Volvo S60 T6 R-Design

SPECIFICATIONS

1. Using a turbocharged 3.0L straight-six engine tuned by Polestar, the S60 T6 R-Design makes 325 hp and 354 lb-ft of torque. 2. Fuel economy is 18 mpg city and 26 mpg highway. 3. T6 R-Design models feature a stiffer suspension, upgraded brakes, speed sensitive steering and sporty body work. 4. The S60 is one of the only cars in its class to earn a NHTSA Top Safety Pick Plus rating.

PREVIEW

For the past 20 years, the sport sedan segment has been dominated by German automakers that blend dynamic handling with luxury and outright performance. Recently, however,Cadillac snuck up on the BMW 3 series with the ATS, while Volvo is proving itself a worthy adversary to Audi with the Volvo S60.

In its T6 R-Design spec, a potent power plant and surefooted AWD make it a rival to the well-received S4, while maintaining signature Volvo qualities.

INTERIOR

There’s plenty to enjoy in the cabin with luxurious leather seats that are extremely supportive and perfectly appointed, though rear-seat passengers will find legroom more accommodating in the Volvo’s main rivals. Other small touches help make the S60 T6 R-Design stand out as a truly special product, with R-Design embroidery on the seats, blue-glowing gauges and a slick rippled texture on the aluminum accents that put the usual wood or piano black trim in other luxury vehicles to shame.

Outside of the Nav, you have to resort to a control knob and all the screens are littered with text selections, rather than icons and graphics. Reading those settings and descriptions and fiddling with the knob while driving is certain to trigger the driver alertness warning system, front collision alert, blind-spot assist and whatever other alert system that’s currently enabled.While interior design is solid, Volvo drops the ball a bit when it comes to audio and infotainment. A cluster of buttons so small you’d need an Alan key to hit them sits in the center console. The lack of touch-screen, or joystick means you have to use these buttons to move about on the navigation screen. Simply put, it’s just not intuitive.

You won’t miss the audible warnings either, thanks to a lackluster sound system. While Volvo dubs it “Premium Sound” it’s clear that the Swedes have a different scale for audio quality, and didn’t benchmark the high-end audio systems found in competing BMW or Audi vehicles.

UNDER THE HOOD

While high-tech computers and sensors are found throughout the vehicle, under-the-hood you’ll find the textbook European example of how to motivate a car to go fast. Volvo has literally put a spin on the inline six-cylinder, with the turbocharged engine developing 300 hp and 325 lb-ft of torque. That, however, is in normal trim. The R-Design model features some handiwork from Polestar, Volvo’s in-house tuning company, which has bumped up the T6 engine to 325 hp and 354 lb-ft of torque.

In theory, pairing such an impressive (or possibly excessive) safety suite with Volvo’s T6 engine could be like going to CES with a Luddite. Might one spoil the experience for the other?It’s got the grunt needed to get to autobahn certified speeds, and is officially rated to hit 60 mph from a standstill in 5.8 seconds. In reality, the car feels quite a bit quicker.

Our time with the car says the two can very-much co-exist. In fact, the high-tech gizmos take the monotony and frustration out of gridlock driving, and when the road opens up, the S60 is as exciting to drive as any other sport sedan out there.

While Volvo doesn’t have the name recognition of Audi’s impressive quattro AWD system, the setup in the S60 T6 R-Design isn’t dimwitted at all. In fact, it sends power to the wheels with the most traction, eliminating most torque steer.The overall driving experience can be best described as solid, with wonderful throttle and brake pedal response as well as a customizable steering feel. Without an adaptive suspension setting, however, the S60 T6 R-Design is a headache on broken or under-maintained roads. It’s far too stiff for many of the roads we drove on, detracting from our enjoyment of its other qualities.

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Volvo XC60 R-Design

SPECIFICATIONS

1. The R-Design’s up-rated turbocharged 3.0-liter 6-cylinder makes 325 hp and 354 lb-ft of torque and can hit 60 mph in just 5.8 seconds. 2. Other R-Design upgrades include a sport-tuned suspension, tighter steering, some matte-silver accenting and large 20-inch wheels. 3. Despite the power boost, fuel economy is loses just one mpg in the city compared to regular T6 XC60 models, for a rating of 18/25 mpg. 4. R-Design models start at $44,850 plus destination, with our test car at $48,950.

PREVIEW

Aside from the dazzling looks, the real marvel of this sportier version of the family-oriented yet premium European crossover is its plentiful dose of turbocharged power.

Despite its hefty 4,225 lb curb weight, the Volvo XC60 R-Design accelerates easily at any speed or on any terrain thanks to all-wheel drive and a 3.0-liter six-cylinder turbocharged engine making 325 hp and 354 lb-ft of torque.

And even with such peppy performance, fuel economy isn’t brutal, with an 18 mpg city, 25 mpg highway rating, for a combined 20 miles per gallon. That’s only one mile per gallon less in the city than the regular T6 XC60.

There is, of course, a catch, and that comes with the sticker price, with the R-Design retailing for more than $10,000 above the base XC60, which starts at $34,350. Starting at $44,850, our lipstick rouge tester equipped with the Platinum package is a lofty $48,950.

EXTERIOR

Apart from some R-Design badging there’s little that’s outwardly aggressive about the R-Design model’s styling and yet it certainly pops – thanks in part to the Passion Red paint.

It does, however, appear low and lean, despite an off-road-capable 9.1-inch ground clearance. Credit here goes to the details with matte silver mirror covers and alloy accents along the sides of the body, not to mention chrome tipped tailpipes. Factory tinted rear windows help the sporty factor, while the real kicker are the 20-inch 5-spoke wheels. With other tame color choices, if you do want to stand out and red isn’t your think Volvo also now offers a Rebel Blue paint choice.

INTERIOR

Don’t expect the classic wood finishes or inlays of conventional luxury brands inside any Volvo – the R-Design in particular. With unique Scandinavian inspired materials and shapes the XC60’s cabin looks like no other.

At first glance, the tailored look impresses, though it doesn’t hold up to a closer inspection and when practicality and functionality come into play, it’s less than ideal.

Style-wise, it’s unfortunate that the dramatic look of the blue gauges isn’t carried over into other areas of the dash, with the center stack entirely drab. Though the angled center console is well-placed below the 7-inch color display, the function buttons are too small and poorly clustered together. The infotainment system is also problematic, with frustrating controls.

While R-Design models get sporty seating, it’s not overly comfortable and the color combos are less attractive than the promotional material might suggest.The consolation to the bad tech are standard items solely available to the R-Design trims like a 650-watt 12-speaker audio system, as well as a navigation system offering real time traffic alerts and a rear park assist camera.

UNDER THE HOOD

Piloting the XC60 R-Design, it drives like it looks. And by that I mean fast. Power comes on tremendously, and will blast this heavy ute to 60 mph in just 5.8 seconds. It’s responsive and torquey at just the touch of the throttle, meaning it will pull ahead easily on the highway without the need to drop gears.

Further driving the message home is the sport-tuned suspension. With stiffer springs, and some wide, low-profile and sticky 255/45/20 summer tires, this Volvo has plenty of cornering potential. Steering is also tightened to match the suspension.

There is, however, a down-side to these performance upgrades, namely, the harsh ride. Keeping the vehicle’s heft in check requires a level of suspension firmness that is far from agreeable in a family-oriented crossover. Some drivers may also find the amount of steering effort excessive. Overall, it’s a fun package, but one that comes with compromises.

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2015 Volvo S60 T6 Drive-E

Specifications

1. A 2.0L turbocharged and supercharged four-cylinder that makes 302 hp and 295 lb-ft of torque. 2. The T6 Drive-E FWD comes equipped with an eight-speed automatic transmission. 3. The S60 T6 Drive-E FWD is officially rated at 24 mpg city and 35 mpg highway. 4. Pricing for the 2015 S60 T5 Drive-E FWD begins at $34,225 before destination charges.

Preview

After a few years of minor tweaks and mild styling refreshes, 2014 marks the start of a new era. Later in the year an all-new XC90 crossover will set the benchmark and styling direction of all future Volvos. But in the meantime, a new family of engines has debuted. Dubbed Drive-E, the new group of engines are set to replace all current Volvo power-plants in the coming years.

To start, only front-wheel drive (FWD) Volvos will receive Drive-E power-trains as all-wheel drive (AWD) versions are still a few years away. For North America, the Drive-E engines come from a 2.0-liter four-cylinder in two states of tune. The first version is dubbed the T5 and receives a turbocharger to produce 240 hp and 258 lb-ft of torque. The naming convention used here is to indicate which engine the new Drive-E four-cylinder is destined to replace. The T5 is a turbocharged five-cylinder replacement while the T6 is the turbocharged inline-six replacement.

Interior

The interior’s design was updated last year and we do like the revisions, but find some components that were left uncharged, like the display screen and dashboard top, look grossly out of date. We do like the customizable gauge cluster, two-tone comfortable front seats and great sounding stereo. Volvo has finally added paddle shifters to the S60 and the quality of these paddles feels great.

The rear seat is a bit tight and only offers 33.5 inches of rear legroom. We were able to fit a s-xi-foot-tall passenger back there, but three would be quite uncomfortable. The trunk is also on the small side offering a mere 12 cubic feet of total cargo carrying capacity.

Under The Hood

For 2015, this car can be had as a T5 Drive-E FWD (new four-cylinder), T5 AWD (old five-cylinder), T6 Drive-E FWD (new four-cylinder) and T6 AWD (old six-cylinder).

Aside from the new engine, Drive-E equipped cars also come with a new eight-speed automatic transmission. Paired to the T6 twin-charged engine, this drivetrain turns the Volvo S60 into quite the efficient rocket. Volvo claims the car can hit 60 mph from a standstill in just 5.6 seconds. That makes the S60 one of the fastest front-wheel drive vehicles on the market today.

The T6 Drive-E engine makes gobs of power thanks to the trick dual charger system. Lower engine speeds up to 3,500 rpm utilize the supercharger, which produces instant wheel spinning torque. Once at 3,500 rpm, the turbocharger has spooled up and takes over to keep power building all the way up to redline. It really is the best of both worlds since there is no turbocharger lag to wait for initially and no supercharger power-trail-off at higher rpms. It all adds up to quite possibly the most responsive four-cylinder we have ever driven. Power is always on tap and the transition between supercharger and turbocharger is seamless. Plus, the low rpm supercharger whining mixed in with higher rpm turbocharge whooshes makes for a fantastic soundtrack.

In an impressive display of Swedish engineering magic, despite having two forms of forced induction the 302 hp 2.0 liter engine is quite efficient. Thanks in part to the well programed eight-speed automatic, the S60 T6 Drive-E FWD is officially rated at 24 mpg city and 35 mpg highway. During a 70 mile drive of predominantly country roads, we averaged 31.3 mpg, which is not far off of the Volvo V60 wagon we also drove that day with the less powerful turbocharged-only T5 Drive-E engine. And like the wagon, the S60 T6 Drive-E can further bolster fuel economy via an Eco+ mode that automatically transfers the car into neutral when off the accelerator pedal coasting occurs to save fuel.

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Volvo V60 T5 Drive-E 2015

Specifications

1. Engine: turbocharged 2.0L 4-cylinder making 240 hp and 258 lb-ft of torque. 2. Transmission: 8-speed automatic 3. Fuel Economy: 25 MPG city, 37 MPG highway (T5 Drive-E FWD) 4. Pricing: from $36,225.

Preview

For 2015, Volvo is introducing the V60 Sport Wagon. Based on the S60 sedan, it’s positioned as the third member of the ‘60’ family that also includes the XC60 crossover. In many ways it’s a mid-way point between the two, designed to offer the utility of the XC while featuring the driving dynamics of the sedan.

Volvo hopes to sell 4,000 V60s in the U.S. this year and claims to have 10,000 hands raised by potential buyers. If they succeed it could prompt more manufactures to build proper wagons in the future. Yea! But we’re getting ahead of ourselves. First let’s see if the V60 is any good.

Most of Volvo’s new models are great looking and the new Sport Wagon is no exception. The exterior is handsome and athletic-looking with plenty of S60 built into the DNA. At 182.5 inches it splits the difference between its two main rivals by being slightly longer than the BMW 3 Series wagon and a bit shorter than the Audi Allroad. Unlike those two cars, the V60 is available in front-wheel drive configurations, giving it a much lower base curb weight of 3,527 lbs. 

Aside from the new wagon, there is big news for the “60” family in 2015. These vehicles will be the first to receive Volvo’s all-new Drive-E powertrains. Currently Volvo has eight different engines globally built on three separate platforms. The goal of Drive-E is two replace all of these engines with just two built on two platforms – one gasoline and one diesel.

To start, North America will only get the gasoline engine, a 2.0-liter four-cylinder unit. The thought of replacing turbocharged five- and six-cylinder engines with a small four pot may sound crazier than skinny dipping in icy water, but that’s where Volvo’s engineers step in. The new engine will come in two flavors. The first is dubbed “T5” as it is intended to replace the five-cylinder engine. It receives a turbocharger and is good for 240 hp. The second 2.0-liter is designed to replace the turbocharged six-cylinder Volvo currently uses and is appropriately called the T6. This engine incorporates a supercharger and a turbocharged to produce 302 hp.

Interior

The wagon essentially has the same interior set-up as the S60 sedan. Unfortunately, despite last year’s refresh, it already looks dated. Two parts of the cabin - the top of the dashboard and infotainment screen – are especially hard to ignore. Volvo says a new display screen will start appearing in products this year, beginning with the all-new XC90. We do like the supportive front seats, adjustable gauges and inclusion of steering wheel-mounted paddle shifters.

In the back, the V60 offers 33.5-inches of rear legroom, which is less than the Allroad or 3 Series wagon, but still enough to fit average sized adults. For those with young children, an optional integrated child seat is available. The trunk is also on the small side at only 43.8 cubic feet of space with the seats folded down. That is significantly tighter than the Audi or BMW, but Volvo does feature some cargo-hold flexibility with under-floor storage and a flip up trunk splitter.

Under The Hood

As much as this T6 AWD appeals to our inner wagon aficionado, we just had to try out the V60 with that all-new T5 Drive-E engine. Producing 240 hp at 5600 rpm, the turbocharged engine generates impressive torque with 258 lb-ft available at just 1500 rpm, with 280 lb-ft on demand for 10-second intervals thanks to an overboost function.

Matched to an equally new eight-speed automatic transmission, the V60 T5 FWD can scoot from 0 to 60 mph in just 6.1 seconds. That’s quite quick and on the road the T5 four-cylinder feels powerful and smooth. It is missing some of the low-end grunt found in the twin-charged T6 Drive-E engine we also were able to sample, but power is more than adequate for the V60. As well, the eight-speed transmission feels more at home paired with the turbo-only T5 engine than the higher torque T6, where it was constantly down shifting, even under minimal throttle application.

More than just straight-line performance, the new engine line is also designed to deliver impressive fuel economy. Official fuel consumption ratings for the V60 T5 front-wheel drive are listed at 25 MPG in the city and 37 MPG on the highway. During a drive that involved a lot of twisting back roads we were able to average 32.1 MPG. To boost economy even further, the Drive-E engines come standard with an Eco Plus mode. This enables the car to drop automatically into neutral when coasting to remove the inefficient effects of engine braking. The Eco Plus feature worked well during our time with the car as it would transition between coast mode and engine engaged modes seamlessly. On secondary highways we recorded an average in the high 30 MPG range with Eco Plus engaged. 

The chassis is set up for smooth, comfortable driving but does feature a sporty edge. Turn is crisp and the body exhibits minimal roll. This is not a true sports-orientated wagon, however, and the T6 AWD might be more appealing if that’s what you’re after. 

 Getting comfortable behind the wheel and driving the V60 is easy. Due to the wagon shape, there are great sightlines all around. Even the front-wheel drive V60 T5 is capable of towing 3,300 lbs.

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