It may very well be easy for Volvo to give attention to crossovers and neglect about sedans and wagons solely, nonetheless the Swedish mannequin stays to be paying detailed consideration – and we’re glad. On this case, it’s the plug-in hybrid S60 Recharge sedan in its AWD Last Black Model guise. Don’t pay attention to the title; pay attention to the appears to be of the automotive and the badge – because of that’s what totally different drivers could be doing. No matter its humble appears to be, it’s an absolute sleeper with its T8 drivetrain making 455 horsepower and 523 ft-lb of torque for all 4 wheels.
There are totally different flavors of the sedan that performs in BMW 3 Sequence territory, nonetheless the S60 Recharge is on the prime of the trim ranges and divulges what Volvo’s engineers can do after they get a chance to mix vitality and luxurious. We didn’t anticipate BMW ranges of coping with all through our week with the automotive, nonetheless we did anticipate Volvo’s diploma of sophistication and luxurious. A shove inside the once more from that turbocharged four-cylinder engine and electrical motor pairing is a shocking bonus.
Mannequin: Echos Of Outdated School
The S60 isn’t placing or considerably “stand-out” by the use of design. We can’t exactly put our fingers on it, except for suggesting it’s the highway the place the roof meets the trunk and its widespread stance, nonetheless there are literally echoes of fundamental Volvos identical to the P1800 proper right here. Probably we’re being overly romantic, nonetheless the S60 is distinctly Volvo, even in Black Model spec metallic white paint, black gloss accents and badging. On this guise, it rolls on black diamond-cut 19-inch alloy wheels. The Thor’s Hammer trend LED directional headlights and LED taillights are commonplace, and offers it a barely menacing look.
Inside: Extreme Spec
The Last trim builds on the comfort of the S60’s cabin with Charcoal Nappa leather-based all over and entrance seats with vitality adjustable 4-way lumbar and cushion extensions. There isn’t a excuse to be uncomfortable proper right here, nonetheless add the charcoal-colored headliner, and it might not likely really feel as gentle and ethereal as totally different Volvo trims. It boils proper right down to want with colors, nonetheless there’s no arguing regarding the top quality of the assemble and provides – it’s wonderful. It’s Volvo exhibiting what it’s going to probably do, and the attention to ingredient is of the most effective order. As now we have said sooner than, though, the crystal shift knob is a matter of favor.
Throughout the once more, there’s enough space for just a few adults with acceptable headroom, nonetheless once you generally have adults there, you could want to go as a lot because the S90 for a bit extra room.
Infotainment: Getting Increased
As regular, Volvo’s infotainment system is accessed primarily by a portrait-aligned tablet on the dashboard. It is usually the place you could entry the HVAC, which could get annoying once you’re not a set-and-forget driver or passenger. The infotainment system now makes use of a Google-based interface, which is okay, and the voice administration is reliable. Whereas the system wouldn’t ship flash and fireworks, it’s fully acceptable. The driving pressure will get a 12.3-inch digital gauge cluster, a head-up present, and the ambient inside lighting is suitably subdued.
Our tester had the $3,200 Bowers & Wilkins audio system enhance because of Volvo is smart to put that in any automotive we evaluation. It’s good and doubtless the best upgrades within the market for audio lovers.
Drivetrain: Woohoo!
Volvo has made some fast automobiles sooner than, nonetheless a drivetrain producing 455 horsepower and 523 ft-lb of torque with out Polestar being talked about is unusual. Proper right here it is, though, and it’s attained using a turbocharged four-cylinder engine and a elevate from {an electrical} motor taking its vitality from a 14.9-kWh battery. It’s positively geared for vitality over monetary system, nonetheless it’s going to run on battery only for as a lot as 41 miles, so it may very well be an economical automotive for lots of commuters – although you ought to be gentle on the throttle to avoid invoking the engine’s assist. Mix electrical and gasoline vitality collectively, and it’s EPA rated for 74 MPGe and on gas solely, 31 mpg blended.
The AWD comes from {the electrical} motor on the once more, which could make the automotive actually really feel barely inconsistent to drive, nonetheless the eight-speed computerized transmission is simple and predictable.
On The Road: Driver Assist Settings Are Important
Our first spin with the Volvo S60 Recharge took a protracted winding freeway, and we thought one factor was improper with the automotive inside the first stint. We weren’t driving arduous, merely cruising, nonetheless it felt identical to the doorway and rear of the automotive have been unconnected spherical corners, and driving it in a straight line needed mounted consideration. It was irritating to the aim we considered turning spherical and getting the family automotive as an alternative. Nonetheless, the problem was solved by turning off the Steering Assist operate. It’s a good operate for prolonged freeway drives nonetheless merely will get in one of the simplest ways all over else. With out it, the S60 turned easy and straightforward to drive – an absolute pleasure spherical metropolis and way more so driving into the countryside. The expertise is simple, the suspension compliant, and the seats wonderful. We put in quite a few miles with no fatigue.
Put your foot in it, and the S60 is quick. Remarkably quick. The producer quotes the 0-60 mph time at 4.3 seconds, nonetheless we think about it would even be sooner, and it’ll nonetheless pull at freeway speeds for overtaking with confidence. Up until the 112 mph restriction Volvo has chosen, anyway. We didn’t examine that because of we don’t have roads with that kind of limit, nonetheless it does seem random. Volvo talks the focus on safety and limiting velocity nonetheless delivers a commuter sedan that may outpace a Dodge Challenger RT to 60 mph. It might not even have a sport mode, nonetheless it will possibly outmuscle America’s muscle automotive to in any case the first 60 mph.
As a sports activities actions sedan, it lacks in chassis dynamics to care for twists and turns with any verve, no matter its sporty appears to be that might have you ever ever believing it might protect tempo with a BMW 3 Sequence on a twisty mountain freeway – it couldn’t. The flexibility is most interesting used for overtaking and as an opulent operate. The four-cylinder engine wouldn’t have to work arduous to face as much as hurry in common website guests.
Is This One Of Volvo’s Finest?
If you would like a Volvo that’s genuinely sporty, you could want to take a look at one factor with a Polestar Engineered badge. This may not go up on the itemizing of the most effective Volvo automobiles, nonetheless it is a excellent premium sedan we might take for a every day commute with out batting an eyelid. It has Volvo’s trend and assemble top quality through and via; the cabin is comfortable, and it has oodles of vitality for if you need it whereas sustaining good gasoline monetary system.
What it might not have is the sporty fringe of a BMW 3 Sequence, however when you do not want that, you’ll not miss it. It moreover wouldn’t have the overt luxurious of an upper-range Mercedes C-Class or the feature-rich and super-slick MBUX infotainment system. As soon as extra, when you don’t want that, you’ll not miss it. Most people solely need navigation and music, and Mercedes is following Volvo down the Google path.
The Volvo S60 Recharge stands out amongst a sea of BMW and Mercedes fashions in firm automotive parks all through the nation, and we do love the sleeper standing. It’s already well-equipped, and you will go for the implausible Bowers & Wilkins audio system on prime of that. That’s icing on the cake of a extreme chance in relation to a premium sedan starting at merely over $52k.