by Cheryl Eldridge
To drive that sweet car that you’ve been dreaming of since your childhood days makes life complete.
Most Volvo lovers require the finer things in life, so when you drive the Volvo S60T5 Premier Plus, expect nothing but the best.
The V60 is luxury packed up in its finest, thanks to their engineers.
Not only did I enjoy the drive, my family did too.
Heads were definitely turning due to my tester’s coating which was a fiery “red” hot with black leather interior.
Midway through 2015, the Volvo S60 gets substantial changes under the skin. A couple of new four-cylinder engines, including one that is both turbo- and supercharged, and an eight-speed automatic transmission debut, as do a number of new features. Key among the latter are fuel-saving automatic engine stop-start technology and available lane-keeping assist.
The 2015 Volvo S60 is a midsize luxury sedan available in four trim levels: T5 Drive-E, T5 AWD, T6 Drive-E and T6 R-Design. Apart from its powertrain, the T5 Drive-E and T5 AWD are similar in terms of available equipment. They come standard with 17-inch wheels, automatic headlights, LED running lights, headlight washers, heated mirrors, automatic wipers, cruise control, dual-zone automatic climate control, an eight-way power driver seat (with adjustable lumbar), driver memory settings, power-folding rear headrests, a leather-wrapped tilt-and-telescoping steering wheel, T-Tec cloth upholstery, a 60/40-split folding rear seat with pass-through, a 7-inch display screen, “Sensus” smartphone app integration, WiFi capability, Bluetooth phone and audio connectivity and an eight-speaker sound system with a CD player, HD radio, satellite radio, an auxiliary audio jack and an iPod/USB audio interface.
I really enjoyed the “Sensus” smartphone app integration which is easy to use on any iphone, android or windows phone. It blows your mind and connects you to the world in ways that you never ever imagined.
The T5 Premier subtrims add keyless ignition/entry, bright window trim, a sunroof, leather upholstery, a power passenger seat, a navigation system, a configurable instrument display and an auto-dimming rearview mirror.
My tester the T6 Drive-E essentially starts with the T5 Drive-E Premier’s equipment, but adds a more powerful engine, 18-inch wheels, a sport-tuned suspension, adjustable steering effort, a power sunroof and sport seats.
The T6 R-Design has the T6 Drive-E’s features along with a more powerful engine, all-wheel drive, special exterior styling details, unique 18-inch wheels, upgraded brakes, specifically tuned sport suspension, special interior trim, a sport steering wheel and a rearview camera.
The Convenience package adds power-folding mirrors, keyless ignition and entry, a rearview camera, a remote garage opener and a grocery bag holder. The Technology package features adaptive cruise control, automatic high beams, collision warning with auto braking, pedestrian and cyclist detection with auto braking and driver-attention warning. A lane-departure warning system is included with this package in all-wheel-drive models, while the Drive-E models get a more sophisticated lane-keeping assist system that will steer the car in the event of driver inaction.
The Platinum subtrim available on all T5 and T6 models include the Convenience and Technology packages along with xenon headlights, auto-dimming outside mirrors, cabin accent lighting and a 12-speaker Harmon Kardon premium sound system.
There are additional options available on all the subtrims. The Climate package includes a heated windshield, heated windshield washers, heated front and rear seats, a heated steering wheel and an active cabin filter. The Sport package (T5 only) includes 19-inch alloy wheels, a sport-tuned suspension and paddle shifters. Also available is the Blind Spot Information System package, which features side blind spot warning, rear cross-traffic alert and front and rear park sensors. A quick-fold passenger seat, the keyless ignition and entry system, heated front seats, a front side parking camera and a rear-seat entertainment system with dual displays are notable stand-alone options.
The 2015 Volvo S60 T5 Drive-E has a 2.0-liter turbocharged inline-4 engine with 240 hp and 258 pound-feet of torque. It sends its power to the front wheels via an eight-speed automatic transmission. Volvo estimates a 0-60-mph time of 6 seconds while EPA fuel economy estimates stand at 29 mpg combined (25 city/37 highway).
The T5 AWD features all-wheel drive, a six-speed automatic and a 2.5-liter turbocharged inline-5 good for 250 hp and 266 lb-ft. Volvo puts its 0-60 time at 6.6 seconds with fuel economy estimates at 23 mpg combined (20 city/29 highway).
At the top of the performance ladder is the T6 R-Design, which features the so-called “PoleStar” upgrade: a turbocharged 3.0-liter inline-6 producing 325 hp and 354 lb-ft. Its 0-60 time is given as 5.4 seconds, and fuel economy estimates are 21 mpg combined (18 city/26 highway).
On the safety side, there is a sterling reputation for passenger protection, the S60 comes loaded with standard safety features that include antilock disc brakes, stability and traction control, front-seat side airbags, full-length side curtain airbags and whiplash-reducing front head restraints. Also standard is “City Safety,” which can help the driver avoid a collision with other vehicles or a stationary object at speeds of up to 19 mph by automatically applying the brakes if he or she doesn’t react in time.
Included in the optional Technology package is Volvo’s pedestrian-and cyclist-detection feature, which can apply full braking force (reducing speed by as much as 22 mph) to help you avoid hitting pedestrians and cyclists who are at least 31 inches tall. This package also includes electronic warnings for driver inattention, lane departure and impending collision, the last of which includes automatic braking. Lane-keeping assist is further included for the Drive-E trims.
Other safety options include front and rear parking sensors, a rearview camera, a front side parking camera, a blind-spot warning system and rear cross-traffic alerts.
The government gave the Volvo S60 a perfect five stars for overall crash protection, with five stars each for total frontal and side crash protection. In testing by the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety (IIHS), the S60 received the best possible rating of “Good” in the moderate-overlap frontal-offset, small-overlap frontal-offset, side-impact and roof -strength tests. The S60 is notable in that it’s one of the few cars to earn a “Good” rating in that new small-overlap frontal-offset test. The IIHS also rated the S60’s optional frontal collision warning and mitigation system as “Superior.”
Interior materials in the 2015 Volvo S60 are on par with the rest of the entry-level luxury sedan class. The heavier graining on the dash and doors won’t suit everyone, but there’s no denying that the interior leather, vinyl and plastic are quality materials. Volvo’s unique Scandinavian take on wood and metal accents also gives the S60’s cabin a unique personality among its rivals.
The straightforward dual-temperature adjustment dials and “Mode Man” pictogram make climate control adjustments simple and intuitive. The audio system’s phone-style number pad and surrounding buttons may look a bit antiquated in the luxury class these days, but they’re simple and make controlling basic stereo functions easy. For more complicated tasks like selecting a media player playlist, programming the optional navigation system or controlling more complicated vehicle functions, the S60 relies on the standard Sensus system. It, too, is fairly easy to use and similar to competitor systems, though the multipurpose knob’s location on the dash (rather than the center console) is not ideal.
The 2015 Volvo S60 is a comfortable, sophisticated and well-behaved luxury sedan with ample power whether you go with four, five or six turbocharged cylinders. It’s a sure-footed handler with a nicely weighted steering that feels substantial without being heavy.
Regardless of output, the engines are smooth and powerful, and the all-wheel-drive system apportions power to individual wheels to maximize traction and grip through turns or on slippery roads. The base front-wheel-drive T5 model, meanwhile, lines up favorably with other rear-drive entry-level luxury cars such as the BMW 328i and Mercedes C300 that feature turbocharged four cylinders. Most buyers would likely find the acceleration, response and fuel economy of any S60 to be compelling, but the Volvo’s comfortable ride is its strong suit.
By the way, my sticker price was $48,225 loaded with gas mileage 19mpg in the city and 28 mpg on the highway.
Until next week, buckle up, don’t text and drive and be courteous when driving, it doesn’t cost a thing.
