New Car: Volvo V60 D3 2018 review

New Car: Volvo V60 D3 2018 review

That said, in most situations the D3 feels every bit as quick as you’d want it to be. It picks up speed with purpose, and will happily sit at 70mph all day long. For some, however, the D4’s extra torque will be welcome; the lower-power car can feel a little lethargic when planting the throttle for a hurried overtake.

Loaded up, there’s a very real chance the D3 may feel a little underpowered, too, which is a concern for a car so focused on practicality. We tried it with four adults on board, but with a full boot that power deficit is sure to make itself known.

The D4’s extra grunt means it’s ever so slightly cheaper to fill up, too. Our D3’s official figure of 61.4mpg is bettered by the more powerful car’s 62.9mpg, while 120g/km (D3) plays 119g/km (D4) of CO2; placing the latter in a lower Benefit in Kind (BiK) company car tax band.

Yet everything else we love about the V60 remains intact. The D3 prioritises comfort over true dynamic quality, yet it’s all the better for it. Unlike its German rivals, there’s no pretention to the way it drives – so while it may roll a bit through the bends, it’s composed enough not feel unwieldy.

The softer suspension means it’s excellent on the motorway, and refinement is fantastic, too. So much so, there’s no way you’d know it was a diesel at a steady cruise; it’s an enormously relaxing car to drive.

All cars come with Volvo’s excellent nine-inch touchscreen infotainment system, Sensus Navigation and voice control. Frustratingly, both Apple CarPlay and Android Auto form part of the £300 Smartphone Integration pack.

Of course, being a Volvo, safety is paramount. Every version gets City Safety with Steering Support, Oncoming Lane Mitigation and Run-off Road Protection. LED headlights are standard, too, as is cruise control and rear parking sensors. Our car also had the Intellisafe Pro Pack, which adds the excellent Pilot Assist semi-autonomous drive features, Blind Spot monitoring and Cross Traffic Alert.

New Car: Volvo V60 D3 2018 review