It was expected that once Volvo->ke188 dropped the new-generation V40 onto the market, all the other models in the lineup would follow suit. The first model sent back to the design board was the S60, but only for a minor facelift. The model made its world debut at the 2013 Geneva Motor Show, next to a few other updated Volvo models.

The current S60 was unveiled in 2010, and this is the first update offered for it, even though Volvo opted to only update the exterior and the interior look.

The 2014 S60 receives a new front fascia with more focused and determined-looking headlamps, a wider grille, daylight running lights and new taillights with LED light. For the interior Volvo adds in new upholstery colors, new wood inlays, a new headliner, and the silk metal frames around the air vents and light controls.

Updated 08/02/2013: Volvo revealed its entire 2014 lineup, including the S60 luxury sedan. See all of the details after the jump.

Click past the jump to read all about the 2014 S60

2014 Volvo S60

Specifications
  • Make: Array
  • Model: 2014 Volvo S60
  • Engine/Motor: inline-5
  • Horsepower: 250 @ 5500
  • Torque: 266 @ 1800
  • [do not use] Vehicle Model: Array
Pros
Cons

Exterior

The updated S60 receives a new look forward of the A pillars, which includes a new hood and front fenders that give it a refreshed look, plus a widened grille with a larger Ironmark that is flanked by new headlights and underscored by a wider lower front intake.

For the rear, Volvo adds in new taillights with LED technology and new integrated exhaust pipes for a sleeker look.

Overall, the new exterior gives the S60 a more defined look in a segment that is full of competition. The real question is whether this redesign is enough to push the struggling automaker closer to BMW, Mercedes and Audi?

Standard Exterior Features

-Central power door locks with remote keyless entry, trunk and fuel filler locks

-Dual polished exhaust pipes

-LED front side marker lights, turn signal indicators in outside mirrors, taillights and center high-mount stoplight

-Power heated outside mirrors

-Puddle lights

-Rain sensor windshield wipers

-7.0-by-17-inch "Pandora" Alloy Wheels with 215/50-R17 Tires

Dimensions

Height

58.4 in.

Length

182.2 in.

Width

73.4 in.

Wheelbase

109.3 in.

Track Front

62.1 in.

Track Rear

62 in.

Turning Radius

37.1 ft.


Interior

Volvo also went to task on the interior giving it authentic materials, like wood and leather, while revising all of controls to make the drive feel more in control of the car's features.

Volvo also installed an all-new instrument cluster with either a contemporary analog cluster or a new adaptive digital display, depending on the trim level. The new instrument cluster offers an easy-to-read Thin Film Transistor (TFT) design with three different themes: Elegance, Eco and Performance.

The 2014 S60 also gets with new seats that help reduce fatigue during those long-distance trips. Along with these new seats, Volvo also focused on offering both a sporty and a luxury feeling by adding in new cloth-covered B-pillars, metal trim around air vents, a silver décor frame for the headlight module, a quartz headliner, white-illuminated buttons in place of the green lighting and new front door sill plates.

Standard Interior Features

-Audio controls in steering wheel

-Dual-zone Electronic Climate Control (ECC)

-Front and rear sport seats

-Leather gearshift knob

-Power adjustable driver seat, 8-way with 3-position memory and lumbar support

-Shimmer Graphite aluminum inlay

-Sport leather 3-spoke steering wheel with silk metal inlays

-Tilt/telescopic steering wheel

-Volvo Sensus with integrated 7-inch color display

-High performance sound system, CD, HD Radio, AUX and USB inputs, MP3 capability, 160-watt amplifier, 8 speakers

-Bluetooth hands-free phone interface with audio streaming

-Sirius Satellite Radio with Complimentary 6-month subscription

Dimensions

Head Room Front

38.3 in.

Head Room Rear

37.4 in.

Shoulder Room Front

57 in.

Shoulder Room Rear

55.2 in.

Leg Room Front

41.9 in.

Leg Room Rear

33.5 in.

Hip Room Front

54.9 in.

Hip Room Rear

53.5 in.

Cargo Capacity

12.0 cu. ft.


Drivetrain

Volvo chose to keep everything the same under the hood, so customers still have to choose between two different engine. The base T5 model is offered with a 2.5-liter turbocharged five-cylinder engine that delivers a total of 250 horsepower at 5,000 rpm and 266 pound-feet of torque between 1,800 and 4,800 rpm. With this engine, the base S60 T5 is rated 21 mpg city, 30 mpg highway and 24 mpg combined. Additionally, it hits 60 mph in just 6.2 seconds and sprints to a top speed of 130 mph. With all-wheel drive, the fuel economy dips to 20 mpg city, 29 mpg highway and 23 mpg combined, plus the 0-to-60 mph jumps to 6.6 seconds.

Next there is the T6 AWD version which gets a 3.0 liter turbocharged six-cylinder engine with an output of 300 horsepower and 325 pound-feet of torque. This setup comes standard with all-wheel drive, netting it a rating of 18 mpg city, 25 mph highway and 21 mpg combined. It zips to 60 mph in only 5.6 seconds and tops out at 130 mph.

The most powerful model is the T6 R-Design, which gets a 3.0-liter turbocharged engine that Volvo tweaked to deliver 325 horsepower and 354 pound-feet of torque. This affords the S60 the same ratings as the T6 AWD model, with exception to the 0-to-60 mph time, which the automaker has not released yet.

Both engines hook up to a Six-speed "Geartronic" driver-adaptive automatic with Sport Mode for quick shifting and optimal fuel economy.

Trim

S60 T5

S60 T6 AWD

S60 T6 AWD R-Design

Engine Description

2.5L Five-cylinder Turbocharged Engine

3.0L Six-cylinder Turbocharged Engine

3.0LSix-cylinder Turbocharged Engine

Drivetrain

Front Wheel Drive (available with All Wheel Drive)

All Wheel Drive

All Wheel Drive

Number of Cylinders

5

6

6

Engine Displacement

2.5 Liters

3 Liters

3 Liters

Horsepower (hp @ rpm)

250 @ 5,500

300 @ 5,600

325 hp @ 6,500

Torque (lb-ft @ rpm)

266 @ 1,800 - 4,800

325 @ 2,100 - 4,200

354 @ 3,000 - 3,600

Transmission

Six-speed "Geartronic" driver-adaptive automatic with Sport Mode

Six-speed "Geartronic" driver-adaptive automatic with Sport Mode

Six-speed "Geartronic" driver-adaptive automatic with Sport Mode

Fuel Economy (City/Highway/Combined)

21/30/24 (20/29/23 w/ AWD)

18/25/21

18/25/21

Acceleration (0-60 mph)

6.2 Sec. (6.6 Sec. w/ AWD)

5.6 Sec.

TBA

Top Speed

130 MPH

130 MPH

130 MPH


Suspension and Brakes

The base S60 T5 model comes standard with 17-inch "Pandora" alloy wheels and the base T6 AWD model features 18-inch "Titania" wheels. The base R-Design model gets standard 18-inch Ixion alloy wheels. The T5 models come with a touring chassis, while the T6 AWD models will get dynamic chassis and the R-Design gets a sport suspension for better handling. .

On the corners, the T5, T6 AWD and R-Design models all feature four-wheel disc brakes with 11.9-inch discs on the rear. The front disc vary between the T5, T6 AWD and R-Design, as they feature 11.8-inch, 12.4-inch and 13.2-inch discs, respectively

Prices

Model

Price

S60 T5

$32,400

S60 T5 Premier

$34,900

S60 T5 Premier Plus

$35,550

S60 T5 Platinum

$38,250

S60 T6 AWD

$39,250

S60 T6 AWD Premier Plus

$39,900

S60 T6 AWD Platinum

$42,600

S60 T6 AWD R-Design

$42,700

S60 T6 AWD R-Design Platinum

$45,700


Competitors

Acura TL

The current TL has been around since 2009 and it has remained the same since.

Acura TL offers a choice of two engines: a 3.5-liter SOHC V-6 with 280 horsepower and 254 pound-feet of torque and a 3.7-liter V-6 with 305 horsepower and 273 pound-feet of torque.

Prices range from $35,905 for the base TL version and will go up to $43,185 for the TL SH-AWD equipped with the Advance Package.

Audi A4

The 2014 A4 is powered by a 2.0-liter turbocharged four-cylinder engine with an output of 220 horsepower -- up from 211 horsepower in 2013. The extra 9 horsepower help the A4 to sprint from 0 to 60 mph in 6.6 seconds and up to a top speed of 130 mph.

Prices for the A4 range from $33,800 for the A4 2.0T FWD Multitronic Premium and go up to $44,700 for the A4 2.0T Quattro Tiptronic Auto Prestige.

Conclusion

While it is not as cool as the A4, nor as luxurious as the 3 Series, the S60 is still a good alternative for those interested for an alternative to German luxury sedans. Additionally, its boosted six-cylinder engines sure do pack some pop, which may help drag younger buyers into Volvo showrooms.

Category

Rating

Details

Driving

B-

Handling is good, but the brakes are very average-feeling

Performance

B

Turbocharged T6 engines are a hoot, and the base 2.5-liter is impressive too

Look

C+

Not the best looking sedan out there; interior is highly equipped and the redesign is tasteful

Value

B-

We expect a lot more features, like standard leather, in a sedan cresting the $30k mark

Overall

B-

Volvo is certainly coming around in its styling and performance, but it's still a stretch to say it's on par with a Bimmer, Benz or Audi; it'll like beat out a Buick, though