Volvo Wagons and Sedans Aren't Going Away CEO Confirms

[AVANTI R5]

Volvo Wagons and Sedans Aren't Going Away, CEO Confirms

SUVs may be where the money's at, but Volvo says it's not leaving traditional body styles in the past.

Volvo's name may be synonymous with station wagons, but like all carmakers today, its bread and butter is the crossover. The Volvo XC60, for example, sold more across the first three quarters of 2021 than Volvo's S60, S90, V60, and V90 wagons and sedans did combined, according to Autocar. It'd be understandable, then, if Volvo decided to quit cars in favor of SUVs. But according to CEO Håkan Samuelsson, their spirits will actually carry forward despite S-line sedan and V-line wagon monikers going away.

"Yes, the [S and V] lines will be replaced with something even more attractive to consumers," Samuelsson told Autocar. "We need lower cars with a more conventional body size but maybe a little less square [than before]. These low cars will be in addition to our high-positioned SUVs. Stay tuned."

In addition to having words instead of spoonfuls of alphabet soup for names, Samuelsson confirmed the replacements for the S-line and V-line will not be boxy like Volvos of yore, or even modern crossovers. Instead, they'll be swoopier, more aerodynamic shapes.

"Cars will be less boxy in future, when we need to have lower air resistance," Samuelsson continued. "You could call it coupé-ish. We talk a lot about range in electric cars, but I think we will start looking at energy efficiency, and of course, air resistance will be very central to that."

Volvo's long product cycles mean that the older of the two affected models, the S90 and related V90, will likely be up for renewal by 2025. That year, Volvo hopes half its global sales volume will be comprised of electric vehicles, signaling the S90 and V90's successor is likely an EV. By contrast, the newer, 2019-onward S60 and V60 are likely not due for replacement until the late 2020s, all but guaranteeing their successors will be electric too.

Sure, they won't have everyone's favorite powertrains (or will they?), but at least they won't be variations on the flavorless crossover format. Every cloud has its silver lining.

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[KC]

I was planning on buying a MY2020 V60 R design (T6) in the fall of 2019, but they stopped bringing the T6 and only put the T5s for MY2020 and missed my chance in 2019 as they were all gone by the time I was to pull the trigger. As I looked around and was thinking about next new thing in 2020, Covid hit. So.... mixed blessing?

I mean seriously, new design V60 only came with a T6 for 1 year, 2019, their first MY of the car. I've watched used sales but we all know how that market is today. So, oh well.

--kC

[neg_matnik]

Originally Posted by KC

I was planning on buying a MY2020 V60 R design (T6) in the fall of 2019, but they stopped bringing the T6 and only put the T5s for MY2020 and missed my chance in 2019 as they were all gone by the time I was to pull the trigger. As I looked around and was thinking about next new thing in 2020, Covid hit. So.... mixed blessing?

I mean seriously, new design V60 only came with a T6 for 1 year, 2019, their first MY of the car. I've watched used sales but we all know how that market is today. So, oh well.

--kC

The whole situation with the single model year V60 T6 has been frustrating for sure .
I considered getting a larger V90 T6 instead; but, as you said, used pricing is just nuts at the moment.

[White out]

Makes sense. Historically they have had attractive and iconic wagons. So when you want a wagon, Volvo and Benz E-class come to mind.

[Angelus911]

Originally Posted by KC

I was planning on buying a MY2020 V60 R design (T6) in the fall of 2019, but they stopped bringing the T6 and only put the T5s for MY2020 and missed my chance in 2019 as they were all gone by the time I was to pull the trigger. As I looked around and was thinking about next new thing in 2020, Covid hit. So.... mixed blessing?

I mean seriously, new design V60 only came with a T6 for 1 year, 2019, their first MY of the car. I've watched used sales but we all know how that market is today. So, oh well.

--kC

Yeah that’s the reason I went with the T6 S60. From what I’ve heard the T5 in the V60 leaves a lot to be desired