Package is no longer offered due to most of it being standard in Inscription trim, but the three remaining Climate, Convenience and Vision packages remain available.

While Momentum and Inscription are the only two trims currently available, a sportier V60 R-Design is expected at some point in the near future, featuring special 18-inch alloy wheels, steering wheel-mounted paddle shifters, and slightly edgier interior and exterior design, while it will incorporate most of the same features offered in the Inscription. Likewise, the V60 will also be available with Volvo’s T8 Twin-Engine powertrain that uses a plug-in hybrid drivetrain to increase engine output to 400 horsepower while reducing fuel consumption considerably.

As it is, 2019 V60 Momentum and Inscription trims are available across Canada right now, so wagon lovers should make sure they head on down to their local Volvo dealer to partake. It certainly appears like the new V60 delivers a lot for its very reasonable asking price, and therefore should be a minor hit for the upwardly mobile Swedish luxury brand.

News & Reviews- Tag: sport wagon