Thorough examination of 20 sides of the Swedish brand Volvo S60 with an electric touch
The idea that the Volvo S60 could compete with the best executive cars with premium badges seemed absurd a few years ago. But the Swedish automaker has impressively shifted from an ordinary car producer to a brand focused on technology and safety and interested in the future of the electric car.
The Volvo S60 is, at its core, a saloon version of the Volvo V60. This means that it is the same size as competing executive cars including the Alfa Romeo Giulia, Audi A4, BMW 3 Series and Jaguar XE. These are its staunch enemies.
Volvo cars are not only affordable but also stylish. The Volvo S60 appeared right after the millennium, and its sleek, streamlined shape still looks fresh, and remained unknown after its replacement with the second-generation model until 2019, when it returned to the Scandinavian model stronger than before in the third generation starting from 2021.
The company’s luxury saloon has undergone minor modifications that include some new standard safety technologies for 2021. The point of origin of this car is also worth noting. Whereas Volvo has had a Canadian factory for decades, the Volvo S60 is the first Volvo to be built in the United States. The company’s new factory is located in South Carolina, from which it exports to all parts of the world.
Volvo gives you plenty of options for its Volvo S60 executive car, and to avoid confusion you need to know a lot about choosing your next executive car. Over the next few pages of this review, we’ll tell you how to compare and select the options and extras when buying a Volvo S60 and cover all the other important areas, comparing it with the cars of these great competitors.
Our review will cover performance, handling, interior quality, trunk size, how much it costs to run, and more. We’ll also tell you which combination of engine and parts we think is the best.
what’s new
Standard Blind Spot Monitoring with Rear Cross Traffic Alert Standard Rear
Parking Sensors
Deluxe City Weave Upholstery Available Free
Pros and Cons
Positives
Stylish interior and exterior design
Comfortable and supportive seats Energetic
engine
Negatives
Small trunk
distracting central screen controls Attention to the road
Not as sporty as the competition
Volvo S60 تصميم design
Rating 18/20 The
S60 fits well with a long nose and short deck, and the design is elegant and timeless. The roofline curves down but not at the expense of headroom in the rear seats, which is average for this segment. The cabin is equally elegant, with typical Scandinavian simplicity, but not a lot of storage space. The Volvo S60’s minimalist dashboard design is sleek, and the limited buttons give it a clean, seamless look, and most functions are accessed via a touchscreen that means many functions It is located in the central screen. And that can cause you to get distracted when you’re on the road.
The performance and driving of the Volvo S60
Rating 17/20
The Volvo S60’s 2.0-liter four-cylinder engine features a mild-hybrid system that captures energy from regenerative braking to help the petrol engine accelerate to spirited performance. There’s also a plug-in hybrid drive, but we didn’t test the recharging, and we found that while maneuvering it isn’t sharply sporty, as with some competitors, but it’s smooth and balanced. I also found the driving comfortable and fluid, and in general, the Volvo S60 will delight you.
With its driving performance, high-quality interior materials and stylish design, Volvo has evolved into the most distinguished brand, and the Volvo S60 stands out from the crowd visually while retaining its value and performance. If you’re shopping in the compact luxury segment, the Volvo S60 should be on your list of driving experiences.
Engine and gearbox for Volvo S60
The Volvo S60’s range of engines starts with a 2.0-liter B5 four-cylinder light-hybrid (MHEV), which feeds 246 horsepower to the front wheels all around. That’s enough to sprint from 0-60 mph in 6.4 seconds, and acceleration picks up from low revs all the way to midrange. It’s fast enough for just about every situation, but if you fancy something faster, the BMW 3 Series in 330i form and also the Alfa Romeo Giulia Veloce is even faster.
Volvo gives you a choice of two petrol engines for the Volvo S60: a 246-hp B5 mild hybrid (MHEV) and a 448-hp T8 plug-in hybrid (PHEV). Don’t worry if you don’t know the difference, we’ll explain it to you…
The B5 mild hybrid has an electric motor and a small battery that it uses to store energy and increase acceleration from a standstill. The T8 plug-in hybrid has a larger battery and can be powered by electricity alone for shorter trips.
Safety and security in the Volvo S60
Rating 16/20
The S60 has a five-star rating from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA), five stars in side collisions and rollovers, and four in frontal collisions. The Insurance Institute for Highway Safety (IIHS) named it a Top Safety Pick Plus, but only gave it an “acceptable” rating, and it passed the LATCH child seat anchors ease of use tests. Better registered marks to protect children,
The Automatic Emergency Braking (AEB) system proved to be better at recognizing cyclists. The Volvo S60 includes standard safety equipment such as lane-keep assist, blind spot monitoring, traffic sign recognition and cross-traffic alert.
Suspension and Driving Comfort
The entry-level R Design on the MHEV includes a sporty chassis that features stiffer suspension settings. These packages make driving completely uncomfortable at all speeds, and you’ll find an Audi A4 or Jaguar XE much more enjoyable to drive in.
Choosing the R Design over the PHEV hood or the Inscription design on the MHEV eliminates the sporty chassis and adds a more comfortable aerodynamic chassis instead. This provides a much better ride and easily copes with bumps and imperfections. We recommend going for a tire that gives you the dynamic chassis because it makes driving the Volvo S60 comfortable on the highway.
The Volvo S60’s sporty chassis makes the ride lumpy and as fun to drive as the 3 Series and the Giulia. The Volvo S60 has a high mileage during tight twists and turns, and is generally less willing to change direction in the first place. I also didn’t like the psychedelic steering but that doesn’t mean the Volvo S60 is a car with poor handling, but it’s far from top for the executive class.
Noise and vibration
The petrol engine in the S60 is relatively silent compared to competitors’ engines, including the BMW 330i, and you don’t feel much vibration even in your fingertips or the soles of your feet.
18-inch wheels come with most trim, road noise is contained well and there isn’t much wind noise at highway speeds. But the Audi A4 is still quieter. The 19-inch alloy wheels on the Polestar Engineered Hybrid make more noise on the road.
Volvo S60 models
We’ve driven the petrol version, but the Volvo S60 also comes with the Recharge name, a plug-in hybrid with up to 22 miles of all-electric range. And for buyers who want more than a sedan, Volvo also makes the V60 station wagon and XC60 crossover on the same platform.
The Volvo S60 comes in three models, starting with the Momentum at $4,0295, including a $1,045 destination fee. Both the Inscription and R-Design models cost about $44,340. Their general features are similar, but the Inscription model aims to increase luxury, while the R-Design design gives the car a sporty look.
All models in the range start with front-wheel drive, and all-wheel drive (AWD) can be selected for $2,500. And choosing any color other than black adds $695. Other options available include a climate package with heated seats and steering wheel for $750, and there’s an advanced package with items like adaptive cruise control with lane-centering, a head-up display, and a 360-degree camera. They range in price from $2,100 to $4,200, depending on the trim level you choose.
Engine and Fuse Options
The Volvo S60 uses a 2.0-liter four-cylinder engine that produces 260 horsepower and 258 pound-feet of torque, paired with an eight-speed automatic transmission. On front-wheel drive models, the engine is turbocharged. With all-wheel drive (AWD), the engine gets both turbocharged and supercharged.
Both pump extra air into the engine – along with a similar amount of fuel – when more power is needed. The turbocharger ejects the exhaust gas and takes some time for buffering, while the mechanical supercharger starts working almost immediately. This provides spirited performance, combined with the ability to pass at high speeds on the highway.
The engine includes a mild hybrid system, a small electric motor and a 48-volt battery that is recharged through regenerative braking, but the S60 cannot run on electricity alone. Instead, the engine receives assistance from the gasoline engine as needed, for powerful, smooth, and fuel-efficient acceleration. The Volvo S60 has a higher horsepower rating than most of its competitors, and feels more powerful than you’d expect from a small engine.
For those who want more power, the Volvo S60 is offering a version with a 316-horsepower T6 engine for $3,750 through early 2021. It has been unofficially replaced by the T8 Recharge. But the T6 will not appear again in our 2022 edition.
Despite its sporty sedan appearance, the Volvo S60 does not have the sporty feel of rivals such as the Audi A4 or BMW 3 Series. And this is not a complaint. Because it’s well balanced around turns, well planted on the highway, it has a very smooth ride, and for a larger car ride. The R-Design trim with a sporty chassis can be picked up for $200, but it will sharpen the performance and make the ride really tough.
Optional All-Wheel Drive (AWD) primarily powers the front wheels, sending more torque to the rear as needed when driving to provide full traction once the going starts.
fuel economy
Front-wheel drive grades offer an EPA rating of 23 mpg city, 34 mpg highway, and 27 mpg combined, while AWD drops the scale by 1 mpg. When compared, the BMW 330i was rated at 30 mpg combined, and the Lexus IS300 with all-wheel drive scored 22 mpg. And of course all of them need premium fuel not lower than 95.
Interior design of the Volvo S60
Like all current Volvos, the S60’s interior is exquisitely designed exemplifying Scandinavian simplicity. This thoughtful simplicity sounds great, but it presents some problems. While the slim center console is comfortable and eye-catching, it doesn’t offer much storage space for small items.
The Sensus Connect infotainment system features a 9-inch vertical touch screen that includes Apple CarPlay and Android Auto as standard equipment. But with only solid buttons for a few functions, most of the elements are on the screen, including the climate controls. I noticed that the system could be slow, and you couldn’t heat or cool the cab until it was fully loaded.
And you have to swipe or tap with your finger to adjust the temperature, or use voice commands that are more distracting than spinning a dial. The screen contains a hard home button, and from there, you can swipe to access other functions, including driver assistance features, or optional items like the head-up display or the wireless charger. Everything is straightforward, but having all the menus inside the screen causes distractions out of the way and that’s our complaint.
The seats are supportive and remain comfortable on long trips. It gives you 37.4 inches of front seat space, the same as the Audi A4, and it increases to 38.7 inches in the BMW 3 Series, and in the Genesis G70 it is 39.7 inches. But Volvo has provided that space for the rear seats. Legroom, front and rear, stays at 42.3 and 35.2 inches.
Trunk space stands at 11.6 cubic feet, which is more than the Lexus and Genesis, but two feet less than the Audi, and the BMW 3 offers 17 cubic feet. At least it seems that Volvo has followed the idea of ”fashion before luggage” better than “fashion before comfort”.
Options and extras
Momentum’s entry-level features include dual-zone climate control, rain-sensing wipers, power folding mirrors, 18-inch wheels, panoramic sunroof, driver’s memory seat, “leather” upholstery, front emergency brake and lane-keep assist Rear park assist, blind spot monitoring. In addition to many standard active safety features, the Volvo S60 has earned five stars from NHTSA and a Top Safety Pick+ rating from IIHS, so it doesn’t disappoint with traditional Volvo values.
The Inscription model adds features like four-zone climate control, LED fog lights, navigation, front parking assist, leather upholstery, power child locks in the tailgate, wireless charging, and premium stereo. The R-Design package adds similar functionality, but with leather and fabric seats, sport pedals, aluminum accents, and sport-specific seats.
Driving position and dashboard
It’s hard to go wrong with the S60’s driving position, thanks in large part to the comfortable and supportive seat that is electrically adjustable and has adjustable lumbar support as standard. You sit a little higher than the BMW 3 Series and Alfa Romeo Giulia, the pedals line up neatly with the seat and there’s plenty of steering wheel tuning.
Our only complaint is that there are no physical controls for the air conditioning. To adjust the interior temperature on the go, you have to use either the touch screen or the car’s voice control feature.
Vision, parking sensors and cameras
Road sights up front and diagonally are very good – especially by executive class standards – due to the thinner window pillars. But the over-the-shoulder view isn’t great. And you could get a better view of the back of your BMW 3-Series or Giulia. But Volvo has solved the problem by giving you front and rear parking sensors and a rearview camera as standard on all models.
To help you know where you’re headed at night, automatic LED headlights are standard on the S60. It indicates the direction you turn the steering wheel to give you a better view through corners.
Satellite navigation and infotainment system
The Volvo S60 comes with a 9.0-inch tablet-style touchscreen infotainment system that dominates the center of the dashboard. There are plenty of standard features, including built-in satellite navigation, Bluetooth connectivity, and DAB radio.
The screen itself is clear and crisp, making it easy to read in a jiffy. The system is touch screen only and responds to most taps and taps between menus fairly quickly. Unfortunately, since there is no physical control to help you operate the system, using it on the go can be very distracting. And we like the BMW 3 Series iDrive very much because it has a rotating disc.
Surprisingly, the Apple CarPlay/Android Auto smartphone mirroring is an extra cost option, and it doesn’t come as standard with any trim level.
Check passenger space and luggage compartment
Comfort and convenience
Rating 17/20 The
front seats are very supportive and comfortable on long trips. Rear-seat legroom and headroom are on par with the competition, but the design of the sport sedan always means a little less room for rear-seat passengers, and the relative comfort is offset by reduced luggage space. The Volvo S60’s boot is compact at 11.6 cubic feet, and the elegant interior doesn’t allow for too many small things to be stowed up front.
front space
There’s plenty of head and leg room in the front of the S60, so most people should find it easy to get comfortable and not get claustrophobic. The front seats don’t slide back like those on the BMW 3 Series, but you have to be quite tall to feel like there’s a problem.
Front storage is good too, with two cup holders under a covered compartment between the front seats, a deep storage area in the front armrest, a small hooded compartment in front of the gear knob for your keys and the appropriately sized door pockets.
background space
The rear of the Volvo S60 isn’t quite as wide as the front, and there’s less head and legroom than a BMW 3 Series or Alfa Romeo Giulia. For this reason, people over six feet tall will have their heads cleaned from the ceiling. Especially in my outside seat, the middle rear seat. Slightly higher than the outboard seats, center legroom is limited by a high central tunnel, and all versions feature a rear central armrest with integrated cup holders as standard.
Seat folding and flexibility
Front seat passengers get an electronically adjustable seat as standard. And if you choose a higher trim level, it will be upgraded to include a memory function that remembers where you want your seat to be.
All Volvo S60s come with 60/40 split folding rear seats, which fold electronically at the touch of a button. This is standard on all models, but it does not give you the flexibility of the 40/20/40 configuration that you’ll find on a BMW 3-Series.
Rear trunk space
The MHEV S60 has a relatively long headroom on executive saloon standards, and our BMW 3 Series has a taller and wider boot. And both cars swallowed the same number of handbags (seven) in our tests, more than the Alfa Romeo Giulia.
The PHEV series has about 36 liters less boot space due to the larger battery. Yet it’s still larger than the trunk of the car you get with the BMW 330e Plug-in Hybrid. And to make it easier to load the luggage compartment, you can have luggage hooks as standard on all trim levels.
Volvo S60 quality
As you might expect with a Volvo, the cabin of the S60 is really elegant, with plenty of soft-touch plastic and leather throughout. You’ll be hard pressed to find hard, scratchy plastic anywhere, and the fabric is used in the lower undercarriages which is what you’d find in competition cars.
Helping the quality feel even more is the fact that everything is well placed and the buttons and switches are of a reassuring weight. The Going for Inscription option allows you to trade in your standard leather wrench with a beautifully shaped crystal glass. The Volvo S60 has one of the best interiors in its class, beating out the 3 Series and matching the splendour of the Audi A4.
our judgment
The 2021 Volvo S60 is a worthy contender in the luxury compact sedan segment, with a high-quality interior, spirited performance and smooth driving characteristics. Unfortunately, the cabin’s sleek simplicity reduces storage space, and uses a distracting screen interface on the road, rather than simple buttons. However, it is a competitively priced, well-specified and very stylish option.
Security
Base Warranty:
4 years / 50,000 miles
Wear Warranty:
12 years / unlimited miles
Service:
3 years / 36,000 miles
Drive system:
4 years / 50,000 miles
Roadside assistance:
4 years / unlimited miles.
price of Volvo S60 2022
Volvo S60 Inscription 2022 Price in Italy is ITL 36,758 (US$42,250). 2022 Volvo B5 FWD S60 Inscription is a 5-seater Sedan in Italy,
How much does the 2022 Volvo S60 cost? It’s $40,295 for the S60 Momentum, which comes with 18-inch wheels, synthetic leather upholstery, and a 9.0-inch touchscreen with Android Auto and Apple Car Play. Inscription and R-Design packages run $3,000; all-wheel drive costs $2,300
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