The 2014 Volvo S60 comes with an option of two different engines, each connected to a 6-speed automatic transmission. T5-trimmed Volvos come with a 2.5L turbocharged 5-cylinder making 250 horsepower and a very impressive 266 foot pounds of torque. T6 S60s come with a 3.0L V6 making 300 horsepower or, in R-design trim 325 horsepower. T6 Volvos come with all-wheel-drive as standard, though it's a $2,000 option across the entire T5 line as well.
Trim levels on the S60 are numerous and include base T5, T5 Premiere, T5 Premiere Plus, T5 Platinum, T6, T6 Premier Plus, T6 Platinum, T6 R-Design and T6 R-Design Platinum.
Standard features on the base T5 and by extension across the entire lineup include keyless entry and power door locks, LED front side marker lights, power heated mirrors, cruise control, steering wheel mounted audio controls, dual-zone climate control, an 8-way power adjustable driver's seat, a rear seat pass through for skis, a 7-inch full color display, a 160-watt sound system, Bluetooth connectivity and Sirius Satellite radio with a 6-month complimentary subscription.
Premier models add a new instrument display, an auto dimming rearview mirror, a power adjustable passenger seat and leather seating.
Premier Plus S60s include an integrated garage door opener and a rear park assist camera.
Platinum level includes auto diming and power retractable outside mirrors, interior accent lighting, a 12-speaker 650-watt premium sound system and a navigations system.
Features on the R-Design are much more performance-oriented, with the car getting upgraded chassis stiffening and a more powerful engine. Suspension has also been lowered and stiffened to improve cornering while the exterior of the car gets several unique body colored and matte black components. 18-inch alloy wheels are standard, while 19-inch alloy wheels with summer tires are optional. The seating is also unique to the R-design, the car featuring much deeper bucket seats with more aggressive side bolstering.
Safety has always been a Volvo hallmark and the S60 is no different. The standard features expected of most manufacturers are all present including anti-lock brakes, traction control and stability control. The S60 also features dual threshold front airbags, side curtain airbags and side impact airbags. City Safety, a standard feature on all S60 models, is able to detect a head on collision at up to 30 mph and pre-load or even apply the brakes if it detects an imminent accident. Optional safety features include a rear mounted camera, a blind spot information system, a lane departure warning system and a road sign information display. All Volvo S60 models come with a 4-year warranty good up to 50,000 miles with complementary Volvo service at 10,000, 20,000 and 30,000 miles.
Sporty Styling, Competitive Price, Strong Performance, Available All-wheel-drive, Plenty Of Safety Features
The Volvo S60 gets redesigned styling for 2014. The biggest change is to the front end, which manages to look both more conventional and sportier at the same time. The rear end also gets updates to the taillights and the exhaust pipes. Inside, Volvo has increased the sporting quotient of the S60 by adding paddle shifters to the steering wheel on select models. The software controlling the transmission has also been improved, allowing for quicker shifts during spirited driving.
The Volvo S60 is priced between about $32,000 and $46,000, putting it in competition with plenty of other entry level luxury sedans from Europe. Unlike entries from BMW and Audi however, the base Volvo comes equipped with a 5-cylinder powerplant that makes significantly more horsepower than the 4-cylinder engines utilized in the base 3-series and Audi A4. This value disparity is echoed up through the S60 lineup, with the Volvo S60 giving buyers more car, more engine and more features for their money.
