2022 Volvo V60 Review

Volvo and station wagons have long enjoyed a symbiotic relationship, one that has withstood an onslaught of and mass consumer migration to SUVs. However, changes to the 2022 Volvo V60 lineup suggest that perhaps that relationship is suffering some strain. This year, all versions of the V60 wagon disappear except for the T5 Cross Country and T8 Polestar Engineered. The latter is now called the V60 Recharge. The V60 Cross Country is reviewed separately on Edmunds.

Modified and tuned by Volvo's Polestar Engineered performance division, the 2022 V60 Recharge comes with a plug-in hybrid powertrain and all-wheel drive. For V60s built early in the model year, this powertrain makes 415 horsepower and 494 lb-ft of torque and can provide about 22 miles of all-electric range on a full charge. Midway through 2022, Volvo added a higher-capacity battery and a more powerful rear electric motor. The combination provides more power — a heady 455 horsepower — plus the ability to drive farther on all-electric power. The EPA estimates the updated version can go up to 41 miles on a charge, which is pretty impressive for a luxury plug-in hybrid.

To help harness all of this power, the V60 Recharge also includes a sport-tuned exhaust system, a firmer suspension with manually adjustable dampers, Brembo performance brakes, structural bracing, and 19-inch lightweight forged aluminum wheels wrapped in summer performance tires. Volvo says acceleration to 60 mph takes just 4.4 seconds, making this one speedy wagon. It's fuel-efficient, too, getting an EPA-estimated 31 mpg in combined city/highway driving after you've used up the power from the battery pack. And with seating for five people and up to 50.9 cubic feet of cargo space with the rear seats folded, the V60 Recharge is nearly as practical as your typical compact crossover luxury SUV.

What's more is that the 2022 Volvo V60 Recharge is the only game in town. Go ahead. Name another compact performance luxury station wagon, let alone one that also has a plug-in hybrid powertrain. You can't, because they don't exist. Volvo has cornered the market on them. Unfortunately for Volvo, there may not be much of a market left.

The 2022 Volvo V60 Recharge is a five-seat wagon based on the Volvo S60 sedan. Now that Volvo has discontinued most versions of the V60, only the performance-tuned plug-in hybrid trim level called the T8 Polestar Engineered remains available. But pay close attention to which Recharge T8 you're considering because Volvo updated this version midway through 2022. T8s built early in the model year produce 415 hp and 494 lb-ft and have an EPA-estimated all-electric range of 22 miles. Later versions, called the Extended Range, have 41 miles of range plus more power: 455 hp and 523 lb-ft.