2016 Volvo S60 Inscription Road Test & Review

2016 Volvo S60 Inscription Right Front 3/4 ・ Photo by Lyndon Bell

If you’ve read anything about this car before now, one of the first things every writer mentions is the fact this is the first volume-produced car manufactured in China to be offered in the United States. Of course, it is also the first long wheelbase Volvo S60 offered in the United States.

Having been on sale in China for some time, the 2016 Volvo S60 Inscription is for all intents and purposes the very same S60 sedan we’ve admired here, with one critical difference—three additional inches of rear seat legroom. And while three inches doesn’t sound like much in this context, it is the difference between a useful back seat and a useless one. With those three inches, the 2016 Volvo S60 Inscription becomes a truly viable mid-size family luxury sedan (as well as an executive express—as it is in China).

One with graceful styling, exceptional poise, and of course, Volvo’s legendary safety quotient.

Now, should you be overly concerned the car was built in a factory in China? Well, take a look around you; pick up the first manufactured object your eye falls upon and read the “made in” label. Odds are very strong it too, was made in China.

So see? It’s cool; you’ll be all right.

Go ahead, read on.

Models & Pricing

Itself a subset of the 2016 Volvo S60 model range, the 2016 Volvo S60 Inscription is offered in two versions. The $38,700 T5 Inscription Drive-E FWD, and the $40,200 Inscription T5 AWD. As the nomenclature suggests, the Drive-E FWD uses a front-drive powertrain, while the T5 AWD employs all-wheel drive. Both versions are offered in base and Platinum trims.

Here, it should be noted; the “base” version of the S60 Inscription corresponds to the Premier version of the standard S60—with added extras. Thus, standard features include 18-inch alloy wheels, a sunroof, leather upholstery, navigation, front and rear proximity sensor arrays, incoming air filtration, interior accent lighting, a power rear sunshade, and additional sound deadening insulation. You’ll also find dual-zone automatic climate control, low-speed forward collision warning and mitigation, a seven-inch video display, Bluetooth telephony and audio streaming, voice activation of selected secondary functions, and Volvo’s Sensus smartphone applications.

Moving up to the 2016 Volvo S60 Inscription Platinum adds $3,000 to the price of each model. Its features include a 12-speaker Harman Kardon audio system, smart xenon headlights, keyless entry and ignition, smart cruise control, driver attention warning, and lane-keeping assist. Front-drive models get self-parking, while all-wheel drive models get lane departure warning.

Photo by Lyndon Bell

Design

The seductive qualities of the voluptuously undulating lines of the 2016 Volvo S60 are only enhanced by the slightly longer wheelbase of the S60 Inscription models. Easily one of the most attractive mid-size luxury sedans currently on offer, the 2016 Volvo S60 is quietly distinctive and classy while simultaneously evoking strength and security. If we had to characterize the look of the 2016 Volvo S60 Inscription in a single phrase, it’d be “quietly confident”.

Building upon the details introduced with the styling update of the model year 2014 S60, the 2016 version remains one of the sportiest, most expressive Volvo sedans ever offered. Touches such as the muscular contouring of the hood and the strongly prominent Volvo badge in the grille, impart a sense of security while also conveying beauty of design.

The S60’s LED daytime running lights add a highly technological touch to the look in front; while the integrated exhaust outlet surrounds at the rear lend an air of sophistication, while simultaneously suggesting exceptional performance potential.

Taken as a whole, the Volvo’s look is at once solid and graceful.

Photo by Lyndon Bell

Features and Controls

If you’ve been in a Volvo sedan lately, you’ll immediately take comfort in the familiarity of the 2016 Volvo S60 Inscription’s environment. It is one of the most ergonomically prudent driving environments on the road. The layout is outstanding in terms of its logic and intuitiveness.

As the top of the S60 line, the Inscription’s detailing is a cut above the already tasteful décor of the standard mid-size Volvo sedans. The materials choices applied to the 2016 S60 Inscription succinctly reflect its positioning within the Volvo brand. Genuine Walnut trim, silk metal detailing, specific interior accent lighting, and Inscription branded doorsill plates are among the features differentiating the model.

The center stack is canted slightly toward the driver to permit interaction with every control while maintaining the ideal seating position. In other words, everything is within arm’s length—allowing you to remain ideally seated for maintaining control of the car. Four round dials offer fine control over the systems requiring same, while the top right dial conducts functions for the seven-inch infotainment monitor just above the central HVAC vent. The keypad permits the direct entry of frequencies for the radio, and dialing the phone, while the pictogram directing the incoming air is as obvious as they come.

The new instrument panel offers reconfigurable readouts for ancillary information, while the content you need most is focused within the central round section. As driver-focused cockpits go, the 2016 Volvo S60 Inscription has one of the absolute best you’ll find offered by any contemporary automobile manufacturer.

The remarkable Volvo Sensus smartphone application leverages the Internet to do provide guidance to parking spaces and let you pay from the car. You can also use Sensus to stream music or listen to books. The feature also summons roadside assistance, delivers door lock status, as well as provides fuel level monitoring, maintenance warnings, and other key information about the car. You can even use it to remote start the engine and pre-condition the interior to cool it in summer and warm it in winter—before you get into the car.

Photo by Lyndon Bell

Comfort & Cargo

While the acclaim afforded the concept of Scandinavian design may strike some a bit Euro-centric, the fact remains Volvo builds one of the most attractively appointed and comfortable cars on the road. During our testing, we did a 200-mile stint; stopping only for food and the call of nature—you know, photos and such. The supple leather seats in the 2016 Volvo S60 Inscription easily rank among the most supportive we’ve ever experienced. Further, they hold you in place with decided competence.

Multiple adjustments afford a perfectly tailored fit. Comfortable to a fault, the highly supportive seats enhanced the day considerably. What’s more, the generous side bolsters on both the bottom cushion and seat back work very well at keeping occupants centered in the most comfortable part of the seats. For the driver, they help maintain the ideal position for the most efficient command of the car.

With the Inscription’s longer wheelbase, rear seat comfort is absolutely ensured. A group of four six-footers could travel extended distances in the S60 Inscription in total comfort. Regarding cargo capacity, just as in every version of the 2016 S60 sedan, the S60 Inscription’s trunk offers some 12 cubic feet. For more capability, the rear seat backs also fold, and there’s a separate ski pass-through. The design of the trunk lid affords a very low lift over height, making loading the trunk much easier.

Photo by Lyndon Bell

Safety & Crash Ratings

While crash test results for the 2016 Volvo S60 Inscription have yet to be reported, the similarly designed and equipped 2015 Volvo S60 is ranked by the Insurance Institute For Highway Safety as one of its Top Safety Picks +. The model scored the IIHS’s top ranking of “Good” in small overlap frontal, moderate overlap frontal, and side crashworthiness. Further, the Volvo pulled the top ranking in roof strength, as well as for the efficacy of its head restraints and seats at preventing injuries in crashes.

Earning the Volvo S60 the “+” designation are the front crash prevention technologies offered with the model. These include forward collision warning and forward collision mitigation. By now, it’s almost become cliché to even mention safety in conjunction with a Volvo. After all, the brand has been a leader in the area of safety from the very beginning of its existence.

The 2016 Volvo S60 Inscription’s standard safety feature set includes antilock disc brakes, stability and traction control, front-seat side airbags, side curtain airbags and whiplash-reducing front head restraints. Also standard are low-speed frontal collision warning and collision mitigation with automatic braking systems. Volvo's standard On Call system includes emergency assistance, automatic crash notification, and stolen vehicle assistance.

Photo by Lyndon Bell

Engines and Fuel Economy

A turbocharged 2.0-liter inline four-cylinder engine with 240 horsepower and 258 ft-lbs of torque powers T5 Drive-E Inscription models. This engine feeds the front wheels through an eight-speed automatic transmission. Fuel economy is rated at 25 miles per gallon in the city, 37 on the highway, and 29 in combined city and highway driving.

The T5 All-wheel drive S60 Inscription gets a 2.5-liter inline five-cylinder engine with 250 horsepower and 266 ft-lbs of torque. A six-speed automatic transmission completes the powertrain. Fuel economy for this configuration is estimated at 20 miles per gallon in the city, 29 on the highway, and 23 combined. Interestingly, both the long wheelbase T5 Inscription and the standard all-wheel drive T5 S60 return identical figures.

Photo by Lyndon Bell

Driving Impressions

The 2016 Volvo S60 Inscription, much like its standard-wheelbase counterparts, strikes a middle ground between sportiness and luxury. The smooth, quiet, and extremely comfortable ride quality of the S60 sedan, is wonderfully complemented by just enough competence in performance oriented driving to be reasonably satisfying.

If you’re looking for an all-out performance experience, you’ll have to go T6 Polestar within the Volvo lineup to find it. However, the long wheelbase Inscription models acquit themselves with considerable aplomb. To keep it real though, these cars are more about comfort and safety than they are about screaming along with flames leaping from their tailpipes.

On the highway, the additional sound deadening applied to the S60 Inscription’s body structure resulted in a decidedly peaceful environment, even when driven over concrete. Tire roar was suitably muted, as was wind noise as the elegant Volvo sliced through the atmosphere. This is a highly refined automobile.

Our test car was equipped with the all-wheel drive 2.5-liter powertrain, which served it quite well over the twistiest portions of our drive. In the corners, the body stays respectably flat, inspiring considerable confidence. Yes, if you go at a corner too hard you’ll experience understeer (the S60 Inscription will push), but if you stay centered within the car’s performance envelope, you’ll find yourself shuttling along at a relatively brisk pace. All in all, the Volvo S60 Inscription behaves like a nicely balanced, well-rounded European luxury sedan—which is exactly what it is.

Photo by Lyndon Bell

Final Thoughts

The question most immediately comes to mind is where the heck has this been and what took Volvo so long to do it? After spending time with the long wheelbase Inscription, we’re wondering why (other than price) Volvo even bothers with the short wheelbase car. If we were running things there, here’s what we’d do. Every version of the S60, save the Polestar models would be on this wheelbase. This would take all of the traditional Volvo attributes and fuse them into a truly family-friendly mid-size sedan. We’d make this the full production, and keep the short wheelbase for limited-edition hot rod Polestar sport sedans.

This way, Volvo could be in the performance business with a truly capable all-wheel drive sport sedan. The longer wheelbase cars could still be outfitted luxuriously for the Platinum Inscription models; but the more basic models could also offer the added rear-seat legroom at a more modest price. This would give Volvo the best of both worlds for its exceptionally comely sedan.

The engines are already in place; all they have to do is rework the trim packages.

Photo by Lyndon Bell

Pros & Cons

 A lot more legroom within a still graceful and beautiful body, an outstanding array of standard features, brilliant safety oriented driver aid technologies, excellent safety scores, strong reputations for durability and reliability.

Long wheelbase version’s preponderance of luxury features makes it considerably more costly than standard models, unreasonable prejudices regarding the S60 Inscription’s country of origin.

Photo by Lyndon Bell