Volvo to Bring Back Estate Cars to the UK Market
Volvo is set to reintroduce its estate cars, the Volvo V60 and Volvo V90, to the UK market after taking them off sale last year to focus on SUVs. The decision comes in response to a resurgence in demand for estate cars. While the saloon equivalents, the S60 and S90, won’t be making a return, the V60 and V90 will offer a range of powertrain options.
The V60 will be available with a 2.0-litre mild-hybrid petrol engine that produces 197bhp and can reach 0-62mph in 7.6 seconds. It will also offer two petrol plug-in hybrid powertrains with 350bhp and 455bhp. On the other hand, the larger V90 will exclusively offer plug-in hybrid powertrains, capable of reaching 0-62mph in just 5.5 seconds in its most potent form, with an electric-only range of up to 36 miles.
Prices for the new variants are expected to be released in the coming weeks. Previously, the V60 was priced from £47,750 as a mild hybrid and £57,580 as a PHEV, while the V90 PHEV cost £62,220 before sales stopped. Volvo confirmed the decision to revive estate sales, stating that they have seen a resurgence in demand for their estate products in recent months.
It is unclear how long the V60 and V90 will remain on sale, as both models approach the end of their natural lifecycles. The V90 was launched in 2016, while the V60 was launched in 2018. When asked for a timeframe, Volvo declined to comment on future model plans.
Despite being Volvo’s slowest-selling global models in 2023, with a combined sales figure of 44,600 compared to the best-selling Volvo XC60 SUV’s 228,600, the demand for an estate revival from UK customers has been influential. The UK is Volvo’s third-largest global market.
In other news, Volvo has announced that production of the S60 will come to an end at its South Carolina factory this month to make way for the new EX90 electric SUV. However, production of the S90 will continue in Daqing, China for now, with an electric successor, the ES90, set to be launched next year.
Volvo has been streamlining its line-up to focus on a small number of core segments as it expands its EV offerings. While plans for an electric Volvo estate remain unknown, the company is committed to evolving its product portfolio to meet the changing demands of its customers.
Overall, the decision to bring back estate cars to the UK market demonstrates Volvo’s responsiveness to customer demand and their commitment to providing a diverse range of vehicles to cater to different consumer preferences. With the resurgence of estate cars, Volvo is poised to capitalize on this trend and potentially boost their sales in the UK.