Volvo C60 2020 review

The Volvo S60 may not be the first luxury sedan that comes to people's minds when they want to get into a new car... wait, wait - maybe it wasn't. Now will be.

That's because it's a 60 Volvo S2020 model that's completely new from the ground up. It's striking to look at, slim on the inside, reasonably priced and packaged.

So what's not to like? To be honest, the list is short. Read on to find out more.

Volvo S60 2020: T5 R-design
Safety Rating
engine's type	2.0 L turbo
fuel type	Premium unleaded gasoline
Fuel efficiency	7.3l / 100km
Landing	5 Places
Price from	$47,300

Is there anything interesting about its design? 9/10

It may be slim and Swedish, but it's also a sexy looking sedan. The R-Design model is especially attractive as it has a beefy body kit and large 19-inch wheels.

The R-Design model is especially attractive as it has a beefy body kit and large 19-inch wheels.

All models have LED lighting across the range, and the "Thor's Hammer" theme that Volvo has been following for the past few years works here too.

All models have LED lighting throughout the range.

At the back, there's a really neat rear end, with a look that you might confuse with the larger S90... other than the badge, of course. This is one of the most beautiful cars in its segment, and it largely comes down to the fact that it looks more resolute and luxurious than its competitors.

Rear is very neat.

It fits its size well – the new model is 4761mm long with a 2872mm wheelbase, 1431mm high and 1850mm wide. This means it is 133mm longer (96mm between the wheels), 53mm lower but 15mm narrower than the outgoing model, and is built on a new scalable product architecture that is the same foundation as the flagship XC90, and the entry-level XC40. .

The new model has a length of 4761 mm, a wheelbase of 2872 mm, a height of 1431 mm and a width of 1850 mm.

The interior design is what you'd expect if you've seen any new Volvo in the last three or four years. Take a look at the photos of the interiors below.

How practical is the interior space? 8/10

Volvo's current design language is shared between the XC40 and XC90 models, and the 60-series lineup has also received the same premium styling.

The cabin is beautiful to look at and all the materials used are beautiful, from the leather on the steering wheel and seats to the wood and metal pieces used on the dashboard and center console. I still love the knurled finish on the engine starter and controls, even a few years after the look's debut.

The salon is beautiful to look at and all the materials used are beautiful.

The media screen is familiar too - a 9.0-inch, vertical, tablet-style display - and it takes a bit of learning to figure out how the menus work (you have to swipe from side to side to open detailed side menus, and there's a home page). button at the bottom, like a real tablet). I find it quite usable, but I do think the fact that the ventilation controls - A/C, fan speed, temperature, air direction, heated/cooled seats, heated steering wheel - are all through the screen is a little annoying. I'm guessing a small savings is that the anti-fog buttons are just buttons.

The media screen is also familiar - a 9.0-inch vertical tablet-style display.

There's also a volume knob with a play/pause trigger, which is great. There are also controls on the steering wheel.

Cabin storage is fine, with a closed center compartment, bottle holders in all four doors, and a rear fold-down armrest with cupholders.

Interior storage is fine, with cupholders between the seats, a covered center box, bottle holders in all four doors, and a rear fold-down armrest with cupholders. Now, if you are reading this review, you must love sedans. That's cool, I won't hold it against you, but the V60 wagon is clearly the more practical choice. Regardless, the S60 has a 442-litre trunk and you can fold down the rear seats to get extra space if you need it. The opening is a decent size, but there's a slight bulge on the top edge of the trunk that can limit the size of things that will fit when you slide them in - like our bulky stroller.

The boot capacity of the S60 is 442 liters.

And keep in mind that if you opt for the T8 hybrid, the boot size will be slightly worse due to the battery pack – 390 liters.

Does it represent good value for money? What functions does it have? 9/10

The S60 sedan line is attractively priced, with entry-level options falling short of some big-name competitors. 

The starting point is the S60 T5 Momentum, which is priced at $54,990 plus road expenses. It has 17-inch alloy wheels, LED headlights and taillights, a 9.0-inch multimedia touchscreen with Apple CarPlay and Android Auto support, as well as DAB+ digital radio, keyless entry, auto-dimming rearview mirror, auto-dimming and automatic wing folding. mirrors, dual-zone climate control and leather-trimmed seats and steering wheel. 

The next model in the lineup is the T5 Inscription which is priced at $60,990. It adds a host of extras: 19-inch alloy wheels, directional LED headlights, four-zone climate control, a head-up display, a 360-degree parking camera, park assist, wood trim, ambient lighting, heating. front seats with cushion extensions and a 230 volt outlet in the rear console.

Upgrading to the T5 R-Design gives you more grunts (info in the engine section below), and there are two options available - the T5 petrol ($64,990) or the T8 plug-in hybrid ($85,990).

Upgrading to the T5 R-Design, you get 19-inch alloy wheels with a unique look, sporty exterior and interior design.

Optional equipment for R-Design variants includes "Polestar optimization" (custom suspension tuning from Volvo Performance division), 19" alloy wheels with a unique look, Sporty exterior and interior design package with R-Design sport leather seats, paddle shifters . on the steering wheel and metal mesh in the interior trim.

Several packages are available, including the Lifestyle Package (with panoramic sunroof, rear window blind and 14-speaker Harman Kardon stereo), Premium package (panoramic sunroof, rear blind and 15-speaker Bowers and Wilkins stereo), and Luxury R-Design package (nappa leather trim, light headlining, power adjustable side bolsters, massage front seats, heated rear seat, heated steering wheel).

What are the main characteristics of the engine and transmission? 8/10

All Volvo S60 models use petrol as part of their method of propulsion - there is no diesel version this time around - but there are a few details regarding the petrol engines used in this range.

The T5 engine is a 2.0-liter turbocharged four-cylinder engine. But here two states of the melody are proposed. 

Momentum and Inscription get lower trim levels - with 187kW (at 5500rpm) and 350Nm (1800-4800rpm) of torque - and use an eight-speed automatic transmission with permanent all-wheel drive (AWD). The claimed acceleration time of this transmission to 0 km / h is 100 seconds.

The R-Design model uses a more powerful version of the T5 engine, with 192kW (at 5700rpm) and 400Nm of torque (1800-4800rpm).

The R-Design model uses a more powerful version of the T5 engine, with 192kW (at 5700rpm) and 400Nm of torque (1800-4800rpm). All the same eight-speed automatic, all the same all-wheel drive and a little faster - 0-100 km / h in 6.3 s. 

At the top of the range is the T8 plug-in hybrid powertrain, which also uses a 2.0-litre turbocharged four-cylinder engine (246kW/430Nm) and pairs it with a 65kW/240Nm electric motor. The combined output of this hybrid powertrain is a phenomenal 311kW and 680Nm, making it even more plausible to reach 0 km/h in 100 seconds. 

As for fuel consumption...

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How much fuel does it consume?  

The official combined fuel consumption of the S60 varies by transmission.

The T5 models - Momentum, Inscription and R-Design - use a claimed 7.3 liters per 100 kilometers, which at first glance seems a little high for a car in this segment.

But there's another plus in the T8 R-Design that uses a claimed 2.0L/100km - now that's because it has an electric motor that can let you go up to 50 miles without gas.

What is it like to drive? 8/10

The Volvo S60 is a really good car to drive. 

This may seem a little short in terms of descriptive wording, but "really nice" sums it up very well. 

The Volvo S60 is a really good car to drive.

We mostly spent our time in the sporty T5 R-Design, which is impressively fast when you put it in Polestar mode but never leaves you feeling like you're on a broken edge. During normal driving with the Normal mode on, the engine response is more measured, but still peppy. 

You can feel the difference between the R-Design version with the T5 engine and the non-R-Design models that have a 5kW/50Nm deficit. These models offer more than enough grunt and you may find that you don't really need the extra punch.

The R-Design engine is smooth and free-revving, and the transmission is also smart, shifting almost imperceptibly and never making a mistake when choosing a gear. The S60's all-wheel drive system makes for effortless movement and great traction, while 19-inch R-Design wheels with Continental tires provide excellent traction. 

The steering isn't as exciting as some of the other mid-size luxury models - it's not exactly a point-and-shoot weapon like the BMW 3 Series - but the steering wheel turns easily at low speeds. offers decent response at higher speeds, though it's not overly appealing if you're a keen driver.

And the ride is mostly quite comfortable, although sharp edges at low speeds can upset - it's 19-inch wheels. The T5 R-Design we drove has Volvo's Four-C (four-corner) adaptive suspension, and in normal mode stiffness was slightly less in uneven sections of road, while Polestar mode made things a bit more aggressive. The remaining models of this line have a non-adaptive suspension. The S60 T8 R-Design we drove at launch was a little less comfortable, a little easier to get upset over bumpy sections of road - it's considerably heavier, and it also lacks adaptive suspension.

Suspension stability through corners is impressive, with very little body roll in faster corners, but just remember that the Momentum with 17-inch wheels might be a better choice if you often ride rough, varied roads.

Warranty and safety rating

Basic Warranty

5 years / unlimited mileage


guarantee

ANCAP Safety Rating

What safety equipment is installed? What is the safety rating? 9/10

Volvo is synonymous with safety, so it's no surprise that the S60 (and V60) received the maximum five stars in Euro NCAP crash tests when tested in 2018. evaluation is a given.

Standard safety equipment on all S60 models includes automatic emergency braking (AEB) with pedestrian and cyclist detection, rear AEB, lane keeping assist with lane departure warning, steering assisted blind spot monitoring, cross traffic alert rear, adaptive cruise control, and a reversing camera with front and rear parking sensors (plus 360-degree surround view as standard on all trims except the Momentum).

Standard safety equipment on all S60 models includes a reversing camera with front and rear parking sensors.

There are six airbags (dual front, front side, full-length curtain), as well as dual ISOFIX child seat attachment points and three top-tether restraints.

How much does it cost to own? What kind of guarantee is provided? 7/10

Volvo covers its models with the equivalent of the "standard" level of coverage in the luxury segment - three years/unlimited mileage. It will also maintain its vehicles with the same roadside assistance coverage for the duration of the new vehicle warranty. It doesn't advance the game.

Service is done every 12 months or 15,000 km, and customers can now purchase a three-year/45,000 km comprehensive service plan for approximately $1600, significantly more affordable than previous service plans. Volvo made this change based on customer and reviewer feedback (and because other brands in the market offered more aggressive plans), so it's a plus.

Verdict

The new generation Volvo S60 is a very pleasant car. This is in line with the brand's recent form, offering impressive, luxurious and comfortable models that also offer extensive equipment and a high level of safety. 

It's somewhat hampered by an ownership plan that can't match its value rivals, but buyers may feel like they're getting more cars for their initial money anyway.