2019 Volvo S60 - reader test team review
Volvo’s new £30k executive saloon offers a handsome alternative to the Germans'. Will our readers be tempted?...
Sales of diesel cars in the UK plummeted by 30% last year, so perhaps the fact that no version of Volvo's new BMW 3 Series rival, the S60, will require a black pump isn’t a shocking headline.
Instead, Volvo will offer a range of 2.0-litre turbocharged petrol engines – the 250bhp T5 at launch, followed by the 190bhp T4 and 316bhp T6 – alongside plug-in hybrids with 340bhp and 400bhp. It’s also chasing sporting saloons, with sister brand Polestar engineering a plug-in hybrid model with 415bhp, uprated suspension and bigger brakes.
But the S60 is still the suave Swede you’d expect, with a mechanical set-up focused on smoothness and comfort. That’s mirrored on the inside by generous space for five, high-end materials, a digital instrument panel and a 9.0in infotainment touchscreen that houses most of the secondary controls. The S60 has the highest standards of safety, too.
Our verdict on the S60 is four stars, putting it in the same league as the Mercedes-Benz C-Class, but do our readers feel differently?
Lloyd Cardoza Age 56 Job IT contractor Drives Nissan Qashqai
“This is a lovely car. I love the flow of the lines, its low, wide stance, the grille and the ‘Thor’s Hammer’ LED running lights, not to mention the design of the alloy wheels. It just looks like it’s going to go fast, and it stands out against the likes of BMW and Mercedes. It’s incredibly different from its predecessor.
“The safety features are super-impressive. There’s automatic emergency braking that can detect cars, pedestrians, cyclists and animals, plus blindspot monitoring with steering intervention and lane-keeping assistance. I also really like the parking assistance features, particularly the 360deg camera that gives you a top-down view of the car, and the optional head-up display, which means you never have to take your eyes off the road.
“The interior is fantastic. The infotainment is really tactile and easy, with self-explanatory menus. All of the materials feel premium, too.
“The size of the boot is excellent; you don’t expect that in a saloon. Plus, the bootlid is powered and you can open it from inside or by swiping your foot under the rear bumper.
“I’m really keen on the plug-in hybrid. It’s the way we all need to go, plus lots of cities are bringing in congestion charges, but for me, electric cars don’t have sufficient range and the UK’s charging network isn’t good enough.”
Rated 4 out of 5
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