Used 2019 Volvo S60

Luxurious, sporty and packed with safety hardware, Volvo’s new S60 sedan is an enticing player in the midsize-luxury-sedan segment. It’s available with three powertrains: a turbocharged 2.0-liter inline-4 with 250 horsepower, a turbocharged and supercharged 2.0-liter with 316 horsepower, or a plug-in hybrid version that has a 313-horsepower engine supplemented by a rear electric motor with 87 horsepower.

This all-new Volvo — a 3rd-generation car built at a new factory in South Carolina — is about five inches longer than the previous S60, so it has a much roomier back seat. The 2019 Volvo S60 is available through traditional channels or via Care by Volvo, a premium flat-rate subscription service. S60 competitors are a varied lot that includes the Alfa Romeo Giulia, Audi A4, BMW 3 Series, Lexus IS and Mercedes-Benz C300.

We drove an S60 R-Design, an all-wheel-drive (AWD) version with a turbocharged and supercharged 2.0-liter inline-4 that sends 316 horsepower to all four wheels via an 8-speed automatic transmission.

First impressions: This car looks great, a handsome redesign that’s still immediately recognizable as an S60. Also, it’s a solid, quiet and roomy car, with plenty of headroom despite the huge panoramic sunroof. Back-seat room is equally impressive, with a 6-foot-tall person able to sit behind a driver of the same height. Moreover, the electric-assist power steering has a natural feel, and the well-controlled body motions help this midsize Volvo sedan remain composed on twisty pavement. In those situations, the sharpened throttle and transmission responses of the selectable Dynamic driving mode are appreciated.

The T6 engine makes great power with minimal turbo lag, and no torque steer is felt through the S60’s steering wheel during brisk acceleration. The 8-speed automatic, from Aisin-Warner, shifts smoothly and unobtrusively, and highway cruising in this new Volvo is both comfortable and relaxed.

Inside the new 2019 Volvo S60 the look is pure Scandinavian. Which is to say handsomely uncluttered. A large 9-inch Sensus screen plays a big role; swipe the vertically oriented screen one way and you’ll see 19 vehicle functions, everything from ESC Sport mode and Active Bending Lights to cruise control and Road Sign Information. Swipe it the other way and you’ll see 22 Applications that range from stereo settings and Bluetooth to Spotify and Pandora. While Sensus helps de-clutter the S60’s dash, it also forces the driver to look away from the road far too often. On a positive note, the Sensus chipset has been upgraded for faster boot times, quicker rearview camera responses, and improved navigation recalculations.

With its low hood and short rear deck, the 2019 Volvo S60 looks like a modern sedan shaped in the wind tunnel, but it’s a handsome design that’s still very much a Volvo. Notable details include attractive sculpting on the hood and sides of the car, along with T-shaped LED “Thor’s Hammer” front driving lights. In back, dual chromed exhausts are on duty beneath LED taillights that emphasize the width of the new S60. If there’s any doubt this car is a Volvo, a big badge in the middle of the diagonally bisected grille leaves no doubt. Also, in a neat trick, Volvo stylists have made it look as if the grille floats inside the S60’s front opening.

CARE BY VOLVO SUBSCRIPTION SERVICE
Two new S60 models are available via Care by Volvo, a 24-month cellphone-like plan in which an all-inclusive monthly payment takes care of everything from maintenance and insurance to 24/7 customer care. Subscribers can even change cars and sign up for a new 24-month subscription as early as 12 months into the agreement.

THE T8 HYBRID POWERTRAIN
When you order the T8 powertrain, you get a turbocharged and supercharged 2.0-liter gasoline engine with 313 horsepower, along with a rear-mounted electric motor that has 87 horsepower. That makes for an especially quick S60, a plug-in hybrid electric vehicle (PHEV) that’s as fast as it is efficient.

The S60 is available in three trim levels, each equipped with the Sensus Connect touch-screen interface. The Momentum, with the 250-horsepower engine, includes City Safety with Steering Support, a system that works to mitigate or prevent accidents at intersections and with pedestrians, cyclists and large animals. Also standard on the Momentum are a panoramic sunroof and 18-inch wheels.

The S60 Inscription, also with the 250-horsepower 2.0-liter, builds on that with bright chrome window trim and driftwood inlays, together with 4-zone climate control and power front seats that offer lumbar support and power-cushion extensions.

Moving up to the S60 R-Design, the front-drive version gets the 250-horsepower engine while the AWD model gets the T8 powertrain that features the supercharged and turbocharged 313-horsepower engine and the 87-horsepower electric rear motor. This S60 PHEV also boasts gloss-black window trim, mirror caps and grille, as well as Nappa leather sport seats, an R-Design steering wheel wrapped in perforated leather, and shift paddles.

The Advanced Package is most significant. At $2,500, it includes cornering headlights, high-pressure headlight washers, a head-up display, LED fog lights, a 360-degree parking camera and Pilot Assist, a semi-autonomous driving system that “supports the driver with steering, acceleration and braking on well-marked roads up to 80 mph.” There’s also a $2,050 Premium Package that includes automatic-dimming exterior mirrors, a compass in the rearview mirror, front and rear park assist, a blind-spot warning system, rear cross-traffic alert, retractable side mirrors and a hands-free trunk lid.

Also worthy of consideration: the 2019 Volvo S60’s $2,500 Multimedia Package. Besides a 12.3-inch digital instrument cluster and a navigation system, it includes a 13-speaker Harman Kardon sound system with a subwoofer mounted behind the dash to free up valuable storage space. Enthusiast drivers may also consider the $200 Sport Chassis option, which enhances the S60’s cornering prowess with retuned shock absorbers and a 20-mm-lower ride height.

The T5 engine, available only in the front-wheel-drive (FWD) S60, is a turbocharged 2.0-liter 4-cylinder producing 250 horsepower. The T6 powertrain, available only in all-wheel-drive (AWD) S60s, features a turbocharged and supercharged 2.0-liter inline-4 with 316 horsepower. With both T5 and T6 powertrains, there are four standard Drive Mode settings: Comfort, Dynamic, Eco and Individual. The T8 powertrain is exclusively PHEV, blending a 313-horsepower version of the turbocharged and supercharged gasoline engine with an 87-horsepower electric motor mounted between the rear wheels. T8 Drive Modes include Pure, Power, Hybrid, All-Wheel Drive and Individual, the last allowing the driver to select multiple settings. In Pure mode, the T8 reaches freeway speeds with ease and has an all-electric range of 21 miles, but if you press too hard on the accelerator, the gasoline engine will kick on. Of note, the 2019 T8’s lithium-ion battery is located in the center spine of the S60’s chassis.

T5
2.0-liter turbocharged inline-4
250 horsepower @ 5,500 rpm
258 lb-ft of torque @ 1,500 rpm
EPA city/highway fuel economy: 24/36 mpg

T6
2.0-liter turbocharged and supercharged inline-4
316 horsepower @ 5,700 rpm
295 lb-ft of torque @ 2,200 rpm
EPA city/highway fuel economy: 21/32 mpg

T8
2.0-liter turbocharged and supercharged inline-4, 10.4-kilowatt electric motor
313 horsepower @ 5,700 rpm, 87 horsepower (Combined: 400)
295 lb-ft of torque @ 2,200 rpm, 177 lb-ft (Combined: 472)
EPA city/highway fuel economy: 31 mpg (combined city/highway mpg)