Volvo is in the middle of a serious product offensive that has seen the Swedish company introduce a slew of new sedan, crossover and station wagon models over the last couple of years. Down at the bottom of the range is the company's oldest car, the S60 sedan, which wears a shape introduced in 2010 and updated in 2014.
Obviously, Volvo has been directing its attention elsewhere, though those recent additions to its lineup include the S60 Cross Country, which rides on a lifted suspension for added ground clearance. That car is covered in a separate buyer's guide entry.
There are no changes to the S60 for 2018, so this car carries forward a 2.0L, four-cylinder engine whose power output depends on the trim selected. In entry-level T5 form, it benefits from turbocharging to make 250 hp and 258 lb-ft of torque, while the T6 boasts supercharging as well (a combination of forced induction methods Volvo calls twin-charging) to make 302 hp and 295 lb-ft.
Performance nuts will like the Polestar upgrade, which takes the twin-charged motor and boosts it to 367 hp and 347 lb-ft, while adding a stiffer suspension, bigger brakes and other performance bits and pieces.
Notably, this will be the last year we'll see a Volvo Polestar model with a strictly combustion-based powertrain. Starting in 2019, all Polestar variants will be hybrids that derive their extra performance from electricity.
For the moment, the S60's all-gasoline powertrains are rated for fuel consumption estimates ranging from 10.8/7.8 L/100 km (city/highway) for the T5 to 11.8/8.5 in Polestar form.
Trim levels include T5, T5 Dynamic and T6 Dynamic.
Standard S60 features include heated front seats, low-speed collision avoidance system, 7.0-inch infotainment display, automatic climate control, passive keyless entry, power driver's seat with memory, power-folding rear headrests, rain-sensing wipers, backup camera and 17-inch wheels.
T5 Dynamic trim adds active xenon headlights with washers, 18-inch wheels, R-Design exterior styling cues, leather seats, sunroof, blind spot monitor with cross traffic alert, lane change merge aid and front and rear park assist. These additions carry over to the T6 Dynamic model.
While the S60 looks good despite its age, it is a small car and doesn't offer a lot of interior space. And while Volvo is known as a safety-obsessed car manufacturer, it doesn't include a particularly impressive array of active safety items here. In fact, you have to ante up for Dynamic trim in order to option your S60 with radar cruise control, and the car still doesn't come with as much safety kit as many less-expensive cars.
This vehicle has not yet been reviewed
