The Volvo brand seems to continue to know how to please the customer offering style and luxury coupled with added features that just make driving so much easier. New additions in 2014 on the S60 include a smarter look on the outside and new seats and gauges inside.
An entry-level, but mid-size luxury sportier sedan -- this one has the choices of the BMW 3 Series , Audi A4 and the Acura TL as competition, but note the impressive Volvo price tag here too.
There are three trim levels, the T5, T6 and T6 R-Design.
On the T5 you get 17-inch wheels, automatic headlights with washers and wipers as well as heated mirrors, dual-zone automatic climate, eight-way power driver seat with driver memory functions, power-folding rear headrests, leather-wrapped tilt-and-telescoping steering wheel and a seven-inch display screen along with tech additions like Bluetooth phone and auxiliary audio jack with iPod/USB ability.
For this trim, there is a Premier package that will add keyless ignition/entry, sunroof, leather upholstery and an auto-dimming rearview mirror. For the Premier Plus add to that a quick-fold front passenger seat and rearview camera or the Platinum package has auto-dimming and power-retractable side mirrors, cabin accent lighting and an upgraded sound system.
There is also a Climate package with heated windshield, front and rear seats and steering wheel. The technology package comes with automatic high beams, driver-attention warning with safety features like a lane-departure, collision warning and auto braking.
On the T6 there are all the features from the T5 along with a stronger engine, all-wheel drive and the Premier and Sport packages added standard. For the T6 R-Design you can add to that even more, like 18-inch wheels, better brakes, a sport-tuned suspension and sport steering wheel and most of the Premium package
Under the hood, expect the 2014 Volvo S60 T5 to offer a 2.5-liter turbocharged inline-5 with 250 horsepower and 266 pound feet of torque with a six-speed automatic transmission and front-wheel drive, but all-wheel drive is an option.
The S60 T6 all-wheel drive has a 3.0-liter turbocharged inline-6 engine with 300 horsepower and 325 pound feet of torque along with a six-speed automatic transmission. The T6 R has an engine with 325 horsepower and 354 pound feet of torque with the all-wheel drive and six-speed automatic.
Safety on the S60 includes the standard antilock disc brakes, stability and traction control, front-seat side and full-length side curtain airbags, whiplash-reducing head restraints in the front seat and "City Safe," which has the ability to completely stop the vehicle if at a low enough speed in order to avoid a collision. For the Technology package there are also additional safety features on this Volvo like a pedestrian detection and that will apply full braking as the system is able to detect pedestrians and cyclists 31 inches in height or more. There are also front and rear parking sensors, rearview camera and blind-spot warning.
Materials used inside the 2014 Volvo S60 are up to par with the competition and quality both with high-end plastics and the wood and metal that also adds to this Volvo's look. The dials and knobs are intuitive and easy to use and the seats are comfortable for in the city driving or for longer trips.
The back seats are a bit tight for the taller passenger and the trunk is only 12-cubic-feet, but the rear and front passenger seats do fold down.
Driving is also easy with the 2014 Volvo S60 in which you will find an easy, but at the same time stylish, ride with plenty of pep with both the five or six turbocharged engine, all commanding of the road, but still smooth at the same time and, in this class, who can ask for more.
Should You Need to Know: Notice that this 2014 Volvo S60 received excellent government crash scores.
Miles Per Gallon: The 2014 Volvo S60 T5 I drove had a 24 mile per gallon combined fuel economy with 21 in the city and 30 miles per gallon on the highway.
Cost: The 2014 Volvo S60 T5 I drove had a price tag of $38,065