2020 Volvo S60

The S60 four-door sedan was redesigned for the 2019 model year. Now in its third generation, the S60 has a more confident stance thanks to some tweaks to its proportions. The front axle has been pushed forward, reducing overhang on the front end and the space between both axles, elongating the stance of the car. In front, the S60 now sports Volvo’s signature “Thor’s hammer” LED headlights, an equally distinct grille, and the Volvo badge front-and-center. Around back, the S60 updates the squared-off look from the previous generation. It’s still quite angular, but the execution is more elegant, and the back end slopes off less abruptly as the older version did.

Available in either front-wheel drive (T5) or all-wheel drive (T6), four trims—Momentum, R-Design, Inscription, and Polestar Engineered—and a choice of two turbo/supercharged gasoline engines and two hybrid powertrains, it’s easy to zero in on the right trim/powertrain option to suit your needs. All engines are mated to an eight-speed automatic transmission.

The Momentum is the entry-level trim, while the Inscription is the high-luxed version. The R-Design is billed as the “sportier” option of the standard lineup, but it won’t convert any thrill-seekers with its performance. That task falls to the Polestar-engineered S60 T8, which higher levels of performance in every metric including the price – it’s nearly $20k more the $45k ballpark MSRP of the R-Design.) Overall the R-Design tips the scale more toward comfort and confidence rather than dynamic handling, and you’ll quickly find the car resistant to any attempts to take it beyond its comfort zone. That said, the car has plenty of get-up-and-go when overtaking is needed on the highway, and windy roads can still be enjoyed, so long as you temper your expectations.

Inside, there is a focus on details and materials that would rival the high-end offerings on the market today. If there is a competition for the softest leather, Volvo could very well take home the crown. Metallic finishes feel heavy and solid to the touch, and even the smallest details have been given careful attention. Available wood inlay offerings like exposed driftwood give the interior a unique sensation to what we’ve come to take as the standard luxury.

The centerpiece of the S60’s interior is the 9-inch tablet-style touch screen. It functions more like a handheld device than a usual automobile infotainment interface, which has its pros and cons. On one hand, scrolling and swiping through pages of data feels very intuitive, but on the other hand, there are moments where it requires more attention than a driver can give while on the move.

What should comfort drivers and passengers alike is that the S60 is always looking out for its occupants. The standard safety list for the vehicle is too long to list here, but preventative measures go beyond lane-keep assist and pre-collision alerts. The Volvo has pedestrian and animal detection provided by a sensor pod behind the rearview mirror. It can look out and identify either and, depending on your speed, will come to an emergency stop if an accident looks imminent. As it happens, it does this with cars, too, and if it senses a vehicle halting abruptly ahead, it will go through a checklist of automatic functions to mitigate injury, not the least of which will be pre-tensioning seatbelts before automatically braking. 

The S60 also executes driver assists in a great way, thanks to its pilot assist cruise control system. The hands-on function puts a multitude of sensors to work and helps ease long highway trips with steering and speed adjustments.

Momentum T5 models—all of which are front-wheel-drive only—feature the base turbocharged engine rated for 250 horsepower and 258 pound-feet of torque. Moving to the T6 is a $4,500 upcharge in all trims, but includes all-wheel drive and a jump in engine output to 316 horsepower and 295 pound-feet of torque thanks to its turbocharged and supercharged version of the 2.0-liter. Just remember, all S60s require premium fuel as part of their strategy to extract maximum power and efficiency from a given engine. 

The Inscription trim brings a power tailgate, retractable rear-view mirrors, integrated exhaust tips, leather upholstery, Harmon Kardon audio, real wood interior trim inlays, four-zone climate control and more. The sporty R-Design is similar but offers a unique grille and wheel design, Nappa leather seating with sport bolsters and metal mesh inlays. The T8 hybrid all-wheel drive version commands a significant $8000 upcharge.  

It seems that most automakers have a good grasp of what it takes to make a solid luxury vehicle, but each has its own interpretation of the formula. For example, German automakers tend to make very sharp, serious cars while American luxury focuses on being large and comfortable. Despite being under the ownership of China-based Geely Holdings, who permits Volvo to operate with a great bit of autonomy, Volvo continues to blend both attributes while maintaining more than a touch of its inimitable Swedish ancestry and minimalistic style.