V60 won't be that much more usable for the kids than your current wagon. V90 is your best bet for that use case.

 

You won't like the V60 if you are looking for more space. My V70 has a lot of room, my V60 probably has a tiny bit less than my BMW 3-series wagon did.
* The V70 holds 2 huskies in the back, the V60 holds one

 

If your kids are outgrowing your BMW, I'd be looking at a V90 instead of the V60. I have elementary age kids and the rear space was one of the reasons I went for the V90.

 

V90 is your best bet. Don't expect something quite as sporty as any BMW, but it's a wonderful car and a modern classic if you can find a non-XC version.

Keep in mind (I'm playing devil's advocate here) that there are RUMORS about a 5 series wagon returning to the US in a year or two.

 

Keep in mind (I'm playing devil's advocate here) that there are RUMORS about a 5 series wagon returning to the US in a year or two.

If that ends up true, I'll have to wait to see what the grill looks like before getting too excited. Lol. I used to like BMWs, but they've lost me with their current design themes. Volvos and Mercedes currently win in that department IMO.

 

I came from a mini-van and a mid-size picking before deciding to go with the S90 T8. I have 3 kids, 2 in car seats. We snowboard every weeked in the winter and we mountain bike the rest of the year. The S90 in the US has more legroom than the V90.

With the extra room, they fight a lot less and actually appreciate the luxury and comfort. Nothing beats a mini-van for passenger space, but the S90 T8 is a great compromise for 5 passengers. It provides enough space, good comfort and performance, and fuel economy as a phev.

 

Drive them both and see what you think. The V90 I think would be more in line for you vs the 60.

The Mercedes-Benz is going to be easier to work on imo if you are working on your car. It's a longitudinal engine (obviously front engine) RWD based architecture (they almost all are with that configuration) but the Volvo shouldn't be bad once you figure it out. They both are easy to get really good parts warranties online on both Mercedes-Benz and Volvo. Much easier to say than Alfa Romeo etc. The Mercedes-Benz is also going to have more technology, the Volvo more minimalistic. The Volvo falls in between a Mercedes-Benz and maybe an Alfa Romeo in terms of tech, Mercedes-Benz being more Alfa being less. That's the simplest way I can put that. The Mercedes-Benz also I believe is going to have a timing chain so that piece is going to go longer before it will need to be serviced. And I also I have to say (and I hate saying this), the Mercedes-Benz dealership parts and service experience at least in my area I think is FAR superior, night and day difference. If I need a dealership stocked part I usually order online out of state. Mercedes-Benz if you are in a pinch you can get the parts almost anywhere and the people aren't pompous and they are just nice people. They are so dominant in the regard of parts though. Volvo is improving all the time though as well.

Now what I love about the Volvo and specifically the V90, is the crazy grip, the safety features work fantastic (a bit sensitive) but they work very well. It's really laid back and kind of a 'why can't just everyone be cool' type of car, but it has good road feel too. I think it has a really good balance. Build quality is on par or better than the Mercedes-Benz (neck and neck). I also think it's a very elegant classy car, Mercedes-Benz wagon is too as well, but I also like the Scandinavian minimalist approach to how they do things. The V90 also is one of the most gorgeous vehicles on the road. I easily put it up there with some of the best from Aston Martin, Mercedes-Benz, Alfa Romeo etc. If you want engine options though and you want something fast you know the car to go with but idk. I chose the V90. I think it's a more special car in a lot of ways but I also really love the Mercedes-Benz too so for me it would be a tough decision. I couldn't really fault either. And they are both incredibly reliable for the most part too.

 

Agree with the take. MB dealers are (generally) a MUCH better experience from my experience. Having come from 2 Cadillacs and a Merc Sprinter (work van), I've been pretty disappointed with the experience at most Volvo dealers. Again as a generalization. I don't know if things have changed since, but I was spoiled by my Cadillac dealership. Service was top notch. They ALWAYS had top of the line loaners on hand. Encouraged trading up of course, so smart business.

 

S90 T8 is a fun suggestion. I had forgotten about those. BMW designs have also completely turned me off these days, not that I was ever a superfan.

 

Also, though I'm a Volvo evangelist, I've always wanted an E-class wagon and always will.

 

I kind of like some of the 211's tbh. They can be found for really good prices too and imo was also one of the most complete packages they made as well. I prefer it in a lot of cases to the 212. I posted one as a response to another thread as back up vehicle and I think it was $6500. It looked really nice.

 

If the OP is looking for something sporty too, I think an argument could also be made for 2 different vehicles as well. Depending on the price he can find even if it's an earlier year, they could almost take the savings and buy a cool sports car as well and just make them be 2 different cars. Might be worth a shot and then they can see if they could qualify for some sort of bundle discount on their insurance.

 

My favorite car owners are wagon enthusiasts. I had a 3-series wagon years ago. Freaking loved it. I would have purchased a V60 if I could of but I wanted a PHEV and didn't want the PE (for various reasons). The V60 and V90 are both two of the nicest wagons on the road.

 

I've had great experiences with my local Volvo dealer and two bad ones with my local BMW store. Cadillac hasn't made much for me in the last .... well, since the 60s, probably, but I loved those CTS wagons. CT6 PHEV would have been a cool car with the Voltec powertrain (I still mourn my totaled Volt) but probably impossible to keep running correctly.

Volvos aren't bad cars to drive at all, but they're more focused towards comfort. I actually appreciate that in a daily driver. If I want to have fun I don't expect a 2+ tonne wagon to carve corners. Some will say that the company just doesn't spend as much money on chassis development as competitors because they're more focused on safety and durability / parts quality. Whether or not you feel that the Volvo driving experience is "inferior" or just different will probably be a big part of your decision ... I can't speak to Mercedes, but there's a certain high level of ride quality & roadholding that I would expect for the extra money.

I've often thought that my ideal garage was a Miata or 2 series convertible (stick of course) and then a big, soft, heavy Volvo wagon with AWD and a roof rack ... for daily driving, you can't beat something tough and cushy with good seats and power in reserve.

 

I've had great experiences with my local Volvo dealer and two bad ones with my local BMW store. Cadillac hasn't made much for me in the last .... well, since the 60s, probably, but I loved those CTS wagons. CT6 PHEV would have been a cool car with the Voltec powertrain (I still mourn my totaled Volt) but probably impossible to keep running correctly.

Volvos aren't bad cars to drive at all, but they're more focused towards comfort. I actually appreciate that in a daily driver. If I want to have fun I don't expect a 2+ tonne wagon to carve corners. Some will say that the company just doesn't spend as much money on chassis development as competitors because they're more focused on safety and durability / parts quality. Whether or not you feel that the Volvo driving experience is "inferior" or just different will probably be a big part of your decision ... I can't speak to Mercedes, but there's a certain high level of ride quality & roadholding that I would expect for the extra money.

I've often thought that my ideal garage was a Miata or 2 series convertible (stick of course) and then a big, soft, heavy Volvo wagon with AWD and a roof rack ... for daily driving, you can't beat something tough and cushy with good seats and power in reserve.

I can't fault that. Looks like a sweet lineup to me! 🤙 I dig it.

 

Another option for OP would be to (and I know this sounds crazy on the face of it) (I understand that!), would be to convert their home to have a drive in kitchen to make up space for the added vehicles and make all the floors hard floor as well as remove all the carpeting. They could then reinforce the base of the house and install lift bays in the home that come out of the floor, see they stow nicely and no one trips on them. That would be so romantic. Could you imagine a little red Alfa Romeo 4C or something coming into the house, getting what it needed and then drive back out again. That would be so sexy! To me at least. You could have to it would be like a drive in movie theater but have it be inside your home! 😍

 

We have had a few Honda, MB, VW, and Volvo wagons. Two of each manufacturer interestingly enough. All of them are great for their intended use, though agreed that the V90 would be the best Volvo one for your needs. The e400/e63 is my dream wagon. GLWYS.

 

The V60 is too small in the rear seat as everyone has mentioned. I have a V90 and love it, a real workhorse, a keeper for me. I buy other cars and keep them for awhile but the Volvo is staying!! But, I have driven an E450, not an all terrain and the interiors are great, snazzy interior lighting, great dash design and more power than our four banger. Having had several S classes, I can vouch for Mercedes quality as well. Cant say that about their SUVs though. I have 46K on my 2018 V90CC, no issues at all.

 

I will add that the V90 has pretty low consumption for it's size too once you get it on the interstate more especially for it not being a hybrid with the added complexity and weight. It really is a pretty complete package in all honesty. It's HARD to find something as multitalented of a vehicle that does its intended function better than a V90 imo. It's a pretty impressive car. I think the E has more space though but they are so close I mean...

 

A couple of reposts from a group I follow, if it helps make the decision any easier. That Makita one from Sweden is absolutely sick as hell! 🔥 You are screwed either way OP 😂

 

I'd like to add that, with big wagons on the brain, I ended up on the German MB website and am finishing up a nice black-on-cream E 53 4Matic wagon with walnut inlays and (almost) all the options -- €113,000!

Hoping this link works.

Konfigurator & Preise | Mercedes-Benz

Alle Preise, Ausstattungen & Extras ✓ 360° Ansicht außen und innen ✓ Konfigurieren Sie jetzt Ihren neuen Mercedes-Benz online!

www.mercedes-benz.de

Wagon lovers always welcome!

 

I'd like to add that, with big wagons on the brain, I ended up on the German MB website and am finishing up a nice black-on-cream E 53 4Matic wagon with walnut inlays and (almost) all the options -- €113,000!

Hoping this link works.

Konfigurator & Preise | Mercedes-Benz

Alle Preise, Ausstattungen & Extras ✓ 360° Ansicht außen und innen ✓ Konfigurieren Sie jetzt Ihren neuen Mercedes-Benz online!

www.mercedes-benz.de

Wagon lovers always welcome!

That honestly is one of the worst and also one of the best things about certain luxury vehicles such as Mercedes-Benz. It's the OVERALL price. I have to be realistic for a moment. Depending on if you are buying new or used. As nice of a vehicle and as beautiful of a product some of them are, although the prices aren't completely out of line by any means, (113k is A LOT but for that car isn't horrific), the DEPRECIATION is absolutely devastating on Mercedes-Benz and it kills me to say that but they are horrible in that respect. I mean, I would almost call them dangerous 😬 to buy new unless the buyer has a good % down payment, because it is so insanely easy to get upside-down on one of those cars. I'm sure OP knows this.

That's why everyone says they cost so much to own, it isn't the parts really or anything like that, they are a very tough dependable car a lot of them and parts are easy to get, (an E or S Class are a tank like a Volvo), it's the depreciation. And this is coming from someone that absolutely loves (and I know you do too) 🖤 loves Mercedes-Benz. Everyone does almost. I was looking at the new SL's on the way home (absolutely gorgeous car with the right color and wheels) that car (and I don't want to say this because it hurts a lot), I would probably never buy brand new IF I was ever planning to sell it. It breaks your heart a bit if you are the new buyer. But at the same time I would have never been able to get into one if it weren't for the depreciation so it goes both ways too. You know maybe I would someday buy a SL or E wagon new but I would have to be loaded and I would probably never sell it. Those cars are scary in that respect.

Sorry I did not want to throw this thread off kilter but it is important information to know before someone buys one. And that also sounds like a very nice specification!

 

Good point, Old Reliable -- if you play depreciation right, you're ahead!! Otherwise you're very much behind.

 

OP, if you're looking for a wagon, there's also the Audi variants.

 

The only question I think left for the OP once they find one will be.. Do they take this beautiful Volvo or Mercedes-Benz station wagon and do they intrust it to take them and their family or husband or wife to their various destinations and are they willing to maintain it to the degree in which it needs to be.

It's like a marriage, and when I was in this very spot my answer was a resounding YES I DO and Yes I absolutely want this car in my business's life and I am willing to bear the responsibilities of the cars depreciation and servicing because I'm not selling, I am committed to it. That's a big commitment.

I don't think a lot of people view it this way and or maybe they aren't 100% sure and that's where the trouble starts. That's what can determine your reliability lol. Everyone including the people using the car and the car itself have to be getting what they want from one another or else the reliability and everything starts to crumble. It has to all come together. I know that sounds cheesy and kind of nuts but it's true and part of that might have to do with OP doing much of their own maintenance on the car as well. Or maybe the kids work on the car. But to me that is precious and beautiful because everyone is falling in love with the car and it needs that to push a million miles like you see. It was because they were truly at peace and one with the machine. Imo that's what it's all about!

 

I wish there were more hatchbacks. A CT5 would have made a nice one (it looks like one as it is). But Audi is the only one doing premium hatchbacks--excuse me, Sportbacks--and I'm wary of their quality.

 

My short take on Audi is the quality on some of their cars is absolutely fantastic, even though it has declined a bit since Piëch's departure. TBH ever since the diesel gate scandal much of the VW Group hasn't fully recovered yet. That killed them. And I was also under the impression that with the oil consumption problems people were facing on new models it only affected some not all and the fix was switching to one of the more premium Motul or similar brand oil and it would stop. This obviously isn't ideal and I don't know why they wouldn't just partner with one of those manufacturers from the start (I suspect it had something to do with money), but at least their was a fix I thought. I miss the subtlety of older Audis though.

 

Pretty funny thread. OP has not been back and the rest of us have filled two pages of all kinds of sort of related content.....

Coming from a 3 series wagon and outgrowing it, the choice is easy. V90.
The "new" V60 is about the same size as the V90, but with a much smaller trunk.
The "old" V60 is way smaller, and likely as small as if not smaller than a 3 series (depending on what year OP has).

MB W212 is very sim in size as the V90 but with a larger trunk, and you can dial up sporty all the way to E63.

Speaking from experience since we had a old V60, traded it for a V90, have rented the new V60 for two months, and have an E63 as my winter car.

 

I find the "new" V60 to be much smaller in rear legroom and space compared to the V90.

 

not sure if this is the same in either the v60 or v90 but in the s60 there is a middle hump in footwell of the rear seat with the t8. it makes it much harder to seat 3 people. if you consistently need 3 people in the rear then please keep that in mind. i love the t8 but would not recommend for 3 rear passengers unless v60 and v90 have this addressed.

 

According to the Volvo website- V90:

And the "new" V60:

The "new" V60 is taller, narrower, and basically the same legroom (in the rear). I find them identical, maybe with a sliver more shoulder width, but both are more than wide enough for me.