Volvo S60

The new S60 gets a clean, streamline and tiered dashboard, featuring premium quality soft-/hard-touched materials and details.

Outfitted in Charcoal interior, it sees a single design option (Charcoal Open Grid Textile upholstery with Metal Mesh decor).

Centre-staged is the dual-screen setup (instrument cluster, infotainment), and linked to the dash is a flat centre console with an Orrefors Crystal gear shifter.

Overall, it is well-designed and purposefully-arranged with every accessibility being driver-centric and user-friendly.

Installed is a 12-Inch digital instrument cluster with a Head-Up Display (HUD). The system supports two display modes (Calm, Navi).

Charcoal interior outfitted, upholstery is in a combination of Nappa Leather and Open Grid Textile with contrast stitching/piping.

The front sees electronic-powered (front - driver/passenger - adjustable, lumbar, cushion extension, memory) Contour seats with an armrest (centre console). The rear gets a bench seat (60:40 split-flat-fold) with an armrest (centre seat fold-out).

Accentuating the environment are mood lighting (door panels, centre console), Charcoal headliner, textile floor mats, and a Panoramic glass sunroof (electric - dark tint, UV protect, sunshade).

A five-seater, the saloon has generous cabin space, offering the front and rear occupants with plenty of mobility. Sufficient head-, shoulder-, and leg-room. 

Mounted is a three-spoke sport steering wheel, wrapped in leather-free synthetic material (Charcoal) with colour-matched stitching and Silver trims.

Features are multi-switches (Bluetooth, Media, Voice Recognition, Vehicle settings), column adjustments (tilt, telescopic), paddle shifters, and heating.

Drive is aided by an Electric Power Steering (EPS) system.

Numerous storage compartments. E.g., side door/seat back pockets, centre console partitioned/caverned spaces (armrest storage), driver-dash card holder, and an extensible hook-integrated glove box.

Provided are four cup holders (two - front, rear), and four bottle holders (one - front, rear - side doors).

Several power outlets are available. E.g., four USB charging ports (two - front, rear), two 12 V power sockets (one - front, boot), and one wireless charger (front). 

The boot comes with a powered-boot-lid feature (operation - remote control/key fob, buttons (boot-lid, dashboard), contactless (kick-sensor) - height adjustment). 

Accessing one of the features opens up to 427-Litres of load capacity.

Weighing in at 2,041 KG (Recharge T8 Ultimate), the new S60 stands at 4,778 MM long, 1,850 MM wide, 1,426 MM tall, and with a wheelbase spanning 2,872 MM.

An elegantly-sporty presence, it exudes a solidly-sculpted exterior with smooth contours and sharp styling elements. 

The front-end sees sleekly-lined bonnet and fenders, a High-Gloss Black grille with horizontal inserts, and a bumper with air-vents (corners, centre).

Accentuating the layout is the Black-Chrome Volvo emblem (centre grille), and High-Gloss Black trimmings (bumper, side mirrors, window surrounds).

Sporty and mildly-tapered, it radiates a symmetrically-horizontal outlook, adorned by angularly-smooth and chiselled lines.

The rear-end sees a sculpted boot (moulded boot-lid spoiler), smoothly-lined fenders, and a squared-out bumper with lower cladding.

Accentuating the layout is the Chrome Volvo script (middle tailgate), and High-Gloss Black/Chrome trimmings (bumper, window surrounds).

Framed angularly-smooth, fitted are Pixel LED units, with ‘Thor’s Hammer’ LED Daytime Running Lights (DRL). 

Features are Adaptive High Beam (AHB), and automatic On/Off, levelling and cornering light functions.

Unique and highly-warped, the tail lamps are fairly large and in an inverted C-shape design. Fitted are LED combination units.

The side mirrors (High-Gloss Black) are electronic-powered (auto-fold, adjust), with turn- and blind-spot (Blind Spot Information System - BLIS) indicators, and memory and auto-dimming functions.

Installed is a setup of ventilated disc brakes (front, rear). Drive is aided by an Electronic Parking Brake (EPB) with Auto Brake Hold system.

Sportily-designed, it rides on a set of 19-Inch six-twin-spoke Black Diamond-cut alloy rims, rubbered-up in 235/40 R19 Michelin e-Primacy 4 tyres. 

The new S60 features a comprehensive set of Advanced Driver Assistance Systems (ADAS).

Installed are the City Safety suite (collision avoidance and mitigation with intersection support for pedestrian, cyclist and large animal detection with steering support and braking), Front and Rear Collision Warning and Mitigation Support, Lane Keeping Aid (LKA), Run-Off Road Mitigation with Road Edge Detection, Blind Spot Information System (BLIS) with Steer Assist, Cross Traffic Alert (CTA) with Autobrake, Adaptive Cruise Control (ACC) with Steering Assist, Pilot Assist (Driver Assist System), and Park Assist (360-degree camera). 

Other systems include Anti-lock Brake System (ABS), Electric Brake Force Distribution (EBD), Brake Assist System (BAS), Brake Override System (BOS), Electronic Stability Program (ESP), Traction Control System (TCS), Hill-start Assist Control (HAC), Hill Descent Control (HDC), and Indirect Tyre Pressure Monitoring System (iTPMS).

Passive safety includes six airbags (driver-passenger, front side, front-rear curtain), Whiplash Protection System (WHIPS) for front seats, Side Impact Protection System (SIPS), seatbelts (anchors, reminders, pretensioners), ISOFIX (anchor, top tether), auto-dimming rear-view mirrors (exterior, interior), parking cameras (reverse, 360-degree), parking sensors (four - front, rear), ready-to-drive notification, emergency stop assist, door ajar warning, impact beams (side, front), Run-Off Road Protection, tyre sealant kit, extra-thick tempered side windows (front, rear), and security alarm (immobiliser, anti-theft).

Four drive modes available (Hybrid, Pure, Power, Constant AWD).

Installed is a 9.0-Inch portrait integrated colour touchscreen infotainment, running on an Android Automotive Operating System (Android Auto OS).

Features are Google Automotive Services (Digital Service Package - DSP) - Google Assistant, Google Maps, Google Play Store), Apple CarPlay/Android Auto (wireless), and YouTube.

Entertainment is channelled via a Harman Kardon Premium Sound system (600 W). The setup consists of 14 speakers and an air-ventilated subwoofer.

The new S60 fuses a Plug-In Hybrid (PHEV) powertrain.

Featured is a 2.0-Litre inline four-cylinder 16-valve direct-injection turbo/supercharged with e-boost petrol engine (317 HP at 6,000 RPM, 400 NM at 3,000 to 5,400 RPM), mated to a rear-axle mounted electric motor (145 HP at 15,900 RPM, 309 NM at 3,280 RPM).

Total combined output reads at 462 HP of max power and 709 NM of max torque.

Coupled with the setup is an eight-speed automatic transmission with Geartronic.

Power is transmitted to all four wheels, via an Electronic All-Wheel Drive (e-AWD) system.

Acceleration from 0 to 100 KM/H is done in 4.5 seconds, and the top speed is 180 KM/H.

Fuel tank capacity is at 60-Litres, and the combined fuel consumption reads at 1.4 L/100 KM.

Juicing up the e-motor is an 18.8 KWH Lithium-Ion battery, providing a total pure electric driving range of 90 KM.

Upgraded are the on-board chargers (OBC). Two/three phase AC charging (6.4 KW) takes three hours for a 0% to 100% State of Charge (SoC). 

Single phase AC charging takes four hours (4.0 KW) and seven hours (2.4 KW) for a 0% to 100% SoC. 

The new S60 features these conveniences.

E.g., keyless entry (engine On/Off button), power tailgate (operation - remote control/key fob, buttons (boot-lid, dashboard), contactless (kick-sensor) - height adjustment), automatic headlamps (On/Off, high-beam, levelling, cornering), automatic wipers (rain sensing), auto-dimming rear-view mirrors (exterior, interior), steering wheel (multi-switches, column adjustments, heating, paddle shifters, EPS), Electronic Parking Brake (EPB) with Auto Brake Hold system, Blind Spot Information System (BLIS), electronic-powered front seats (adjustments, lumbar, memory), interior lighting (mood, reading, boot), wireless charger, parking sensors (four - front, rear), parking cameras (360-degree, reverse), Panoramic glass sunroof (electric - dark tint, UV protect, sunshade), extra-thick tempered side windows (front, rear), dual-zone Electronic Climate Control (ECC) with rear air-vents, Clean Zone Interior Air Quality System (PM2.5 air purifier), electric cabin heater/cooler, humidity sensor, Google Automotive Services, and armrests (front, rear).

Installed is a dual-zone Electronic Climate Control (ECC). The setup comes with rear air-vents, a Clean Zone Interior Air Quality System (PM2.5 air purifier), and an electric cabin heater/cooler.

Underpinned is Volvo’s Dynamic Chassis, featuring a suspension setup of double wishbones (front) and multi-link (rear).

Ride comfortability feels flexible and firm at the same time. The vehicle delivers a connected steering feel, with more linear and balanced weighing at all speeds. 

Overall, it is spacious and comfortable, and the ride quality is satisfactory. Safe and suitable for a daily driver.

Good sound insulation, covering all the NVH (noise, vibration, harshness) aspects. The cabin is serene, with the engine, tyre, road and wind noises mostly hindered. 

Additional acoustic features come in the form of the extra-thick tempered side windows (front, rear).

The 2024 Volvo S60 is a great day-to-day sedan. First, it offers an elegantly-sporty outlook with its well-designed exterior.

Second, its shell envelopes a premium and sophisticated interior, providing advanced connectivity, and plenty of safety features and creature comforts.

Overall, its build quality is satisfactory, and with its commandingly-planted demeanour, the new S60 is surely a Volvo for Malaysians to consider.