2016 Volvo S60 T5 AWD
One of the nicest combinations of luxury and performance in its segment
Just look at the S60 before you. Its lines are simple, clean and elegant. It’s sporty without question, but in a healthy, athletic way, devoid of the muscled up, testosterone induced ego on wheels sensationalism that some other automakers layer on thick in order to vie for attention. This is a car that exudes confidence, but in a quiet, purposeful way; swaggering strut not included.
Of course, open its substantive driver-side door, lower yourself into the S60’s handsome cabin, take grip of its thick leather-wrapped sport-shaped steering wheel and you’ll soon realize the S60 is endowed with considerable swagger of its own. It meets all premium level attributes, with fabric-wrapped roof pillars front to back, high-quality soft-touch synthetics used almost everywhere that satin-finish aluminum and supple leather are not, switchgear that’s superbly crafted throughout, the vertical grouping of buttons and rotating knobs flowing down its floating center stack some of the nicest in the segment, true eye candy for the high-end home audio crowd, while its electronic displays are totally up to date with full-color, crisp, clear resolution, and impressive functionality, the driver-configurable primary gauge cluster absolutely gorgeous and filled with useful features, albeit designed in the same effortlessly uncomplicated fashion as the rest of the car. Subtle details like a speedometer that only lights up its numerals as the needle approaches a given speed, a thoughtful way to minimize nighttime distraction, shows the lengths Volvo is willing to go in order to enhance the S60 ownership experience.
The seats are function and form epitomized, as if Eames and Saarinen collaborated in their inherently supportive shape, yet amply power-adjustable to provide for one’s personal backside idiosyncrasies. I’d be surprised if you couldn’t find a comfortable position, while the S60 feels airier and therefore roomier than most of its direct competitors. In actual fact it fits ideally within the luxury sector’s popular D-segment, making this Swedish alternative the perfect choice for those bored with the usual Germanic sameness around every other corner.
Opting for an S60 won’t leave you wishing for unobtainable features either, with much of the luxury industry’s latest kit included in the $38,300 T5 AWD Premier trimmed example I tested, the base S60 alternatively starting at $34,150 plus freight and dealer fees. My tester was optimized for the colder, wetter winters and longer nights of my area with a $1,550 Climate package featuring a heatable steering wheel, three-way heatable front seats, heated rear seats, a heated windshield, heatable windshield wiper nozzles, and an Interior Air Quality System (IAQS), while convenient access was aided via $525 Keyless Drive proximity-sensing access with pushbutton ignition. Additionally it featured a $1,500 Technology package with blind spot monitoring, rear cross-traffic alert, lane departure warning, lane change merge aid, collision warning, pedestrian and cyclist detection with full auto braking (Volvo is a leader in such technologies) plus yet more active safety features that, when equipped, earn the S60 a Top Safety Pick + rating from the IIHS, whereas all S60 trims benefit from the best possible full 5-star NHTSA crash test rating.
I should also mention some upgrades to my tester’s exterior, starting with $560 for Crystal White Pearl paint and $750 for 18-inch Skadi Silver Bright alloy wheels, whereas the stylish aluminum front lower bumper detailing and skid plate plus a similar treatment to the rear valance added $1,590 to the bill, albeit worth every penny, while the rear deck lid spoiler was a $495 improvement, these last two items from the accessories catalog. All of these extras pushed my test car’s price up to $45,270 before adding freight and fees.
Of course, the my car’s powertrain and electronically controlled AWD are optional too, the latter incorporating Instant Traction and torque vectoring Corner Traction Control, which means that power gets distributed as needed from side to side instead of just front to back, while advanced dynamic stability control with Sport mode makes sure that safety measures are met without diluting responsiveness, therefore making the most of this model’s upgraded Touring suspension.
Any S60 is wonderful to drive, a near perfect combination of compliant ride quality and entertaining handling. This is where it surprises, because it really feels comfortable around town, smoothing out inner-city pavement irregularities despite sizable 18-inch rims and rubber, and then when you let it loose on a curving backcountry two-laner it transforms into the most capable of sport sedans, the Touring suspension and torque vectoring AWD mentioned a moment ago providing fabulous grip.
It snaps like a whip off the line too, which is a bit of a shocker when factoring in a mere 2.5 liters of displacement under the hood. The S60 is available with more engine, transmission and driveline options than most rivals, this particular example infused with an inline five-cylinder that sports 20 valves and dual overhead cams plus a turbo and intercooler, which is collectively good enough for 250 horsepower and a considerable 266 lb-ft of torque from as little as 1,800 rpm, that when combined with a proven adaptive shift-enhanced six-speed automatic transmission feeding all four wheels results in the responsive acceleration just noted, or alternatively when focused on fuel-efficiency you can eke out a claimed 23 mpg combined city and highway. The best part is that I could drive this car all day without feeling drained of energy, its immediate reaction to input and overall comfort combining for a tirelessly invigorating experience overall.
All this along with the types of practicalities expected in a roomy four-door sedan plus a host of standard features not yet mentioned such as remote start, an electromechanical parking brake, an auto-dimming rearview mirror, rain-sensing wipers, dual-zone auto climate control, an easy-to-use and fully featured 7.0-inch Volvo Sensus infotainment display with a reverse camera and navigation featuring Mapcare, excellent stereo sound quality plus HD and satellite radio, full smartphone connectivity with audio streaming, Volvo ON Call (that lets you access your car from your smartphone) and Sensus Connect, memory for the powered seats and side mirrors, a powered moonroof, power foldable rear headrests to aid rearward visibility when no one’s in back, 60/40 split-folding rear seatbacks to expand the trunk’s capacity, a separate center pass-through for longer items like skis, and City Safety autonomous braking.
Despite this advanced active safety feature working away behind the scenes and all of the other safety, convenience and performance technologies mentioned earlier busily doing their respective jobs the S60 wasn’t actually designed for those who like being titillated with complexities. It’s more about simplifying processes so that you can enjoy the art of driving, whether that be a relaxed cruise kicking back to Purple Rain on your way back from the office or the unexpected challenge of a previously unknown back road taken at speed, this Volvo is ready when you are. The S60 delivers one of the best combinations of luxury, performance and value in its highly contested segment, and therefore deserves your full attention.
Story credits: Trevor Hofmann, American Auto Press Photo credits: Trevor Hofmann, American Auto Press Copyright: American Auto Press
