2019 Volvo S60 Configurator: How We'd Spec It

TopSpeed

By Kirby Garlitos

Published Jun 22, 2018

There's a lot to like about the Volvo S60 once you see what it's offering

The Volvo S60's arrival is a huge deal in the premium sedan segment. The all-new model is touted as a legitimate threat to shake up the establishment, and from the looks of it, the S60 has the chops to make a lot of noise. But before we start saving up for the S60, we're being given the opportunity to create the version of the sedan that best suits us, all thanks to the sedan's online configurator. As expected, I went ahead and played around with it.

Volvo’s online configurator for the S60 sedan is pretty straightforward, so that’s a good thing. The first thing it requires you to do is to pick the trim you prefer. Since I want to keep my S60 with some type of perspective, I’m choosing the T6 R-Design trim. Off the bat, I know I’m getting an S60 that comes with a Blind Spot Information System with Cross Traffic Alert, a Harman Kardon premium sound system, keyless entry, and smartphone integration. These are all part of the R-Design trim, so I think I’m off to a good start.

Now that I’m done with choosing the S60’s trim and powertrain, it’s time to pick a color. But before that, I have a small bone to pick with Volvo. How is it that there’s only one base color option — Black Stone — for the S60? Every other color option in the configurator comes with a $645 premium. I’m still picking one from that list — Denim Blue Metallic — but I don’t feel good about having to pay extra for a color that shouldn’t come with an extra cost. What’s up with that, Volvo?

Moving on to the wheels, I’m picking the 19-inch R-Design alloys because they fit more naturally to the sedan than the 18-inch versions. It might be a little nitpicky — it is, actually — but when you’re picking a sporty trim like R-Design, you’re going to want to be consistent with the way it looks. Bigger wheels help in that regard.

Unfortunately, the trim I chose doesn’t leave any options on the kind of upholstery I’m getting in the interior. Fortunately, the option that is available — Nappa Leather Sport Seats with Open Grid Textile Upholstery — suits me just fine. The all-black look complements the exterior color I chose, and the metal mesh inlays are solid complementary pieces. There’s nothing fancy about how the interior of my S60 looks, and that’s exactly how I want it to be. Even the R-Design steering wheel and gearshift knob are no-nonsense in their design.

The absence of meaningful options means that I still have enough to spend on packages. That’s exactly what I’m going to do. I’m going all-out on the packages, beginning with the Advanced Package. I’m paying an extra $2,500 for it, but I’m getting Active Bending Lights, Graphical Head-up Display, Headlight High-Pressure Cleaning, Visual Park Assist + 360° Camera, and, most importantly, Pilot Assist - Semi-Autonomous Drive System w/Adaptive Cruise Control. That’s a pretty good haul for the price that I’m going to pay for it.

With my car all-but done, I’m excited to get it out on the road. Since I chose the T6 AWD trim, I’m getting a 2.0-liter turbocharged four-cylinder engine with 316 horsepower and 295 pound-feet of torque on tap. Performance numbers haven’t come out yet, but I’m not concerned about any of that. I’m just happy that I have a (virtual) Volvo S60 that fits my needs and personality.

All told, I’m spending $51,340 for my configured Volvo S60. It’s a solid value for a sedan that’s not going to have any shortage of interest among buyers who are looking for something new and fresh in the premium sedan segment.

Further reading