2013 Volvo S60 R-Design

This current generation S60 may well be the most complete car Volvo has ever produced.  And though the changes for 2013 are minor, the addition of this Rebel Blue paint grabs the headline.

I can’t recall ever testing a car that roused as many people to comment on its color as this.  Available exclusively on the range-topping R-Design models, the Rebel Blue hue drew praise all week as being the “it” color to have on the S60 and I wholeheartedly agree.  The S60 is already quite an attractive car but when it’s painted like this and in full R-Design regalia, it downright commands attention.

The sportier R-Design trim debuted for the 2012 model year and left me duly impressed following my test-week.  For 2013, the size of the front brakes have been increased to 13.2”, a number of standard features has been added such as rain sensing wipers and there’s a new Platinum trim, which my car has, bundling a killer 650-watt, 12-speaker Premium Sound System, navigation system with voice control and a backup cam.  Volvo has done this car right both inside and out to produce a great-looking automobile with a number of R-Design touches that together never cross the line to unsophisticated.

Inside there’s a new gear selector that matched the one found in the S80 and when you kick it to the left it puts you into a sport mode that makes this already fast car even more energetic.

A 0-to-60mph time of 5.5-seconds is nothing to sneeze at and let me tell you, it feels much faster. This inline 6 is one of the most underrated motors in the business.  And it’ll run on 87 octane while returning 18mpg city/25mpg highway…the latter down 1 mpg from last year.  3.0-liters of turbocharged spiritedness and standard sport chassis underpin this all-wheel drive sedan which crafts a clever concoction of eager playfulness and uncompromised comfort.  More so than perhaps any other automaker, Volvo has a signature feel to its softly sprung ride that even if I was blindfolded I could identify as being Volvo.  Combined with these soft leather sport seats with deeper side bolsters, the S60 is a car that doesn’t even know the word harsh.  The ride quality is impeccable even with the R-Design’s fortified suspension and body tightening components.  In exchange, the S60 R-Design possesses more body roll than the hardcore sports sedan driver wants, though backed by its 325 horsepower and 354 pound feet of torque, it’s still very much an exciting and enjoyable playtime.  The all-wheel drive system also aids in better cornering control and a sport mode for the stability traction control system allows for performance minded wheelspin.  As for the steering, variable effort can be chosen though it’s buried in electronic submenus where there should just be a button.

On the safety front, City Safety, which can help prevent a slow speed collision with the vehicle in front of you is standard, but Pedestrian detection, blind spot monitoring and a host of other defense systems are optional.  The S60 T6 AWD R-Design Platinum is a mouthful but well worth uttering if you prefer not blend into the Benz and Bimmer crowd.  MSRP as tested is $48,395.