2015 Volvo S60 T6 Drive-E - TestDriveNow.com Video Review

2015 Volvo S60 T6 Drive-E Video Review:

When the compact S60 was redesigned several years back it instantly became the best Volvo I had ever driven, staying true to the company’s values while delivering a full-fledged sports sedan experience.

141847_Volvo_S60 And now for 2015, the new Drive-E family of engines fuels a greener S60 by using a 2.0-liter engine you’d never guess wasn’t one of Volvo’s in-line sixes.

Turbos are great but there can be a lag before they spool up and shove more air into the engine, so Volvo’s answer is to take this direct-injected 4-cylinder and start it off with the immediacy of a supercharger and then let the turbo take it from there. The result is a hard hitting 295 foot-pounds of torque, 302 horsepower and an impressive 35mpg highway.

The S60’s completely turbocharged lineup includes inline engines of 4-, 5- and 6-cylinders, but it’s this S60 T6 Drive-E that’s the only one that further benefits from a supercharger. It’s available only in front-drive configuration which in itself poses some torque steer challenges – that’s the tugging of the steering wheel that occurs under hard acceleration – and it’s fairly pronounced here. It’s no Saab 9-3 Viggen but it’s undoubtedly present. Nonetheless, this engine is as responsive, and refined as any 2.0 you’ll find with robust power instantly on demand at any RPM. It works through an all-new 8-speed automatic with sport and manual modes, including sturdy paddle shifters. It takes this S60 from 0-to-60mph in a 2-hands-on-the-wheel 5.6-seconds. It’s one of those cars that require a gentle right foot otherwise you’ll find yourself launching into hyper boost mode. And as long as you accelerate prudently, you can hit those EPA numbers of 24mpg city/35mpg highway/28mpg combined on premium. To aid in that cause is an ECO+ mode which adjusts engine, transmission and climate settings to save a little more gas as well as a somewhat abrupt start-stop system.

Volvo is one of the few remaining brands to have a true consistency in their seat feel and ride quality. I’ve often said if you led me into one blindfolded I could guess it was a Volvo within moments. Even with these optional 19” wheels and stiffer sport chassis, the S60 is as smooth as glass and the soft, body contouring front seats just further Volvo’s hallmark comfort.

The new Electrical Power Assist Steering is light and easy yet provides good feedback to the driver while spirited driving showcases a car in control with quickly dampened body motions and the understeer-killing corner traction control with torque vectoring. This S60 provides owners a desirable consonance between brawn and brains, athleticism and luxury.

The S60’s wide ranging tech is big-time impressive with a host of sensors, a forward looking camera and radars helping to detect bicyclists, pedestrians and of course, other cars. Safety is a way of life for Volvo and it’s ever present here.

With blind spot monitoring, a lane departure system that’ll steer you back into place, collision avoidance systems, adaptive cruise control, front and rear park assist with cross-traffic alert, auto high beams for the bi-Xenon active headlights and a camera that reads speed limit signs and then displays it in the gauge cluster, the feeling of safety is palpable.

Other cabin headlines on my Platinum-level tester include a gorgeous new customizable gauge cluster, a serviceable navigation system that can be controlled through switchgear on the wheel and a hushed quietness on the highway. The S60 is a compact and as such feels a little tight in the rear seats, particularly on leg room while the 14 cubic feet of trunk space is generous and includes this clever grocery bag holder.

A base S60 T5 Drive-E starts at $34,225 while this T6 Drive-E Platinum with the 19” Diamond Cut wheels, lowered sport chassis, tech package, Xenon headlights, Blind Spot package, metallic paint and heated front seats stickers for $47,725.

CLICK HERE to get a FREE ONLINE PRICE QUOTE for your NEW VOLVO from a dealer near you. Absolutely NO OBLIGATION.