2019 Volvo S60 Review

The S60's twincharged 2.0-liter, which features both a super- and turbocharger, is responsive and saucy. Its flexible powerband could easily be mistaken for a larger V6 engine. In our testing, it propelled the S60 to 60 mph in just 5.5 seconds, which more than satisfies expectations for the class.

The brakes have good mannerisms — they are easy to modulate smoothly in everyday commuting, yet they exhibit powerful stopping capability, especially when the S60's equipped with the optional 19-inch summer tires. Our S60 tester stopped in an impressive 105 feet from 60 mph. Its brake pads also returned a bit of squeal when cold, but we're assuming this isn't the norm.

The steering is perfectly befitting the character of the S60. It's direct, it provides good on-center feel, and it even delivers some road feedback when you're powering around turns. The amount of effort feels spot-on and varies depending on the drive mode you're in. This sport-luxury steering is solidly tuned.

The all-wheel-drive S60 feels sure-footed in every condition. The grippy tires play a part in providing exceptional cornering speed, but body roll is also very well-controlled. (Note that our test vehicle had the optional sport suspension.) It's not as playful as some rear-wheel-drive sport sedans such as the Genesis G70, but it allows you to move at a good clip without much effort.

The S60 benefits from a smooth-shifting eight-speed transmission that also delivers a quick response. It never trips over itself and works harmoniously to deliver all the juicy low-end torque produced by the engine nearly instantaneously. This engine and transmission combination is definitely one of the best in the class.

The front seat cushions have a good balance of firmness and compliance and also provide nice lateral support at the thighs and back. The combination of cloth and leather upholstery lends style and breathability. The backseat cushions are a little flatter and less supportive, but there's plenty of padding on every cabin armrest.

The optional sport suspension, which is non-adjustable, lends good handling dynamics but also skews a little firm for a luxury sedan. Bumps and cracks can make the cabin feel busy with movement, but overall the ride is not too harsh. Volvo's adaptive Four-C suspension is only available on the top Inscription trim.

Cabin noise is mostly dependent on the road surface you're on. Rougher and more textured pavement creates low-frequency rumble that's ever present, while smoother surfaces return virtually no road noise. Wind noise is nicely isolated in nearly all situations. The only other factor is the engine, which sometimes whines and whooshes unbefitting the character of a luxury sedan.

The four-zone climate system is effective but entirely touchscreen-dependent. The menu is clear and easy to use but always requires a touch to cue up. Waiting for the screen to boot to access climate controls can be painfully inconvenient, though the system can remember settings and also has cabin preconditioning. Rear passengers have their own controls and seat heaters.

Volvo's minimalist interior design means many functions are touchscreen-controlled, which detracts from the quick access and convenience provided by hard buttons. Almost everything takes two button presses when one would normally do, and that becomes a hassle when on the move. The infotainment also takes a moment to fire up when the engine is keyed, but otherwise it's fairly easy to operate for those used to touchscreen interfaces.

The front seats pose no issues in getting in and out, with good head clearance and knee clearance for the driver with regards to the steering wheel. Access to the back seat is also pretty decent, although the slightly sloping roof and rear wheel arch may require some shimmying through in tight parking spots.

There are ample driver-seat adjustments, including a lower thigh extender and comprehensive lumbar settings that make it easy to find a comfortable position. The steering wheel tilts and telescopes a good amount and should accommodate a wide range of drivers. All important controls are within an arm's reach, too.

The driver and front passenger have a lot of adjustability, and the clean cabin design feels uncluttered. A 5-foot-9 passenger sitting behind a driver of the same height will have ample legroom but not as much headroom as some other compact luxury sedans. Taller individuals may need to slouch a bit to avoid brushing their hair on the headliner.

Visibility in this car is fantastic from the door-mounted mirrors to the rear headrests that fold with the touch of a button. Even the rear passenger windows have been pulled back to help minimize the rear three-quarter blind spot. The abundant driver aids include a 360-degree camera to help you see all the corners around you. We wish the front-facing camera would activate automatically when pulling into a stall.

Volvo's build quality feels quite good even if it doesn't exude the level of luxury of Mercedes or Audi. Materials at this level aren't quite as nice as the top Inscription trim, but the elegant design and tight panel tolerances help achieve a favorable and comfortable environment.

There are the typical storage solutions for small items, including a center armrest bin, modest door pockets and door grabs. There aren't many options for larger items such as purses or large water bottles, but they aren't as sparse as in some other luxury sedans.

The trunk is nice and wide but a little short. Either the load floor is high or the deck height is low, but overall volume is a couple of cubic feet smaller than in competitor luxury compacts. The hinges, however, are enclosed so there's no chance of crushing cargo in the back. Flip-down hangers help secure grocery bags, and the rear seatbacks fold forward to create a nearly flat load surface.

The lower LATCH anchors are easy to access under flip doors, and there's sufficient space in back for even rear-facing car seats. Access to the top tethers is aided by the easy-release headrests that fold down.

The optional Bowers & Wilkins sound system is pricey but excellent. Advanced audiophiles will find tons of adjustments, but with a number of presets, novices can easily tailor the sound to fit the music genre. The nav system offers various views with easy pinch-to-zoom gestures and is responsive to inputs with low lag time and modern graphics. Well done.

Apple CarPlay and Android Auto integration comes standard, but you can also use Volvo's native interface if you prefer. There are two USB ports in the armrest and a 12-volt plug up front but strangely no USBs for the rear passengers (only a 12-volt outlet). Volvo also doesn't offer wireless phone charging, which is becoming a norm for new cars, especially luxury types.

The optional Pilot Assist adaptive cruise control and standard lane keeping are well-sorted systems and will work down to a full stop. It doesn't operate as smooth as some competitor systems, but it's certainly above average considering the whole market. The surround cameras and parking sensors also provide nice assistance but could benefit from more thoughtful execution as to when the cameras turn on.

The voice controls have a little bit more functionality over usual navigation, radio and telephone commands. You can use it to program the climate control too, but we found the system often wasn't able to understand our commands correctly. It gets points for intent but none for execution. It's not quite natural language, but it's less rigid than the typical command structure.

The Momentum trim can be had with either the T5 or T6 powertrain. Standard features include 18-inch wheels, LED headlights, automatic high beams, a panoramic sunroof, automatic and heated wipers, keyless ignition, selectable drive modes, dual-zone automatic climate control, an 8-inch instrument panel display, simulated leather upholstery, heated four-way power-adjustable driver seats, driver-seat memory settings, split-folding rear seats with power-folding headrests, and an auto-dimming rearview mirror.

On the tech front, you also get a 9-inch vertically oriented touchscreen with Volvo's Sensus infotainment system, a rearview camera, Bluetooth phone and streaming audio, Apple CarPlay, Android Auto, two USB ports, and a 10-speaker audio system with satellite radio and an auxiliary audio jack. Advanced safety features include forward collision warning, full-speed automatic emergency braking, run-off road mitigation, lane keeping assist, a road sign reader, a drowsy driver warning system, and remote vehicle controls.

The sporty R-Design spices things up with unique exterior design elements, LED foglights, a sport steering wheel with shift paddles, premium leather and fabric upholstery, and the 10-way power front seats.

The Inscription builds on the Momentum features by adding the LED foglights, four-zone automatic climate control, wood interior trim, leather upholstery, 10-way power-adjustable front seats with four-way lumbar adjustment, and passenger-seat memory settings. This trim is also eligible for the Luxury Seating package that adds premium leather upholstery and ventilated front seats with power-adjustable side bolsters and massage functions.

All trims are eligible for the Premium package that adds a hands-free trunklid, front and rear parking sensors, auto-dimming mirrors, keyless entry, a universal garage door opener, a blind-spot and rear cross-traffic warning system with automatic braking, and an automated perpendicular and parallel parking system. Also available on those trims is the Multimedia package that includes a larger 12.3-inch virtual instrument panel, a navigation system, and a 13-speaker premium Harman Kardon audio system.

On top of the Premium package, the Advanced package adds adaptive headlights, automatic high beams, LED foglights, headlight washers, a head-up display, a surround-view camera, and Volvo's Pilot Assist semi-automated drive system with adaptive cruise control.

The T8 Polestar Engineered model is limited to 20 units in the United States via Volvo's monthly subscription service and they're already spoken for. It's almost fully loaded with the above features along with a higher-horsepower version of the T8's plug-in hybrid powertrain (415 hp, 495 lb-ft), 19-inch wheels, a sport-tuned suspension with Öhlins dampers, Brembo brakes and an Orrefors crystal shift knob.

Some features are available on supporting trims as options. Other add-ons for most trims include an adaptive air suspension, a Bowers & Wilkins premium audio system, a heated steering wheel and heated rear seats.