2020 Volvo S60 Road Test and Review

Volvo’s resurgence in America is the real deal. It wasn’t that long ago that the Swedish luxury brand was struggling with an aging product line and iffy image. But a batch of hot new models has turned that around very quickly, and Volvo’s current line of SUVs, sedans, and wagons is now the envy of much of the industry. The 2020 Volvo S60 is at the heart of the automaker's comeback.

Built in Ridgeville, South Carolina, the 2020 Volvo S60 is the brand's smallest and most affordable sedan. It’s a mid-size model that competes against a long list luxury four-doors, including the BMW 3 Series, Mercedes C-Class, Lexus IS, Audi A4, Jaguar XE, and Alfa Romeo Giulia. Despite that long list of desirable rivals, the sporty S60 is one of our favorites in the class, offering a rewarding driving experience, class-leading safety, and clean, understated styling inside and out.

Although Volvo is a Swedish brand, and the 2020 S60 sedan is built in South Carolina, Volvo is actually owned by a Chinese company. Welcome to the global auto industry. The S60 was first introduced back in 2000 and it’s now in its third generation, which was all-new just last year. It’s offered in three models: T5, T6, and T8, the latter being a plug-in hybrid. There are also four trim levels: Momentum, R-Design, Inscription, and Polestar.

The base model is the S60 T5 Momentum like our test vehicle. It’s front-wheel drive and starts at $37,045, including a $995 destination charge. That’s about $4,000 less than a BMW 330i. T5 models are powered by a smooth 250-horsepower 2.0-liter turbocharged four-cylinder engine, which is more than sufficient, and all models come with a smooth-shifting eight-speed automatic transmission. For all-wheel drive, you have to step up to the popular T6 model, which starts at $41,545. It gets a 316-hp version of the 2.0-liter, and the additional power drops the sedan’s 0-60 mph performance from 6.3 seconds to 5.3 seconds.

The S60 R-Design and Inscription are also offered as the all-wheel drive T8 plug-in hybrid, which is the most powerful and most fuel-efficient model. The base price for an S60 Inscription T8 is about $57,000. To produce its 400 hp, it combines a 313-hp 2.0-liter turbocharged and supercharged engine with two electric motors and a small lithium-ion battery pack. The result is a 0-60 mph sprint of just 4.4 seconds and a car that can be driven 21 miles on electric power alone.

And then there’s the T8 Polestar, which cranks up the hybrid powertrain to produce 415 hp and drops its 0-60 mph time to 4.3 seconds. The Polestar also gets special 19-inch wheels, Nappa leather upholstery, a special exhaust system, and a specially tuned suspension. Its base price is about $66,500, so it isn’t exactly inexpensive, but it’s the only high-performance hybrid sedan in its class and it’s among the most powerful.

The Volvo S60 T5 Momentum model is a luxury car first and a sports sedan second. Around town, its ride is compliant and comfortable and its interior is quiet. But this isn’t a boring sedan — it also feels sporty and athletic. It’s entertaining to drive and it performs impressively. For most buyers, its mix of performance and luxury is spot on.

To tweak that combination to your liking, Volvo’s Adjustable Drive Mode system allows you to modify the sedan’s personality and performance with the flip of a switch. There are three modes: Comfort, Dynamic, and Eco, each modifying the S60’s throttle response, steering effort, and transmission’s shift points. Dynamic mode certainly makes it a more engaging car to drive. The S60 comes standard with 18-inch wheels, and while we were worried our test car's optional 19-inchers would spoil it ride comfort, that was just not the case. And the Volvo’s handling is way more than enough for most buyers. It steers precisely, grips the road with proficiency, and has powerful brakes.

The S60’s 250-hp 2.0-liter is the same engine Volvo uses in many of its other models, including the more expensive XC60 SUV. It’s smooth and refined, and it packs enough off-the-line punch if you’re generous with the throttle. Passing on the highway is also stress-free. The Volvo’s eight-speed automatic transmission is also excellent. It’s alert and tuned well to make the most of the Volvo’s small turbocharged engine. It downshifts quickly if you need a burst of power and it can be controlled manually.

If you want a stronger pull off the line and a significant increase in total performance, we do recommend stepping up the T6 model. Its engine features both a supercharger and a turbocharger, which dials up its horsepower and torque considerably. You can feel the difference in the seat of your pants.

Safety is synonymous with Volvo, and younger families will appreciate the S60’s easy-to-reach LATCH connectors in the outboard seats and three easily accessed upper tether anchors. Surprisingly, however, it has not received overall safety ratings from the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety or the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration.

Overall, fuel economy is good for this class. The S60 T8 plug-in hybrid is the fuel sipper of the range, rated at 72 MPGe. If you drive less than 20 miles a day, don't accelerate hard or drive fast, and keep the batteries charged, you may never buy gas again. The S60 T5 is rated at 24 mpg city and 36 mpg highway, and we averaged 27 mpg during a week of mixed driving. The more powerful T6 is rated at 21 mpg city and 32 mpg highway.

Every Volvo S60 comes standard with valuable active safety systems that include a lane-departure warning, lane-keeping assistance, and low-speed emergency automatic braking, which will detect cars and other obstacles in your path and apply the brakes for you to avoid an accident.

Many other systems are optional. Our test car was equipped with Premium Package that added blind-spot monitoring with steering assist, a cross-traffic alert with automatic braking, and front and rear parking sensors. The Advanced Package added adaptive cruise control, a 360-degree surround-view camera, LED headlights, and Pilot Assist, which will actually steer the car for you when engaged with the adaptive cruise control system. These packages aren’t inexpensive; both cost more than $2,000. If your budget only allows for one, we recommend the Premium Package. It’s the cheaper of the two, and its equipment — which also includes a power trunklid — is more relevant for most driving situations.

Much like S60’s clean exterior design, the Volvo’s interior is simple, understated, and exceptionally modern. It’s also very well-appointed, extremely comfortable, and warmly inviting. Its design is very similar to the interiors of Volvo’s other models, and it’s a winning combination of aesthetics, well-thought-out ergonomics, and high build quality. There’s a traditional shifter, which is fine with us, and you start the Volvo’s engine by twisting a knurled knob on its console. Starter buttons have gotten so boring, ya know.

The 2020 Volvo S60 sedan seats five comfortably. Our test car’s heated front seats were firm but comfortable. Control placement is excellent, and none of its knobs or switches feel cheap or flimsy. Its aluminum trim looks contemporary. There are two large digital screens: a 12.3-inch unit ahead of the driver that displays the configurable gauge cluster and a 9-inch touchscreen that houses all other infotainment systems, including audio, our test car's optional navigation system, and the Volvo’s dual-zone climate controls. The touchscreen looks and performs much like an iPad. It responds quickly to your touch, and the graphics are as crisp and elegant as anything from Apple. Onboard Wi-Fi is standard.

If you count its considerable under-floor storage compartment, the 2020 Volvo S60 sedan offers 13.8 cubic feet of trunk space. That's about the same as you'll find in the trunks of the Audi A4 and Mercedes C-Class. If more room is needed, every S60 comes standard with a 40/20/40 split-folding rear seat, which easily folded flat for your larger items.

Storage inside the Volvo’s interior is also sufficient and well thought out. The center console bin is large enough, and the sizable door pockets have slots for water bottles. The S60's two front cupholders aren’t huge, but they’re well placed so tall drinks don’t interfere with any of the switchgear.

Overall, the S60 offers strong performance and a premium driving experience, and it’s extremely comfortable. It also has one of the best interior designs in the industry, and its exterior is sure to look fresh for years to come. At a base price around $37,000, our S60 T5 test vehicle represents a very solid value. But it can get pricey with optional extras; our test car cost over $46,000.

Although some features and safety technology that are standard on other cars at this price point are extra-cost options on the Volvo, we like its unique combination of luxury, performance, and aesthetics. If you’re looking for a sporty small luxury sedan, the 2020 Volvo S60 is a very desirable choice.