Vehicle Tested
| 2013 Volvo S60 T5 AWD
Base Price: $31,750
At-Tested Price: $38,170
Built in Belgium.
Options
Premier Package
Climate Package
All-Wheel Drive
Trunk Spoiler
17-inch Alloy Wheels
Engine: Turbocharged 2.5-liter I5, 250 horsepower
Transmission:6-Speed Automatic
Drive Wheels: All-Wheel Drive
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Volvo stylish S60 returns for 2013 in three models: T5, T6 and high-performance T6 R-Design. The S60 is a midsize five-passenger four-door sedan designed to compete with vehicles like the Acura TL, BMW 5-Series, Cadillac CTS, Infiniti G, Lexus ES and Mercedes-Benz E-Class.
The T5 gets a 250-horsepower turbocharged 2.5-liter five-cylinder engine. Front-wheel drive is standard and all-wheel drive is newly optional for 2013. T6 models get a 300-horspower turbo 3.0-liter V6, while the R-Design gets a version of that same V6 that makes 325 horsepower. All T6 models come with all-wheel drive. Sole transmission offering on all models is a six-speed automatic with manual shift mode.
Standard safety features include antilock four-wheel disc brakes with brake assist, stability control, tire-pressure monitoring system, driver and front passenger whiplash protection seating system and dual-front, front-side and curtain-side airbags. Also standard is City Safety collision avoidance system, which alerts the drive of an impending forward collision and will even apply the brakes in an attempt to stop the vehicle. Rear-view camera, front- and rear-obstacle detection, lane-departure warning, Pedestrian Detection, driver-fatigue alert and blind-spot alert are also available.
Prices start at $31,900 for the front-drive T5 and climb to $44,100 for the T6 R-Design. All S60 models have an $895 destination charge and are built in Belgium. Though Volvo's headquarters remain in Sweden, the company is now owned by Geely Holding Group of China.
Get Up and Go Volvo doggedly stuck with a turbocharged five-cylinder engine when most competitors were offering V6 and V8 engines. While that plan seemed shortsighted, the turbo five-cylinder makes a lot of sense in light of today's fuel-frugal buyers. What's more, the engine is surprisingly powerful and provides ample acceleration at all speeds with just a touch of turbo lag. Given a straight road and a firmly planted right foot, the S60 T5 will accelerate from 0-60 mph in a scant 6.5 seconds. That's easily on par with competitors offering larger V6 engines. T6 and R-Design are quicker still, but they get a turbocharged V6 that is less fuel thrifty.
The standard six-speed automatic sometimes slurs one-two shifts and is reluctant to downshift without a firm prod on the go pedal. Most drivers won't notice its shortcomings, but it doesn't match the refinement of competitors' six- and seven-speed units. The all-wheel drive system works seamlessly to provide additional forward traction on slippery roads, but Midwest buyers will still want a set of quality all-season tires to ensure they can stop as well as they can go.
EPA ratings for the S60 T5 with AWD are 20 mpg city, 29 mpg highway and 23 mph overall. Those numbers are slightly better than most V6-powered competitors and bolstered by the fact that Volvo says all engines will run fine on regular-grade gasoline.
Real-world fuel economy numbers are a direct result of your driving style. The five-cylinder turbo has the capability to return 23-24 mpg in mixed commuting if you drive with a light throttle foot and provide a lot of coast-down time coming to stoplights. If you're constantly deep into the throttle and racing from stoplight to stoplight, expect fuel economy to drop into the high teens. Straight highway commuting will likely yield 28 mpg overall.
On the Road Regardless of trim level or tire/wheel package the S60 rides firmly. That's not to say the ride is ever harsh or intrusive, quite the contrary, the taught suspension does an excellent job of softening large impacts and quelling secondary motions.
S60's inherent front-drive design puts it at a competitive disadvantage against rear-wheel-drive-based vehicles. Still, the S60 will more than hold its own when the road grows twisty. The S60 feels a bit heavy in daily driving, but comes alive when pushed hard into turns. The steering is accurate and direct and the brakes have ample stopping power. Volvo's all-wheel-drive system has been around for years. It does an excellent job of apportioning power to the wheels with the most traction.
S60 offers a number of notable crash-avoidance features. The Collision Warning system is designed to sense an impending collision and alert the driver to help avoid an accident. Also available is City Safety, which will slow and eventually stop a vehicle at speeds below 30 if it senses an impending collision. Finally, Volvo has added Pedestrian Detection. Similar to City Safety, it watches the sidelines and will reduce vehicle speed or stop the vehicle in an effort to avoid hitting a pedestrian who ventures out into the street. All of these systems can be disabled with a switch and can be overridden through driver interaction.
S60 isn't the quietest midsize luxury sedan. There's more tire rumble than you'd expect and a fair amount of wind noise at extra-legal highway speeds. Both engines are quiet when cruising, but the five-cylinder sounds a bit coarse when accelerating.
Behind the Wheel Volvo designers purposely gave the S60 and understated interior. The thinking was to reduce driver distraction. That being said, the design has a coherent, modern and upscale feel that's a refreshing change in today's age of over-gadgeted and flashy layouts. Materials and switchgear are premium, no doubt, but aren't quite as polished as those found in some newer competitors.
All instruments are clearly marked and thoughtfully located. Tachometer and speedometer dominate the instrument cluster and there's a small information display as well. Center stack features audio and climate controls and a standard keypad. The design looks quite postmodern, but falls short in overall usability, especially when equipped with the available navigation system. Still, once you get the hang of the controls and buttons, the design becomes much easier to operate than similar systems offered in BMW or Mercedes-Benz vehicles.
Front seats are quite impressive offering ample head and leg room and lots of long-distance support and comfort. There are plenty of seat adjustments and the tilt-telescope steering wheel offers a wide range of motion. Visibility is great to all directions and the available blind-spot alert is always welcome. Power-folding rear headrests are a nice touch.
Rear seats are comfortable and nicely padded. However, they fall seriously short on leg and knee room when the front seats are pushed any more than halfway back. Most competitors offer a slightly more roomy rear seating area, so if you consistently tote around four adults, the S60 may not be the wisest choice.
Trunk has adequate storage space and a large opening, but sickle-shaped hinges reduce cargo space somewhat. 60/40 split-folding rear seats are a nice touch as not all competitors offer this feature. The interior has adequate storage space and a handy cubby behind the center stack. It's a useful feature for storing a purse or handbag that's secure and out of the way.
Bottom Line Oft forgotten amongst luxury midsize offerings, Volvo's S60 is a surprisingly well-balanced and affordable proposition. The biggest shortfall are cramped rear accommodations. Still, prices are quite reasonable and the impressive suite of available safety features is unmatched by any vehicle at any price. The utility of all-wheel-drive is a nice touch, but front-drive with a good set of all-season tires is all most drivers should ever. Need. If you're careful with the options, you can easily be out the door with an S60 T5 for less than $40,000. That's a steal in my book.
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