2022 Volvo S60

The Volvo S60 is a mid-size luxury sedan that is packed with luxury and safety features, plus plenty of turbocharged and hybrid power.

This year, the S60 gets a revised powertrain called B5 that offers up 26 horsepower from a turbo-4 teamed with a mild-hybrid system that can run electrical accessories and reduce fuel consumption. An optional T8 version with a turbocharged and supercharged 4-cylinder paired with an upsized battery pack and electric motor offers up to 22 miles of electric-only commuting.

The S60 comes only as a sedan, though it is closely related to the V60 Cross Country, a tall wagon with off-roady looks and personality. As a four-door, the S60 has clean lines outside and a cosseting, soothing interior with good tech and lots of safety features.

Fuel economy ranges from 26 mpg city, 35 highway, 30 combined with front-wheel drive, or 25/33/28 mpg with all-wheel drive. T8 Recharge models swoop in with 69 MPGe combined.

The S60 is a safety champ thanks to top scores from the NHTSA and the IIHS. Standard fare includes automatic emergency braking, active lane control, blind-spot monitors, and adaptive LED lighting. Volvo offers its Pilot Assist driver-assistance tech, which can allow for short stints of hands-free driving with acceleration, braking, and steering support courtesy of various sensors.

Model Lineup

The S60 comes in three basic flavors, Momentum, R-Design, and Inscription. Base S60 Momentum sedans run a little over $40,000 with synthetic leather upholstery, a 9.0-inch touchscreen with Apple CarPlay and Android Auto compatibility, and a sunroof, plus synthetic leather upholstery.

Navigation, a split-folding rear seat, parking sensors, and wireless smartphone charging are bundled together, while various individual options include a surround-view camera system and an upgraded audio system.

The Inscription and R Design both cost $3,000 more, and they add many of those options. Inscription models come with wood interior trim, while R Designs have zippier-looking exterior and interior bits.

The S80 T8 Recharge costs about $48,00 to start, with the range-topping Polestar Engineered variant adding Ohlins dampers, forged wheels, and Brembo brakes, plus a host of other sporty bits for around $66,500.

Exterior

Understated and elegant, the S60 is attractive from just about every angle. Its sculpted shape suggests a model that is no stranger to a gym, though these cars are more about comfort than they are performance.

The S60 has proper sports car proportions, including short overhangs and a long nose. Standard 18-inch wheels can grow to 19s with options, and the R Design trim level dresses things up even more. The range-topping Polestar Engineered doesn’t shout about its racy intentions the way some German rivals do.

Hammer-shaped LED lighting up front is repeated at the rear for an especially distinctive flair.

Interior

Volvo continues the understated theme inside the S60, especially with available lighter upholstery and trim hues. The cockpit ties together modern tech with an ageless simplicity. Harmonious regardless of trim choice, the S60 brims with refinement.

The vertical 9.0-inch touchscreen takes up a good bit of dashboard real estate, though its menus are simple to operate. There are few switches and knobs to distract.

Plush front seats give way to good rear-seat leg room. With 35.2 inches in row two, the S60 can comfortably accommodate a room full of 6-footers. Standard leather costs more, though the upcharge includes different seat designs with more adjustment and additional lumbar padding.

The 11.6 cubic-foot trunk is on the small side for a sedan of this size, though the split-folding rear seatback fitted to most cars offers increased utility. If in doubt, grab the V60 for double the cargo capacity.

Driving Impressions

The S60 comes only with electrification, a nod toward Volvo’s near-term plan to go all-EV. The B5 version includes a 260-horsepower 2.0-liter turbo-4 that zips up good acceleration and works well with the 8-speed automatic transmission.

The T8 Recharge amps things up, literally, with a turbocharged and supercharged version of the 2.0-liter inline-4 good for a healthy 400 hp plus 22 miles of electric driving. Volvo says to expect a 4.3-second 0-60 mph sprint, a full two seconds quicker than the B6.

Polestar Engineered versions are quicker yet, with an added dose of power teamed to a racecar-grade suspension and uprated brakes. These rare flying Swedes offer serious cachet to Volvo fans.

No S60 corners with the tenacity of the sportiest BMW and Alfa Romeo models, but their sedate nature is easier to appreciate in normal commuting. S60s ride a bit stiffer in R Design guise, while Polestars are firmer yet.

Final Word

Shapely inside and out, and brimming with tech, the Volvo S60 is an appealing compact luxury car with an eco-friendly twist that offers good value for the money.

—by Andrew Ganz, with driving impressions from The Car Connection