| First Drive | Nice, France | Volvo V60 D4 |
Key Facts
Model tested: Volvo V60 D4 SE Lux Nav Geartronic
Pricing: £34,545 as tested (V60 D4 starts at £24,395)
Engine: 2.0-litre four-cylinder turbodiesel
Transmission: front-wheel drive, eight-speed automatic
Body style: five-door estate
Rivals: Audi A4 Avant, BMW 3 Series Touring, Mazda6 Tourer
CO2 emissions: 109g/km (16% BIK, Band B for £20 per annum tax)
Combined economy: 67.2mpg
Top speed: 140mph
0-62mph: 7.6 seconds
Power: 181hp at 4,250rpm
Torque: 400Nm at 1,750- to 2,500rpm
In the Metal: 
The facelifted Volvo V60 is a cracking looking estate car that sacrifices outright load capacity for its sloping rear window. Most premium market buyers won't be concerned by such practicalities. They may be tempted by the larger alloys pictured though, as would we.
Inside, it's the same story, though the arrival of the new engines coincides with the introduction of a newly designed leather seat. It has much more side support than before, with bolsters all the way up to the shoulders, yet we can confirm that it's just as squishy and supportive in all the right places as ever. The new design hasn't narrowed the seat either, so it still accommodates larger occupants with ease.
Driving it:
We'll focus on the new engine and gearbox here, as little else is changed. For the record, that means the V60's chassis has been designed primarily for comfort, yet it makes a decent fist of a twisty road. The steering is linear and well-weighted, if devoid of feel, and body control is excellent.
The first thing that strikes us about the D4 engine in this installation is how refined it is. It kicks BMW's 2.0-litre diesel engine into a cocked hat in that regard, especially at low speeds and throttle openings. Extend it and though the noise levels increase, the harshness does not. This is a smooth unit and at higher speeds it vaguely sounds like the charismatic five-cylinder engine it replaces. This refinement is backed up by real performance too, delivered with little lag. It makes the V60 feel like a genuinely sporty estate to drive.
Contributing to the experience greatly is the adoption of ZF's eight-speed automatic gearbox, one we've sampled in many cars and one that continues to impress with its smooth yet quick shifts, plus the option to take control for yourself. Hence Volvo fits (pleasingly tactile) paddles and the transmission is quick to react to input. In the default mode it noticeably gets into a high gear as early as possible to use the engine's torque and save fuel. This is great for cruising, but response can be sluggish when you want to get a move on. The Sport mode is ideal for that, and it's well judged.
What you get for your Money:
We're lumping the S60 saloon and V60 estate in together here. The S60 D4 starts at £23,195, which undercuts the entry-level diesel Audi A4 and BMW 3 Series (the 2.0 TDIe SE and 316d ES), yet it's considerably more powerful than either and has lower road tax and BIK too.
The D4 engine can be had in Business Edition, SE, SE Lux, R-Design and R-Design Lux specifications with and without the automatic gearbox.
Worth Noting
The D4 engine is just the start of a whole new family of powerplants from Volvo, all based around a four-cylinder, 2.0-litre architecture that will eventually replace all current units, including the 1.6-litre D2 and the five-cylinder D5. The range-topper, from a diesel perspective, will be a twin-turbocharged D5 engine with 230hp.
Summary
Volvo has cleverly pitched its new S60 and V60 D4 model directly into competition with the entry-level diesel versions of the Audi A4 and BMW 3 Series, beating them on performance and efficiency at that price point. The engine works particularly well with the new automatic gearbox, lifting the V60 from unusual left-field choice to a real contender in the premium market.
