SALT LAKE CITY — Volvo means “I roll” in Latin — a nod to the original Swedish company's early history of ball bearing manufacturing.

It wasn't until 1927 that the first Volvo OV 4 series car, nicknamed Jakob, rolled off the assembly line.

Long known for being an innovator where vehicle safety is concerned, Volvo recently announced that all cars built after 2019 will have electric or electric hybrid engines.

As I drove away from Ken Garff Volvo in Salt Lake City with a 2018 V60 Cross Country, I was excited to put the new four-cylinder turbo powerplant through its paces.

Exterior styling

This is not your father’s Volvo wagon. The long, angular hood slopes back smoothly, meeting a roofline that rises briefly before dipping down to meet taillights that begin just below the rear deck spoiler and reach nearly halfway to the bumper.

From the side, those taillights appear to push the rear hatch to the back and angle sharply outward from behind about two-thirds of the way down. They are prominent and define the shape of the vehicle's rear.

Rectangular exhaust outlets sit low and wide below the bumper. The front headlight covers are nearly as prominent as the taillights and push out and back from the checker-patterned grill. The familiar Volvo emblem sits proudly in the center.

Rakish lines define the hood and the side door sills.

Interior styling

When easing into the driver’s seat, two things struck me immediately.

First, the instrument panel is small and almost entirely digital. The center dial combines an analog-looking tachometer with a digital speedometer in the center. Everything can be customized several ways, including a choice between sportier red controls or more sedate versions.

Second, the center console doesn’t appear to be a part of the dash. Rather than blending in, the console seems to be leaning against the dash. It’s a design cue that is unlike most I’ve seen, and it did not grow on me over time. It looks disjointed and inelegant.

The climate and media controls are four round dials, two on either side of the main controls, which are located in the center of the console. The center air vent is at the top of that console and juts out a bit from the dash.

The slightly-too-small touchscreen sits above the center console. An alphanumeric dial pad controls phone and media functions.

The leather seats are sporty and comfortable, and chrome trims both the door panela and dash. Overall, interior materials are high quality and comfortable.

Perhaps true to your father’s Volvo, the interior is comfortable but lacking in luxury and sportiness compared to competitors from Germany and Japan.

Technology

Before leaving the dealership, I was set up with a Volvo On Call account and downloaded the smartphone app that accompanies it.

The app is similar to others offered by luxury brands and enables the owner to remotely access information about the car, like fuel level and maintenance requirement. It can also find the car in a crowded parking lot and remotely start it. The driver can even input a destination into the navigation via the app prior to getting in the car.

All-wheel drive and a hill descent feature make the Cross Country capable of light off-road driving.

At speeds above 2.5 mph, the Cross Country is equipped with accident avoidance features such as pedestrian and cyclist detection and emergency braking. Lane assist and adaptive cruise control are also included.

At speeds above 40 mph, Volvo’s Driver Alert Control monitors the road ahead with a camera and can detect whether a driver may be getting drowsy due to changes in driver behavior and the position of the car within its lanes. A warning will alert the driver that rest may be needed.

The driver can remotely move the rear headrests to improve vision, and the middle headrests can be lowered completely while the outer headrests can be sprung forward and laid flat.

Unfortunately, the button to control that feature looks much like the heated seat button and my rear passengers got an unexpected slap to the head.

Performance and handling

For a wagon that sits higher than most cars, I was impressed by the handling of the V60. Wagons are becoming a rare breed in America, though they remain more popular in Europe. The long wheelbase provides for a smooth ride compared to most crossovers and the lower height allows for better cornering than an SUV.

“As with most manufacturers, SUVs make up most of our sales now, but wagons have long been synonymous with Volvo, and it is a great platform for all-wheel drive, safety and performance. I don’t see Volvo moving away from wagons anytime soon," said Don Brower, sales manager at Ken Garff Volvo.

The turbo-four engine, delivering 240 horsepower and nearly 260 pound-feet of torque is both quick off the line and provides for very capable highway passing power. The engine and eight-speed automatic transmission are a smooth combination. Turbo lag is noticeable at low revs but minimal.

While the V60 is pleasant to drive and quick enough, it lacks the visceral sportiness of some of its competitors. This may not be a bad thing for many Volvo buyers who prefer safety and dependability over spirited driving. Nonetheless, the sportier exterior styling led me to believe the overall driving experience would be sharper.

The driver can adjust steering for a sportier feel, and the manual mode shifter livened things up a bit. In the end, the car is well suited to canyon turns and is a most capable highway cruiser. The V60 feels tight and comfortable and barely blinked when confronted with a sudden downpour at highway speed.

Conclusion

I felt mixed emotions when driving the Volvo V60. The exterior styling is modern and sleek and belied a different experience than I had while driving. The interior is high quality and very comfortable, but quirky in its design.

Driving the Cross Country is less exciting than I’d hoped. It is a capable car, and no slouch to be certain, but lacks the driver feel and performance of sport wagons from Germany.

The V60 may not look much like your father’s Volvo, but comfort and safety still take priority over the driving experience. I suspect longtime Volvo drivers will be happy to hear it.

Specs

Vehicle type: front engine, AWD, five-passenger wagon.

Engine: turbocharged and intercooled DOHC 16-valve inline four-cylinder. Aluminum block and head, direct fuel injection.

Displacement: 120 cubic inches, 1969 cc.

Power: 240 horsepower, 258 pound-feet torque.

Performance: 6.2 seconds zero-to-60 mph, 14.8 seconds quarter mile at 94 mph

Transmission: eight-speed auto with manual mode.

Wheelbase: 109.2 inches

Fuel mileage: EPA city/highway est 22/30 miles per gallon

Warranty: 4 years/50,000 miles bumper to bumper; 4 years/50,000 miles powertrain

Price as tested: $50,386

Conclusion

I felt mixed emotions when driving the Volvo V60. The exterior styling is modern and sleek and belied a different experience than I had while driving. The interior is high quality and very comfortable, but quirky in its design.

Driving the Cross Country is less exciting than I’d hoped. It is a capable car, and no slouch to be certain, but lacks the driver feel and performance of sport wagons from Germany.

The V60 may not look much like your father’s Volvo, but comfort and safety still take priority over the driving experience. I suspect longtime Volvo drivers will be happy to hear it.

Specs

Vehicle type: front engine, AWD, five-passenger wagon.

Engine: turbocharged and intercooled DOHC 16-valve inline four-cylinder. Aluminum block and head, direct fuel injection.

Displacement: 120 cubic inches, 1969 cc.

Power: 240 horsepower, 258 pound-feet torque.

Performance: 6.2 seconds zero-to-60 mph, 14.8 seconds quarter mile at 94 mph

Transmission: eight-speed auto with manual mode.

Wheelbase: 109.2 inches

Fuel mileage: EPA city/highway est 22/30 miles per gallon

Warranty: 4 years/50,000 miles bumper to bumper; 4 years/50,000 miles powertrain

Price as tested: $50,386

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