Volvo Cars, which was founded in 1927, was a unique automobile manufacturer from the start.
Volvo was established on one fundamental pillar that remains a very crucial factor when looking for a car today: safety.
No one else had tried it before. Many current automotive safety features were developed by Volvo, including the side-impact prevention system, inflatable curtain, and, most notably, the three-point seatbelt.
Volvo was a rather ordinary automaker throughout the 1980s and 1990s. They were well known for their boxy station wagons, which were virtually indestructible and included diesel engines that could run on vegetable oil.
After buying Volvo in 1999, Ford felt that the Swedish automaker needed to reassess its model strategy and make a gradual move upmarket.
The original S60 competed against the BMW 3 Series and the Audi A4. Volvo is now owned by the Chinese automaker Geely, and the S60 is in its third generation.
There are a number of compelling reasons to consider one.
A Brief History of Volvo S60
The Volvo S60 is a compact premium vehicle that debuted in its third generation in 2018.
The BMW 3 Series, Audi A4, Mercedes-Benz C-Class, and Lexus IS are all competitors.
It was and continues to be, a more out-of-the-box option for people seeking something more fascinating and unique, or for those who plain dislike German fare.
The exterior appearance of the S60 is one of its outstanding features. It’s simple, beautiful, and clean.
The distinctive Thor’s hammer LED headlamps, as well as some very aggressive lower air vents, dominate the front.
The side profile is straightforward, but in a good way, while the back boasts Volvo’s trademark taillights.
It’s worth noting that the third-generation S60 is the first Volvo to be assembled entirely in the United States.
The inscription, R-Design, and Polestar Engineered are the three trim levels available.
S60 Performance
Volvo has changed dramatically over the last 15 years, so don’t expect any five-cylinder engine antics in the new S60. Only the Recharge T8 will be available after 2021. This is a bit of a challenge.
The T8 is powered by a turbocharged and supercharged 2.0-liter four-cylinder engine. That sounds complicated enough, but it’s also a plug-in hybrid, with an 11.6 kWh battery pack and an electric-only range of roughly 22 miles.
This engine produces 400 horsepower and 472 pound-feet of torque, with a 0-60 time of 4.3 seconds.
Meanwhile, like all Volvo vehicles, the top speed is limited to 112 mph. The T8 is exclusively available in AWD, with power delivered to the wheels via an 8-speed automatic transmission.
The R-Design trim level adds more athletic exterior and interior flair, while the Polestar Engineered dramatically ups the ante. Polestar badging, gold brake calipers, Ohlins dampers, forged wheels, and altered chassis tuning are included in the PE.
It also gets gold seatbelts and a minor power bump, culminating in 415 horsepower and a two-tenths-second reduction in the 0-60 time, resulting in 4.1 seconds.
Sexy, Sleek Exterior and Interior Promotes Luxury For The S60
The S60 is exactly what you’d expect from a modern Volvo on the inside. The design is basic, clean, and well-made, and it houses what is perhaps the best infotainment system on the market right now.
The mechanical shift lever is replaced with a low-profile electronic one in all 2021 and 2022 S60 models with the Recharge powertrain, as seen in the Polestar 1 and the XC40 Recharge.
Also totally digital is the gauge cluster. Even in base form, the S60 is well-equipped, but there are a variety of extras and packages available.
A Harman Kardon premium sound system, Sensus Navigation, a 360-degree video system, and many other features are included.
As expected, the S60 prioritizes safety. Volvo’s renowned Pilot Assist with adaptive cruise control and a park assist technology is included in the raft.
All of this contributes to the S60’s designation as an IIHS Top Safety Pick for 2021. The S60 seats five people and has a trunk size of 11.6 cubic feet.
Although this isn’t a large sum, the aperture makes it easier to fit oddly shaped goods into the trunk.
S60’s Pricing
The Polestar Engineered version of the 2022 S60 starts at $66,095 for the R-Design trim level, $51,695 for the Inscription, and $48,695 for the R-Design trim level.
The S60, like all other Volvo cars, is also available through Volvo’s unique subscription service.
The MSRP includes planned maintenance for three years or 36,000 miles, whichever comes first.
The Volvo On Call app, which provides 24/7 help, as well as integration through the Volvo Cars smartphone app, which allows you access to different car functions, are both free of charge.
The S60 is a highly comfortable, good-looking, and capable compact luxury vehicle, while not prioritizing driving dynamics or particularly crisp appearance.
This should be on your shortlist if you’re tired of German goods and want something with a Scandinavian flair and a focus on comfort and simple elegance.