2020 Volvo S60 At A Glance

• The 2020 Volvo S60’s pricing starts at $42,400.

• There are four distinct S60 trims, and all serve the same purpose.

• The Polestar Engineered T8 is a combination of technology, design, and efficiency.

Back in 2019, the Volvo S60 was the only small midsize sport luxury sedan to see its sales gain volume. Compared to the Acura TLX, Alfa Romeo Giulia, Audi A4, BMW 3 Series, Infiniti Q50, Lexus IS, and Mercedes-Benz C Class, the S60 recorded a 50% increase to double-digit losses for some of the others. How is this possible?

It is important to note that, for the most part, the associated brand’s SUVs picked up the sedan deserters. And there’s more going on. Volvo, among the majority of luxury brands, saw its sales volume growth in 2019 whereas all others suffered losses. So what’s going on? Product, that’s what’s going on.

Volvo’s done a complete 180-degree turn over the last decade but, in the process and contrary to what most other brands would do, the Swedish car company stayed true to its roots by catering to its fans all the while appealing to lurkers. This says a great deal about the new Volvo S60 as it plays hardball in a shrinking segment that includes some of the most storied and glorified cars of all time.

The new Volvo S60, which is priced from $42,400 for the T5 FWD Momentum trim, was designed with the goal to provide luxury and comfort in a package that is undoubtedly Swedish. This principle is unchanged throughout the model line, no matter the trim. The Momentum T6 AWD, at $47,400 that, with the $2,600 Momentum Plus package, is arguably the smartest and most value-packed S60 for the money. For an extra $2,000, we’d add the Polestar Engineered Optimisation powertrain software and available City Weave textile comfort seats. With the exception of our preferred options, this is the thinking person’s luxury sedan.

As you might know, all Volvos are powered by boosted 2.0-litre 4-cylinder engines. The T5 provides 250-horsepower while the T6 is gifted with a healthy 316-horsepower and 295 lb.-ft. of torque. The next trim is the R-Design. At $52,400, it includes the T6 powertrain, visual add-ons as well as the Sport Chassis. The Inscription is the top-line, most luxurious iteration at $53,900.

The title of flagship Volvo S60 goes to the T8 eAWD Polestar Engineered and it retails for a whopping $80,800. The massive jump in price is in large part explained by the presence of the car’s plug-in hybrid drivetrain that delivers 415-horsepower and 494 lb.-ft. of torque. Unlike what you might think, although this is the most powerful S60, it’s not a performance car to rival the BMW M3, for example. This PHEV is about efficiency, EV range, albeit in a very sporty package.

Every Volvo S60 features a near-identical interior layout. They all sport a 9-inch center display and with the exception of the Momentum trim, they also all have a 12.3-inch digital driver display. Various accessories are added throughout the trim scale however all S60s, all Volvos for that matter, are blessed with some of the best seats in the car business. Fit and finish are generally excellent in Volvo products. As for materials, they improve and get fanciers the more you pay.

As far as sporty luxury sedans go, the Volvo S60 is interesting but spending more money doesn’t always give you more.

What the 2020 Volvo S60 Does Well

1. The turbocharged T5 is a plenty acceptable mill. The T6, with an added supercharger, give the S60 a perfect dose of spunk.

2. The described $50,000 T6 AWD Momentum S60 is a near bargain. A similarly-equipped 2020 Mercedes-Benz C 300 is over $55,000 and is down on power.

3. Uniquely styled, the S60 (all Volvo vehicles) is distinct, special, and extremely attractive. They are actually “different.”

4. If you’re really original and want to stand out, there’s always the V60 wagon which is an S60 ++.

5. The standard Dynamic Chassis is perfectly suited to daily driving and for spirited driving.

What 2020 Volvo S60 Doesn’t Do So Well

1. Reliability remains an issue with Volvo products. Like the Germans, the more technology that goes into a car, the more likely they are to be problematic

2. The T8 eAWD Polestar Engineered PHEV provides only 40 km of electric range. Compared to a T6 AWD, the T8 weighs in a 475lbs more which affects overall efficiency.

3. The user-experience with Volvo’s infotainment system remains convoluted with numerous menus, slow-to-load pages, and occasional screen freezes.

4. Many built-in safety features can become overbearing. For example, moving the car, if only a few inches, requires the seat-belt to be buckled.

5. Although we love the Volvo brand, some of your friends might think it’s for old people…

What We Tell Our Friends

As we’ve just said, we’re big fans of Volvo and nearly everything they’ve done over the last decade thanks to Geely’s financial backing. As for the S60, of the three possible 60 Series Volvo vehicles, it is by far the least interesting. The V60 wins our hearts while the XC60 wins the majority of real buyers’ hearts.

The S60 is a wonderful car however with its spotty reliability record and current decent lease deals, it might be best to lease for no more than 48 months with as little money down as possible. Volvo resale values vary depending on the model and body style. The S60 sedan is generally not a coveted car on the second-hand market as might be a V60 or BMW 3 Series.

Volvo S60

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