Having established a presence in three SUV/crossover segments with the XC90, XC60 and XC40, Volvo is turning its attention to the compact sedan segment to bring serious fight to heavyweights like the BMW 3 Series, Audi A4 and Mercedes-Benz C-Class.
This car's adoption of the styling cues introduced on the XC90 mid-size crossover means this Swedish brand's full model range now looks like a family. From the "Thor's Hammer" headlights to the tail end, the S60 resembles a scaled-down version of the S90 full-size sedan.
The familiarity extends to what's under the S60's hood: T5 and T6 trims share a 2.0L four-cylinder engine. It's turbocharged to 250 hp and 258 lb-ft of torque in the T5 and while the T6 adds a supercharger to the mix for 316 hp and 295 lb-ft.
All S60 models use an eight-speed automatic transmission; T5 is a front-driver, while the T6 gets standard AWD.
This is a car that should propel Volvo closer to the mainstream of the luxury sedan segment; the outgoing S60 was a nice car but wore a design that, even at its introduction in 2010, was criticized for a tight interior.
Set to join the S60 range later in the 2019 model year is a plug-in hybrid (PHEV) T8 trim that will combine the turbo- and supercharged engine with an electric motor for upwards of 400 hp. That car will give Volvo a car to line up against extreme sport sedans like the BMW M3 and Audi S4 and RS5.
Like other Volvo models, the S60 uses the brand's Sensus Connect infotainment system, which puts most of the car's secondary controls in a large, central touchscreen. To address complaints about the need to scroll through screens and menus to do simple things like adjusting climate control settings, Volvo says it has increased the system's processing speeds by up to 50 per cent.
S60 T5 Momentum trim comes standard with automatic engine start/stop, rain-sensing wipers, dual-zone automatic climate control, 8.0-inch LCD instrument cluster display, electric front seat adjustments with power lumbar, heated front seats, auto-dimming rearview mirror, LED headlights, Apple and Android smartphone integration, 17-inch wheels and power-folding rear headrests.
Safety kit includes front collision mitigation support, lane keeping aid and park assist.
T6 Momentum trim sticks with a similar list of features, but trades the entry engine for the more potent version.
T6 R-Design gets a number of styling tweaks, 18-inch wheels, adaptive LED headlights, hands-free trunk opening, four-zone climate control, panoramic sunroof, full-digital gauge cluster, sport seats, four-way lumbar adjustments and navigation.
Finally, T6 Inscription trim adds comfort front seats with ventilation, driftwood interior trim, stitched instrument panel and trim-specific 18-inch wheels.
Volvo's fuel consumption estimates for the S60 are 9.9/6.6 L/100 km (city/highway) for the T5 FWD powertrain and 11.1/7.3 for T6 AWD versions.
