Volvo V60 D3 - Tow Car Awards

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1700-1899kg

Volvo V60 D3

R-Design Plus Auto

• Price as tested £38,215.00
• Review year 2019
• Kerbweight 1729kg
• Maximum towing weight 1800kg
• Towball limit 100kg

• Towing
• Solo
• Practicality
• Buying owning
• Verdict
• Well made, practical, and a very fine tow car.

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The V60 makes a very fine tow car, in both front-wheel-drive and four-wheel-drive forms.

We’ve tested both this year, with the less muscular D3 version sending its power to the front wheels.

In dry weather, we didn’t really miss four-wheel drive. Even the hill start on a 1-in-6 gradient was tackled without any drama at all.

However, there is a noticeable performance penalty if you choose the D3 over the more powerful D4: it takes a rather leisurely 15.9 seconds to go from 30 – 60mph, as you might when joining the motorway.

What’s more, the engine sounds rather coarse when put to work. Acceleration may be steady, but we’ve no complaints about stability. At the legal limit and beyond, the V60 inspired confidence.

The car is safe and secure in emergency manoeuvres, too, with powerful braking and remarkable composure in the lane-change test.

You expect an estate to have lots of room, and our practicality testers found space for all but one item from their typical load.

Passengers should be happy, because the V60 has plenty of head- and legroom and the ride is comfortable; although the R-Design model tested here has a firmer feel than the rest of the range.

As with any modern Volvo, the cabin is beautifully made from high-quality materials. We just wish that the Sensus touchscreen was easier to use while on the move.

Safety standards are high, with a comprehensive list of driver aids as standard. There’s also the reassurance of a five-star rating from Euro NCAP.

Tweet 2019 Category Winners

2019 Up to 1400kg

Škoda Octavia

Hatch 1.5 TSI 150PS SE L DSG

2019 1400-1549kg

Seat Ateca

2.0 TSI 190PS FR DSG

2019 1550-1699kg

Volkswagen Arteon

2.0 TDI 150PS Elegance DSG

2019 1700-1899kg

BMW 520d

Touring xDrive M Sport

2019 1900kg+

Land Rover Discovery

3.0 SDV6 HSE

2019 Best Budget 4x4

Dacia Duster

1.5 dCi Ambiance 4x4

2019 Best Plug-In Hybrid

Land Rover Range Rover Sport

P400e HSE Dynamic

2019 Best Ultralight Tow Car

Seat Arona

1.0 TSI 115 FR

2019 Fuel Economy Award

Ford Focus Estate

1.5 EcoBlue 120PS Titanium X

Previous Winners 2018

1700-1899kg

BMW 520d

Touring xDrive M Sport

2017

1900kg+

Land Rover Discovery

3.0 Td6 HSE*

2016

1400-1549kg

Skoda Superb Hatch

2.0 TDI 150PS SE Business

2015

1400-1549kg

Volkswagen Passat Estate

2.0 TDI BMT 150PS SE Business DSG

2014

1400-1549kg

Nissan Qashqai

1.6 dCi (130PS) Stop/Start System Acenta Premium

2013

Up to 1424kg

Skoda Octavia

2.0 TDI CR 150PS Elegance

2012

1725–1899kg

Jaguar XF

2.2D Premium Luxury

2011

1425-1574kg

Volkswagen Passat Estate

2.0 TDI 170 Bluemotion Sport

2010

1900kg+

Land Rover Discovery 4

3.0 TDV6 XS

2009

1900kg+

Volvo XC60

D5 SE Geartronic

2008

1575-1724kg

Ford Mondeo Estate

2.0 TDCi Titanium auto

2007

1575-1724kg

Volkswagen Passat Estate

2.0 TDI Sport 4Motion

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