Volvo V60 Review

2022 Volvo V60 Recharge T8 Inscription, with high-performance plug-in hybrid power, Nordic practical design, and luxurious comfortable space, becomes the top choice for D-segment luxury wagons.

RM 286,909

Volvo V60

Segment

D-Segment

Body Type

Wagon

Capacity(L)

2.0

Transmission

Engine Power(PS)

Engine Torque(Nm)

View Volvo V60 > View Full Specs >

Review

User Review

Specs

In Malaysia's D-segment wagon market, consumers are looking for a practical cargo space as well as a balance of power and configuration. The 2022 Volvo V60 Recharge T8 Inscription, as a representative of Volvo's plug-in hybrid wagons, highlights its core selling points of "high-performance plug-in hybrid + Nordic practical design," perfectly meeting such demands. In this test drive, we will focus on evaluating its power response, spatial practicality, and everyday performance of the plug-in hybrid system to determine whether it can stand out among luxury wagons.

From a distance, the V60 Recharge T8 Inscription maintains Volvo's iconic wagon silhouette. Its elongated body and smooth rooftop lines retain the wagon's practicality without compromising elegance. The front face adopts Volvo's signature "Thor's Hammer" LED headlights, which are highly recognizable when illuminated. The vertical waterfall grille, paired with chrome trim, enhances the luxury feel. On the sides, the combination of 19-inch multi-spoke wheels and 235/40 R19 tires not only ensures great grip but also enhances visual appeal. The waistline runs smoothly from the front to the rear, making the side view sleeker. At the rear, the "Viking Axe" LED tail lights echo the design of the headlights with their unique shape when lit. Chrome trim under the rear bumper adds a touch of sophistication to the rear view. The overall design is understated yet rich in texture, which aligns with the simplicity of the Nordic brand.

Once inside, the Nordic minimalist style remains noticeable, with the horizontally structured dashboard giving a layered look. The interior uses premium materials, with extensive soft leather wrapping combined with wood grain trim, delivering a delicate touch and an overall luxurious atmosphere. The dual-screen system, consisting of a 12.3-inch full LCD instrument panel and a 9-inch central touchscreen, operates smoothly and supports both Apple CarPlay and Android Auto. Below the central screen, some physical buttons are retained, making it convenient for blind operations during driving. The seats are wrapped in genuine leather, providing good support and comfort, and the front row seats are equipped with heating functions, ensuring long rides remain fatigue-free. The rear seats offer ample space, with sufficient legroom even for passengers up to 180cm tall. There is over a fist's distance of legroom available, and the central armrest provides cup holders, while air conditioning vents and USB charging ports are also available for the rear, enhancing passenger comfort. In terms of storage space, the trunk has a standard capacity of 529L, which can be expanded to 1441L when the rear seats are folded down, entirely meeting the needs of daily family use or packing for long trips.

As a plug-in hybrid model, the V60 Recharge T8 Inscription comes with a 2.0T turbocharged engine paired with an electric motor, delivering a combined system maximum power of 287kW and a maximum torque of 640N·m, matched with an 8-speed automatic transmission. Switching to sport mode results in swift starts and acceleration, with an official 0-100km/h time of just 4.6 seconds. The power response is immediate, providing great confidence during overtaking. Even in normal mode, the power output is smooth and sufficient for daily commuting. The steering wheel offers precise handling with minimal play, and it is highly responsive. The suspension system combines a front MacPherson strut with a rear multi-link independent suspension setup. Its tuning leans towards comfort, effectively absorbing vibrations on bumpy roads and ensuring passengers barely feel the jolts. During cornering, the suspension provides good support with limited body roll, ensuring handling stability.

This test drive focuses on evaluating the performance of the plug-in hybrid system. The vehicle has an all-electric range of approximately 50km, which is sufficient for daily short-distance commutes entirely in electric mode, making it both environmentally friendly and economical. When switched to hybrid mode, the engine and electric motor work together seamlessly, delivering smooth power output and decent fuel efficiency, with a combined fuel consumption of about 6.92L/100km, which is more fuel-efficient compared to petrol-powered vehicles in the same class. Additionally, the vehicle is equipped with multiple driving modes, including Pure Electric, Hybrid, Sport, and Off-road modes, to meet the needs of various road conditions.

In terms of ride comfort, the vehicle demonstrates good noise control, with minimal wind and tire noise during high-speed driving. The smoothness of the plug-in hybrid system is also excellent, with hardly any noticeable jolts when the engine engages. The seats are highly comfortable, ensuring that long rides are not tiring. Rear passengers' comfort is enhanced by rear air conditioning vents and USB charging ports. Overall, the vehicle is very comfortable for daily use and is suitable for family outings.

In summary, the core advantages of the 2022 Volvo V60 Recharge T8 Inscription are evident: the high-performance plug-in hybrid system offers powerful performance while maintaining fuel efficiency; the Nordic minimalist interior design uses high-quality materials and exudes a premium feel; the spacious cabin and practical storage capabilities meet the daily needs of families. Compared to competitors like the BMW 3 Series Touring and the Audi A4 Avant in the same class, the V60 Recharge T8 Inscription offers advantages in power and features, while being relatively more affordable, making it a better value.

Overall, the 2022 Volvo V60 Recharge T8 Inscription is a station wagon that strikes a balance between performance, practicality, and luxury. It is suitable for families who prioritize performance, space functionality, and fuel efficiency, as well as young people who appreciate Scandinavian minimalism and premium features. If you're looking for a powerful, practical, and refined station wagon, the V60 Recharge T8 Inscription is worth considering.

Pros

The hybrid system delivers strong performance with a quick acceleration of 0-100km/h in 4.6 seconds, making overtaking confident and combined fuel consumption as low as 6.92L/100km

The Nordic-style interior exudes a high-end feel, with comfortable Nappa leather seats, wood grain accents for added sophistication, and a crystal gear knob for a refined touch

Practical and reliable safety features, the City Safety system prevents collisions multiple times, and the Pilot Assist makes long-distance driving effortless

Cons

The central control screen occasionally responds slowly, requiring 1-2 seconds to switch between navigation and music

Some safety systems need sensitivity optimization, as active braking or alerts are easily triggered in complex road conditions

The reversing camera becomes blurry on rainy days, lacks 360-degree panoramic view, and reversing in narrow parking lots is inconvenient

Overall Rating

4.3

Excellent

From 16 Reviews

Section Rating

Performance

4.4 / 5

Interior Design

4.3 / 5

Safety

4.3 / 5

Exterior Design

4.4 / 5

Showing 16 reviews

4 Excellent

E46M3

Owner of 2022 Volvo V60 Recharge T8 Inscription

As the owner of the 2022 Volvo V60 Recharge T8 Inscription, having driven it in Malaysia for nearly a year, let's talk about its performance first—accelerating from 0 to 100 km/h in 4.6 seconds is no exaggeration! During Kuala Lumpur's morning rush hour, as long as there's a gap ahead, a light throttle tap allows for swift overtaking. In hybrid mode, the combined fuel consumption is 6.92L/100km, which is much more economical compared to petrol-only cars of the same class. On the highway, the turbocharger engages smoothly, providing strong confidence when overtaking. In terms of interior, the Scandinavian design is very much to my taste. The Nappa leather seats feel exceptionally premium to the touch, and the wood grain trim on the center console adds a touch of sophistication. However, there's a minor drawback which is that the response of the infotainment screen can occasionally lag by a second or two, especially when switching between navigation and music. Nevertheless, overall, whether in terms of performance or interior, it meets my expectations quite well, definitely worth a 4 out of 5 rating!

5 Excellent

CT5V

Owner of 2022 Volvo V60 Recharge T8 Inscription

As the owner of a 2022 Volvo V60 Recharge T8 Inscription, after nearly a year of driving in Malaysia, what I want to praise most is its safety and performance, which absolutely deserves full marks! First, let's talk about safety - Malaysia has a lot of rainy days, and on highways, you occasionally encounter sudden lane-changing vehicles or roads with heavy traffic like LDP. Its City Safety system has saved me twice: once when the car in front braked suddenly, the system automatically stopped for me; the other time was when a motorcycle suddenly darted out from the side, and the steering wheel instantly adjusted slightly to avoid it. When I usually use the Pilot Assist cruise control, it follows the car ahead and keeps the lane very steadily. When driving long distances on the North-South Highway, it's not tiring, and the sense of safety is maxed out. As for performance, there's no need to say more—its 4.6-second acceleration is amazing for overtaking on the highway! During peak hours in Kuala Lumpur, when transitioning from a congested section to a fast lane, stepping hard on the accelerator instantly leaves the cars behind. The hybrid system's burst of power is incredibly strong. Also, when driving on mountain roads, the chassis feels solid, with very little body roll when cornering. The 2.0T turbo combined with the electric motor provides especially smooth power output, making the drive both fast and stable. In summary, whether it's for daily commuting or weekend road trips, these two aspects make me feel that the purchase was totally worth it!

5 Excellent

A3Turbo

Owner of 2022 Volvo V60 Recharge T8 Inscription

As the owner of the 2022 Volvo V60 Recharge T8 Inscription, having driven it in Malaysia for almost a year, here’s my experience to share~ The exterior gets 4 stars, not because it’s not good-looking, but because it belongs to the understated and timeless style. The sleek lines of Scandinavian design, along with the Thor’s Hammer headlights, have extremely high recognition on Kuala Lumpur’s misty evenings. However, it might not be as "flashy" as its German competitors — there are too many flamboyant modified cars on the roads in Malaysia, and the understated elegance of the V60 requires some appreciation to understand. Parking it in a mall’s parking lot on a usual day wouldn’t make it overly conspicuous, but it’s by no means ordinary. The interior must get full marks! Sitting inside feels like stepping into a small Nordic living room. The Nappa leather seats are incredibly soft to the touch, and the wooden veneer on the center console has fantastic texture, especially during Kuala Lumpur’s traffic jams when resting your hand on it feels particularly calming. The most surprising features are the details of the air conditioning vents and that crystal gear shift lever. Every time I drive at night, the lighting on the dashboard combined with the glow of the crystal lever elevates the sense of luxury to the max. Compared to the interiors of similar models from the German Big Three that I’ve tried before, this one feels even more refined. When it comes to safety, it’s also a full 5 stars! On Malaysian highways, it’s common to encounter vehicles that suddenly change lanes. The City Safety system has saved me twice — once on the North-South Expressway when the car in front suddenly braked, the system stepped in and stopped me in time; another time was in a narrow alley in George Town, Penang, when an electric motorcycle suddenly darted out, and the Automatic Emergency Braking intervened just in time too. There’s also the Pilot Assist driving assistance system. When driving from Johor Bahru to Kuala Lumpur on the highway, I turned it on, and the steering wheel adjusted itself slightly to follow the lane, which made long drives much less tiring. The sense of safety is truly unparalleled — Volvo is genuinely not just making empty boasts about safety! Overall, this car is incredibly comfortable to use in Malaysia, especially with its interior design and safety features. It totally hits the mark for someone like me who values quality and peace of mind!

4 Excellent

WRX_VB

Owner of 2022 Volvo V60 Recharge T8 Inscription

As the owner of the 2022 Volvo V60 Recharge T8 Inscription in Malaysia for almost a year, I’m overall very satisfied with the experience. In terms of safety, Volvo’s reputation is truly well-deserved. The City Safety system helped me avoid two minor collisions in Kuala Lumpur traffic; the automatic braking response is very prompt. Plus, the full-speed ACC makes long-distance driving on the North-South Expressway much easier, freeing up my feet and providing a great sense of security – a solid 4 stars here. In terms of performance, the hybrid system’s power is really impressive. Accelerating from 0 to 100 km/h in just 4.6 seconds makes overtaking on Malaysia’s highways an absolute joy, especially when dealing with slow-moving trucks — just one press of the accelerator is enough to overtake smoothly. However, at low speeds in the city, the power delivery while running on electric is quite smooth. All things considered, 4 stars perfectly reflect its performance. As for the interior, the Nordic design suits my taste very well. The seats are moderately firm, making long drives comfortable without causing fatigue. The central control screen operates smoothly, but the rear seat space is not particularly large for a D-segment car. Giving it 4 stars seems appropriate.

4 Excellent

DMAX_4x4

Owner of 2022 Volvo V60 Recharge T8 Inscription

As the owner of the 2022 Volvo V60 Recharge T8 Inscription, having driven it in Malaysia for almost a year, I feel like the interior and safety features both deserve a 4-star rating, as they are quite impressive. For the interior, the Nordic minimalist style really suits my taste—the Nappa leather seats feel soft to the touch, and even in Penang’s hot summer, turning on the seat ventilation cools it down within a few minutes, so you won't feel sticky even when stuck in traffic. The vertical touchscreen in the center console is pretty responsive; finding a parking lot near KL's Petronas Twin Towers doesn’t cause any lag at all. However, CarPlay occasionally fails to connect, requiring a phone reboot, which is a minor drawback that's slightly disappointing. As for safety, Volvo truly lives up to its reputation. Last month on the highway in Johor Bahru, the car in front braked suddenly, and even before I could react, the automatic emergency braking system stopped the car with a "thud," leaving just half a meter between us—gave me a real fright! Also, the lane-keeping assist is incredibly useful during long drives on the North-South Expressway. If you drift slightly, the steering wheel vibrates to alert you, saving me from several sleepy mistakes. However, there was one time on a rural road over a speed bump where the system's automatic brake mistakenly activated, causing a sudden jolt, and a motorbike rider behind me gave me a glare. It would be great if this could be optimized further. All in all, these two aspects are very practical, and they truly deserve a 4-star rating!