Introduction

The 2021 Volvo S60 fits in a busy niche of sporty mid-size European sedans. It's a standout, but not for the usual reasons. To the usual high-fives for handling come a new set of accolades, for a beautiful interior and for a plug-in hybrid version. 

For 2021, Volvo has made standard blind-spot monitors and adaptive LED headlights. Also new: the implementation of a factory-limited 112-mph top speed. 

Like all Volvos, the S60 is offered only with 4-cylinder power. The base engine, known as the T5, is a turbo-4 that makes 250 horsepower. The T6 is both supercharged and turbocharged for a total of 316 hp. With both engines buyers have a choice between front-wheel drive and all-wheel drive. An 8-speed automatic tackles gearchanges. 

At the top of the range is the Recharge-formerly known as the T8-which incorporates plug-in hybrid technology to the T6 engine. The 11.6-kwh battery and accompanying electric motor boost horsepower to 400 while adding up to 22 miles of all-electric driving range. For more juice, a Polestar Engineered variant turns up the wick to 415 hp. Top speed is still 112 mph, though. 

The hybrid models are most efficient, scoring 69 mpg combined in hybrid mode. The comparatively conventional T5 returns 23 mpg highway, 34 highway, 27 combined, figures more typical of the segment. A T6 with all-wheel drive drops to 21/32/25 mpg. 

Some of the many safety technologies found on all models include automatic emergency braking, active lane control, blind-spot monitors, adaptive headlights, and a semi-autonomous feature known as Pilot Assist that lets drivers momentarily release the steering wheel on the interstate. 

The IIHS was impressed enough with the 2020 S60 to name it a Top Safety Pick; with its new standard headlights, don't be surprised if it's promoted to a Top Safety Pick+. As for the NHTSA, they haven't yet tested the S60. 

Lineup

The $39,390 Momentum starts off the S60 line. It gets standard 18-inch wheels, a panoramic sunroof, dual-zone climate control, synthetic leather upholstery, 10-way power front seats, and 10-speaker audio. An 9-inch touchscreen with Apple CarPlay and Android Auto is also standard, as is a 12.3-inch digital gauge cluster. The Momentum can be had with either the T5 or T6 engine. 

The R-Design begins at $45,140 and brings an extra dose of attitude by way of a sportier suspension that's an inch lower to the ground, more aggressively styled front and rear bumpers, and gloss-black trim inside and out. It also gets more bolstered seats covered in nappa leather, navigation, and a Harman Kardon stereo. 

While the R-Design trends towards performance, the $45,140 Inscription pivots towards luxury. The sporty accents are traded off for more chrome and the aggressive-looking bumpers are swapped for the more docile fascias of the base model. Interior accoutrements are the same as the R-Design, though the seats aren't quite so bolstered and real oak wood trim is used in place of metal. 

The Polestar Engineered begins at $65,795 and comes with the specially-tuned, 415-horse T8 engine that drives a stiffened chassis with manually-adjustable Ohlins dampers. New 19-inch wheels, gold seatbelts and brake calipers, and chrome exhaust tips round out the aesthetic. Additional interior features include a Bowers & Wilkins audio system, a heated steering wheel, a head-up display, and heated front and rear seats. Paddle shifters allow drivers to grab gears themselves-the only S60 to allow such antics. 

Walkaround

Good, clean design has long been a Scandinavian hallmark, and Volvo has been particularly adept at it. Subtly good design remains a key tenet of the brand. The S60's body doesn't shout anything, sporty or otherwise; unless you catch a glimpse of the massive gold brake calipers, good luck spotting a Polestar Engineered model. The muscled form of the body is handsome enough on its own. 

The fascias tie together that restrained, dapper look. The tasteful rear, with its squared-off C-shaped taillamps, is a nice bookend to the front. 

Interior

The S60's good design carries on inside, where the cabin features a potpourri of high-caliber wood or metal finishes and various accompanying textiles. Even the base model and its synthetic leather upholstery doesn't feel entry-level. 

The touchscreen has been nicely integrated into this tranquil and uncluttered space. Lots of commands run exclusively through the system, and without any redundant physical controls even basic tasks can become frustrating. 

The S60's seats are some of the best in the business. Comfortable and accommodating, these seats are your best friend on road trips or other long stints behind the wheel. Ten-way power adjustment is standard right out of the gate, and buyers can upgrade to heated and cooled thrones as well. 

The back seat is quite roomy thanks to the S60's front-drive layout. Some 35 inches of leg room beats out the German competition, and the big windows and thin pillars further enhance the sensation of spaciousness. 

The trunk only has 11.6 cubic feet of cargo space, but split-folding rear seats as well as a small pass-through in the middle seatback help improve usability. 

Driving Impression

The Volvo S60 is not here to strike up performance rivalries or lay down tire smoke. It stands apart from the sort of ferocity that has come to define brands like BMW and Mercedes. What the S60 is all about is creamy luxury, the kind that is supple, composed, and confident. It handles with unruffled composure, bending its way through corners with the slightest of sporting intentions. Despite the focus on ride over handling, the S60 is incredibly stable, prompting a certain confidence when the road starts knotting up. 

This is especially true with the R-Design thanks to its adaptive dampers and lowered suspension. The Polestar Engineered and its manually-adjustable dampers borders on too firm. 

The base T5 engine leaves us wanting for more power; the T6 is a better choice. Adding a supercharger to the turbo-4 design mitigates the little bit of turbo lag, and its 316 total horsepower feels just right for a small luxury car. 

The Recharge is more ambitious, a complex technological piece that combines hybridization with both turbocharging and supercharging; there's more tech than engine under the hood of these models. But the power speaks for itself: 400 horses or 415 if you upgrade to the Polestar Engineered model. 

There are slightly more overt sporting undertones here-particularly with the Polestar-but don't mistake this for a track-ready supersedan. Consider this more a fast, stealthy four-door that is best at dusting off lesser vehicles during the morning commute. 

Summary

The 2021 Volvo S60 is a segment underdog, one that sits quietly in the shadow of bigger, more well-known names. It has great design, a wide selection of powertrains, and a coddling interior that make it worth considering against more traditional segment choices. We would recommend a T6 in R-Design or Inscription form, depending on whether you like your luxury served spicy or mild. 

 

-by Anthony Sophinos, with driving impressions from The Car Connection.