The Volvo S60 is a premium sports sedan that shares a class with the BMW 3 Series, Mercedes-Benz C-Class and Audi A4. The Swedish model entered the market in 2018, but only reached Russia in September 2019.
In appearance, the Volvo S60 is very close to its older brother Volvo S90: the same elongated hood with a predatory branded radiator grille, concave inward, and LED headlights, with running lights in the form of Thor’s hammer. The rear of the S60 also intersects with the older model in details, there are the same large lights passing over to the trunk, the sweeping manufacturer’s name, but at the same time a slightly elongated edge of the upper part of the trunk and a place for the number plate raised upwards, which make the stern of the younger model even more interesting. In general, due to the reduced size and a more squat silhouette, the S60 looks more attractive than the S90, it is faster and more sporty, which, of course, should appeal to young people, who are the target audience of the sedan. For the exterior design, in my opinion, the new S60 can be given a solid top five, it turned out to be harmonious and recognizable, and most importantly, the exterior fully corresponds to the positioning of the model as a sports sedan.
But the interior in the S60 is typical for the latest cars of the automaker, and it is interesting that the designers transferred it not from the older brother S90, but from the XC60 crossover, really one to one. I like the interior design of the latest models of the Swedish manufacturer, so I won’t even try to find fault with the little things, but if you didn’t like it from the very beginning, then in the S60 you will not find anything that would make you reconsider your opinion. The only difference between the sedan lies in the seating position, it is low, by analogy with the BMW 3 Series, and indeed with other sports sedans, but despite the modified seating position, the ergonomics in the S60 did not suffer.
Volvo XC60
You get comfortable behind the wheel of the Volvo S60, there are enough adjustments with a margin even for tall drivers. The branded seats are rigid with the correct profile and developed lateral support, you don’t get tired in them even on long trips, although they are not as sporty as in BMW. In the test car, the seats were with a full package of electric adjustments and memory of positions for the driver and front passenger.
With a height of 187 cm, I sit down by myself, not to say that I am just like a king, but I make myself quite comfortable, there is a little more space here than in a BMW three-ruble note. You can also sit a child in a chair behind a tall driver without any problems, and he will not even rest his feet on the back of the front seat, but even if he touches it, it’s not scary, since there is a plastic pad that is easy to clean. The Isofix mounts are open, so the child seat is easy to install.
The trunk in the Volvo S60 has a regular shape with a volume of 392 liters, it is inferior in this parameter to the BMW G20, which has a useful volume of 480 liters. Plus, in our S60 configuration, the rear seat backs were fixed, there was only a hatch for long items, for example, skis. In addition, an electric boot lid cannot be ordered in the S60, although the spring-loaded hinges open it, but you must always close it with your hands. The only thing is that you have access to the button to close the car completely, and after you slam the cover, the car will close.
As befits a premium sedan, a fairly extensive range of options is available for ordering, and this applies not only to equipment, but also to finishing. So, for the junior sedan, it is possible to order the front panel trim in leather, the front seats can be massage and ventilation functions, in our case there was only three-level heating, a panoramic sunroof, as well as four-zone climate control, are available to order. In general, the sedan can be screwed up to the fullest, there would be a desire and opportunity, although if you set everything to the maximum, the price of the S60 may become higher than that of the S90, and then there is reason to think about the choice. In terms of the quality of materials and workmanship, the S60 does not differ from other Volvo, everything here is done at a high level, fully consistent with a premium car.
The S60 is equipped with a Sensus media system with a 9 ”vertical touchscreen. The display is not bad in quality, responsive, but the screen resolution would have been higher. True, in the current generation Volvo will not change anything, Sensus is being replaced by a new system based on the Android OS from Google, it has already been shown along with the premiere of the Volvo XC40 Recharge electric crossover. The new system will retain the familiar design, but otherwise it will be completely different.
Volvo XC40
The current solution is quite clear and logical, with three screens. The first one contains quick settings for the car in the form of icons, the second, which is also the main one, provides access to basic data such as navigation and the player in the form of horizontal tabs that can be expanded, and the third screen contains additional data. All basic settings are hidden in the shutter, similar to Android smartphones. In general, for those who are familiar with modern smartphones, Sensus will be immediately clear, the same gestures work here, and the logic of the menu is similar to mobile devices. In terms of speed, the system is not reactive, but on the whole it is quite acceptable, and the manufacturer hid some thoughtfulness with animation.
The user can install additional applications to the system from the set suggested by the manufacturer. The list includes weather, local Google search, which is integrated into the standard navigation, and, for example, the TuneIn program. All applications, as well as standard navigation maps can be updated online, and media system updates are also available online. As an option, there is access to remote control of the car from a smartphone via the Volvo On Call app, which is available for both Android and iOS. This program allows you not only to view statistics, but also to open or close the car, carry out a remote start, see the location of the car on maps in real time, and also give access to the car to relatives or friends (hello, Apple Car Key). The app has recently been updated to provide hybrid owners with information on how far they have traveled in pure electric mode, energy and fuel consumption.
What I don’t really like about Sensus is that the manufacturer has brought in there all the settings related to climate control. Yes, all data is always available at the bottom of the screen, and it is easy to reach them, but still this is not the most convenient solution, classic buttons and knobs would be much more convenient. On the other hand, the climate can be controlled with the help of a voice assistant, even the phrase “I’m cold / hot” is enough, and the system will immediately react. But most users, despite the proposed innovations, will always poke at the screen, and there is also not only temperature control, but also the inclusion of three-level seat heating and ventilation (if any), and even the inclusion of heating the steering wheel. For the last points, of course, I would very much like to see physical keys, since using them on the go on the touch screen is still a pleasure.
The test car did not have wireless charging, but it is available to order as an option for 19 rubles. We only had two USB-A’s in the armrest in our car, which is not very convenient. Modern devices are not charged quickly from the vehicle’s on-board network, but also not very slowly. One device can be connected to the system via Bluetooth; simultaneous operation of several devices is not supported. The speakerphone works perfectly, the interlocutors always hear you well thanks to the two directional microphones in the upper part of the cabin.
Our car had a pre-installed navigation that can handle traffic jams, just connect the car to an access point via Wi-Fi. The maps in the system are up-to-date, the company says that they are updated once a quarter, and the system builds the optimal route. The only thing is that for some reason navigation does not give the exact arrival time taking into account traffic jams, it is always calculated without them, and the visual design of the maps is not the most beautiful. Navigation tips are displayed on the virtual dashboard, and in the settings, you can turn on the constant display of the map between devices. If you do not have a navigation option in the car, then simple maps based on HERE will still be available (standard navigation is also built on them), but with access only when connected to the Internet, with very simple construction along the route and without the possibility of normal scaling. And also the car has support for Android Auto and Apple CarPlay (an option that was not available with us), the latter without the possibility of a wireless connection.
There was a complete set of electronic driver assistants in our test car. I would like to note an excellent picture from all-round cameras, which makes parking even in the most difficult places much easier, and a blind spot monitoring system with visual indication in the mirrors, although large S60 mirrors, set on legs, allow you to orient yourself well without it. And also a warning system when driving in reverse, which avoids collisions with perpendicular traffic. And, of course, it is worth noting the Pilot Assist system, which allows the car to move almost autonomously, no matter in a traffic jam or on the highway. The system is one of the best on the market, it reacts well to the situation, smoothly slowing down and accelerating the car, but at the same time always keeping in the stream. All control rests on the glossy buttons on the steering wheel, they look flat, but thanks to their large size, they are easy to operate even blindly. The assistant allows you to release the steering wheel for 10 seconds, but then asks you to put your hands back on the steering wheel. What Pilot Assist does not cope with is with right turns at speed, it is at these moments that the system takes the car to the markings, itself notifies you of its violation by vibration on the steering wheel and then abruptly goes back into the lane. It seems that the markings are clearly visible, and it is light on the street, but this maneuver is not given to the car, and the car always goes straight to the left turn. On the other hand, Pilot Assist is not a full-fledged autopilot, so the driver should always be ready at all times, and the assistant simply makes driving easier and avoids trouble if you are a little distracted.
All tips for Pilot Assist operation are displayed on a 12.3 ”virtual instrument panel, where you can select a display theme from four available options. It also displays tips on road restrictions, which are transmitted from a camera on the windshield that reads road signs. There will also be information about calls, as well as about a musical composition, and even with album covers. As an option, for 103 rubles, you can retrofit the car with a good head-up display, which displays almost all the same information as on the dashboard. Yes, there are no particular questions about the virtual dashboard, but it’s time to increase the display resolution.
In terms of comfort, the sedan is quite good, the suspension works well for minor irregularities, although it is better to slow down in front of the speed bumps so as not to shake. The cabin is quite quiet, and only annoying is the noise of tires, which is well audible on most of our roads, the exceptions are only some highways with a new surface, where the sound from the wheels is almost inaudible. The issue with noise may well be solved by changing the rubber, otherwise there are no questions about the S60.
In Russia, the new Volvo S60 is available only with two gasoline engines, a diesel engine, alas, no. The motors offered to buyers are T4 with 190 hp. which comes in conjunction with only front-wheel drive and allows the car to accelerate to 100 km / h in 7.2 seconds, and the 5 hp T249, which already comes with all-wheel drive and is able to accelerate the car to 6.4 km / h in XNUMX seconds. The transmission in both cases is an automatic eight-speed.
We had an older engine on our test and expectations were high. But here, of course, the Volvo S60 disappointed me a little, with a rather interesting sports appearance, the car turned out to be never a driver, all settings were transferred from other Volvo models, and as a result, the sports sedan feels like an older S90, very smooth and imposing. That is, the control is precise, but it lacks sharpness, like a BMW three-ruble note, there is a power reserve, but the car is tuned for smooth and even movement, so in order to “drive”, you have to press the accelerator to the floor, which becomes uninteresting after a couple starts. The S60, of course, lacks the spark so that you can ride with enthusiasm, and then you immediately think, why then such a sports sedan, really just for the sake of appearance. In the same BMW 3 Series, I slightly lowered the gas pedal – and you already feel like on a race track, but in Volvo you just don’t want to do this, there is no excitement, there is no thrill and emotion, everything is smooth, calm and safe. In fact, the Volvo S60 is intended for those who want to get a sedan with a catchy sporty appearance, but so that it is not a driver’s one, but calm, transparent in handling and reliable.
The fuel consumption of a car with a T5 engine is about 8.5 liters per 100 km on the highway, and in the city from 10 liters and more, this is with the declared 7.3 liters per hundred in mixed driving mode.
The price of the new Volvo S60 in our market starts at 2 rubles, they ask a little more for the BMW 530 Series G000, however, in the latter case, the motor will be less powerful, and the equipment is a little simpler.
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