2019 Volvo S60 first drive review: Familiar formula with a twist

At first blush, it is easy to write down off the 2019 S60 as yet one more tackle Volvo’s acquainted formulation. However look nearer, spend some extra time with this svelte Swedish sedan, and you will see that, in some ways, it represents the very best of what Volvo has to supply.

Volvo launched its Scalable Product Structure (SPA) in 2014 with the launch of its XC90 SUV, and this modular platform now underpins each 60- and 90-series mannequin within the firm’s portfolio. The S60 is the brand new child, however incorporates all of the tweaks Volvo has made to its SPA rubric over time. It is even received a couple of efficiency tips up its sleeve.

Household resemblance

The 2019 S60 is instantly recognizable as a contemporary Volvo. “Thor’s Hammer” LED working lights lower via the headlamp housings and prolong inward towards the sedan’s grille, whereas squared-off corners on the decrease entrance fascia give the S60 a extra assertive look than its bigger S90 sibling. An extended dash-to-axle ratio — particularly for a front-wheel drive chassis, and apparently, the one fixed-length a part of the whole SPA structure — and quick rear deck give the S60 correct sport sedan proportions, whereas a chiseled rump prominently wears a daring taillight signature.

Inside, it is a comparable story of familial resemblance. Each S60 will get Volvo’s 9-inch Sensus infotainment touchscreen entrance and middle, with a easy row of redundant controls beneath. Tender leathers, stunning steel brightwork and open-pore wooden line the sprint, doorways and middle console. The entrance seats are a number of the most supple and supportive I’ve ever had the privilege of sitting in, and a low beltline and expansive windscreen supply a commanding view of the world exterior.

Rear passengers take pleasure in ample lodging, the brand new S60’s three.Eight-inch longer wheelbase affording improved again seat legroom. With 13.Eight cubic ft of cargo area, the S60’s trunk is completely ample for swallowing every week’s value of baggage, and the again seats fold for much more storage. But when frequent Ikea runs are your factor (see what I did there?), you will clearly be higher off with a V60 wagon or XC60 SUV.

Sensus, now with much less frustration

If there’s one space wherein Volvo’s interiors have tended to wrestle, it is infotainment. Which is why I am blissful to report that the S60 — and, in actual fact, all autos produced from right here on out — get improved Sensus Join .

Each new Sensus system will get an upgraded chipset, which Volvo says improves processing energy by 50 %. Key areas of enchancment embody a discount in system startup time (traditionally an enormous downside), navigation processing and readiness to show the backup digicam (ditto). And certainly, every part works as marketed. Sensus fires up immediately, and shortly responds to inputs. Beforehand, Sensus was form of like an adolescent — sluggish to get up, and in case you requested it to do an excessive amount of immediately, it’d freak out and shut down. That ought to now be a factor of the previous.

Sensus still isn’t perfect, in fact. The house display itself is simple to navigate and delightful to behold, however numerous car settings are scattered all through menus positioned on totally different screens, or in drop-down menus. Apple CarPlay and Android Auto are each included as normal tools, nevertheless, and I really like that the smartphone mirroring tech does not take over the whole Sensus show — it is housed within the backside quadrant on the house display, so that you can increase and collapse as you would like.

Turbocharged and supercharged, with elective electrical enhance

You should buy the S60 with the identical T5, T6 and T8 Twin-Engine powertrains present in Volvo’s different SPA fashions, which all focus on a 2.Zero-liter gasoline I4 engine and an eight-speed computerized transmission. The T5 completely makes use of front-wheel drive, whereas the T6 and T8 ship energy to all 4 wheels.

The T5 solely provides a turbocharger to the two.Zero-liter engine, leading to a superbly ample 250 horsepower and 258 pound-feet of torque. Go for the T6 and Volvo throws a supercharger into the combo, as properly, for elevated output of 316 horsepower and 295 pound-feet — numbers that greatest its 2.Zero-liter-equipped Audi A4, BMW 3 Series and Mercedes-Benz C-Class rivals. Volvo says an S60 T5 will speed up to 60 miles per hour in 6.three seconds, whereas the T6 AWD shaves a full second off that point.

In T6 R-Design spec, I discover that the S60 eagerly hustles alongside the canyon roads north of Malibu, California. There’s an prompt of hesitation earlier than the total torque thrust arrives at 2,200 rpm, however energy stays robust all through the remainder of the rev vary in every gear. The automated transmission shifts easily and does not require pointless coaxing to downshift for speedy energy supply. Steering wheel-mounted paddle shifters are a pleasant contact, however do little to essentially improve the drive.

That is wonderful, as a result of the T6 goes about its enterprise with refined confidence. Not too scorching, not too chilly — the S60 drives with a demeanor that feels extremely well-rounded for this sedan’s meant function. It is splendidly compliant and cozy on lengthy stretches of the 101 Freeway, however affords taut reflexes when pushed round bends. I would like a bit extra weight to the steering effort within the automotive’s normal mode (switching into Dynamic fixes that), however typically talking, the S60 is completely nice in all conditions. It is simply as satisfying as an Audi A4 or Mercedes C300.

If you would like a bit extra energy, you will get it through electrical help. The S60 T8 Twin Engine combines the two.Zero-liter turbocharged and supercharged engine with a 10.Four-kilowatt-hour battery that drives a rear-axle-mounted electrical motor, for complete system output of 400 horsepower and 472 pound-feet of torque.

The T8 is a plug-in hybrid system, that means you possibly can drive the S60 on pure electrical energy, albeit just for about 20 miles. Volvo estimates T8 gas economic system of 27 miles per gallon metropolis, 34 mpg freeway and 30 mpg mixed, in comparison with 21, 32 and 25, respectively, from the much less highly effective T6. That mentioned, anticipate the T8 to value about $Eight,000 greater than a equally outfitted S60 T6.

Polestar Engineered

A number of fortunate consumers — properly, subscribers — will get an much more potent hybrid system. The S60 is Volvo’s first automotive to get its Polestar Engineered therapy, which provides go-fast goodies from the corporate’s efficiency arm. The powertrain will get model-specific tuning that ups output to 415 horsepower and 494 pound-feet of torque — wholesome numbers, although this model weighs almost Four,000 kilos. Polestar Engineered vehicles additionally get a entrance strut bar, gold-painted Brembo brakes, Öhlins adjustable dampers, 19-inch wheels and some distinctive styling parts, like black chrome tailpipes and gold seat belts.

Fact be instructed, I’ve a love/hate relationship with the S60 Polestar Engineered therapy, although actually it has nothing to do with the Polestar elements themselves. These Öhlins dampers are a pleasure of joys, permitting for an ideal experience and dealing with stability on freeways, whereas nonetheless permitting the S60 to dig in and cling on whereas cornering on participating roads.

As an alternative, it is the T8 Twin Engine powertrain that makes this mannequin onerous to essentially take pleasure in. Throttle response is twitchy, energy supply is wonky and peaky, and the brakes are terrible. Not the Brembo brakes — these work simply wonderful. I am speaking concerning the jarring sensation that happens while you swap from heavy regenerative braking to mechanical stopping energy. Placing the automotive in Energy mode or individually deciding on Dynamic mode for the brakes ups the regen issue, and I assume improves linearity and smoothness of braking drive, however after a couple of hours of driving, I could not fairly get the cling of it.

Pushed similarly on the identical roads, I actually discovered the T6 R-Design to be a way more cohesive expertise. Give me these Öhlins dampers on a non-hybrid model — that is the Polestar Engineered S60 (or V60) I would like.

Not that it actually issues for you, my pal, since all 20 US-bound S60 Polestar Engineered vehicles are already spoken for. However Volvo assures me this therapy will make its solution to different fashions within the not-too-distant future.

Purchase, lease or subscribe

As an alternative, you can choose from Momentum, R-Design and Inscription trims, beginning at $35,800. Volvo is packing the bottom Momentum with a lot of normal tools, too, together with LED lights, 18-inch wheels, a panoramic sunroof and the corporate’s Metropolis Security suite of driving aids, which incorporates collision warning with full auto brake, in addition to pedestrian, bicycle owner and enormous animal detection.

“We do not do silly issues [like] decrease choices or trims,” says Volvo North America CEO Anders Gustafsson. “This automotive will completely not be a rental automotive. These are very well-spec’d vehicles.”

The S60 R-Design begins at $41,900, whereas the extra luxurious Inscription is available in at $42,900.

You too can go the Care by Volvo subscription route, which bundles the price of your automotive, insurance coverage and upkeep into one month-to-month cost. Volvo will supply the S60 Momentum for $775/month or the R-Design for $850/month. And the corporate says it won’t have any trouble meeting subscription demand this time round, both.

Swedish excellence, made in America

Search for the S60 to begin trickling into showrooms proper as we exchange our 2018 wall calendars with 2019’s. They will not need to journey far, both — each S60 will probably be made at Volvo’s brand-new manufacturing facility in South Carolina. This plant at present has the capability to construct 150,000 vehicles per yr, and can finally tackle manufacturing of the next-generation XC90, due in 2021.

For now, the 2019 S60 completes the transformation of Volvo’s lineup. It is as stable, fashionable and simple to love as each different new Volvo, and higher positions the S60 throughout the extremely aggressive class of compact luxurious sedans.

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