‘The S60 has a cushioned ride and a whisper-quiet interior at motorway speeds’
It is serious firepower, too. The turbocharged fourcylinder engine that drives the front wheels makes roughly 320bhp, and although it’s not the most responsive device, an 85bhp electric motor on the rear axle enables the car to leap forward forcefully. Top speed is 155mph and the 0-62mph sprint can be completed in 4.7sec – an exact match for both the Audi S4 and the C43.
Inside, the S60 is a triumph of quality and character. Like other recent Volvos, the S60 has a 9.0in touchscreen infotainment system. Some will find this a little fiddly to use, but the resolution is superb and response times have been improved. There’s also Apple Carplay and Android Auto smartphone mirroring, as well as access to various apps.
This being a Volvo, there’s plenty of safety kit, too. The automatic emergency braking (AEB) seems particularly clever, able as it is to identify pedestrians, cyclists and even larger animals. Volvo also claims the S60 is the world’s first mid-size saloon to use AEB in the event of an impending crash with an oncoming car.
Volvo hasn’t put a definite price on the S60 yet, but the entry-level T4 is expected to start at about £30,000, while the flagship T8 Polestar Engineered will demand £50,000 to £55,000. Admittedly, these aren’t numbers to lure in buyers on a budget, but first impressions suggest that Volvo has a right to be confident in its pricing. Keen drivers might find the S60 a touch blunt in its handling, but for everyone else, this is a refined, quick and attractive executive saloon.