Written by Marco Carvajal
2023 Volvo S60 Recharge eAWD Black Edition
The S60 is the result of a premium Scandinavian minimalism style converted into a bolt and elegant compact sports luxury hybrid sedan that can be recharged, but we can say much more to describe this rechargeable Volvo sedan, let’s start with the fact that the Volvo S60 is one of the safest compact sports sedan available.
Volvo is well known as a builder of safe, strong, comfortable, and very reliable cars with Swedish style. The S60 hybrid Recharge Sedan is not an exception.
S60 Rechargeable and Powerful
The new Volvo S60 Recharge is a result of Volvo’s all-electrification efforts. This efficient rechargeable hybrid car combines mobility, effectiveness, and comfort. The S60 is a Plug-in Hybrid Sedan with one of the best levels of fuel economy of 74 MPGe combined highway and city, 30 MPG city, and 33 MPG highway. This plug-in can be recharged on any electric outlet and can drive up to 41 miles in electric-only mode, but it also uses gasoline as a hybrid.
Who said that electric and hybrid cars are not fast and powerful? Besides the amazing fuel economy, the S60 has an impressive 455 combined horsepower and it can reach a fast speed from 0 to 60 miles per hour in only 4.3 seconds.
“Sales of our Recharge products, and the consumer demand for them, show no signs of slowing down,” said Anders Gustafsson, Senior Vice President, of Volvo Car Americas and President and CEO, of Volvo Car USA. “With one of the industry’s most ambitious electrification plans in place, we are more focused than ever on increasing the number of pure electric vehicles in our lineup to get us closer to achieving our goal of becoming fully electric by 2030.”
The new sedan enters a declining segment that is challenging for automakers like Volvo and its competitors. The Volvo S60 competes in the market of compact luxury sedans, offering a solid mix of comfort, technology, and design. The S60 is a very good alternative offering pros and cons for sedan buyers who generally go for highly appealing competitors in the midsize luxury sedan segment like the BMW 3 Series, Mercedes-Benz C-Class, Audi A4, and the Lexus IS 350.
S60 Highlights
- Google built-in apps with Google Maps, Google Assistant, and Google Play
- Driver assistance technology
- Air purifier
- Cross-traffic alert
- Premium Bowers & Wilkins audio system
- Safety assistance technology
- Plug-in Hybrid Sedan
- Impressive fuel economy of
- 30 MPG city/33 MPG highway
- 74 MPGe combined highway and city
- Drive up to 41 miles in electric-only mode
- Polestar Engineered Available
- 455 combined horsepower
- Towing capacity of 2,000 lbs
- Reach a fast speed from 0 to 60 miles per hour in only 4.3 seconds
Volvo’s Safety Innovation from the Creator of the Three-Point Seat Belt
When you buy a Volvo you can be confident of excellent quality and safety for the driver, passenger, other vehicles, pedestrians, or even animals on the road due to Volvo’s advanced safety features
Anybody who knows the Volvo brand well is aware this automaker has a long history as a leader in passenger vehicle safety innovation, several Volvo vehicles have received the highest possible safety rating from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration among many other recognitions for their high-level of safety.
Some background in Volvo’s safety innovation, back In 1959, Volvo engineer Nils Bohlin created and developed the modern three-point seat belt. Volvo decided to leave this patent open to make it available to all vehicle manufacturers to use for free. Volvo’s generous decision was made to help public safety so that everyone could be safer in any car, not only Volvo cars. Just like Volvo made this historic contribution to the automobile industry, the brand continues to work towards excellence in safety.
S60 Luxury Scandinavian Style
With its Scandinavian interior style design and great endurance, the S60 is a great car to drive on fast highways and in big cities. If you want a luxury car with a beautiful elegant design then the S60 is a great choice. If you also want top safety features, a strong engine, and a car that may stay with you for several years then the S60 can be a smart choice. The ticket price to buy a Volvo is not cheap above $52K, you pay for the great quality you get and as a bonus, most Volvo cars retain a high-resale price over the years.
This Volvo is beautiful and original, but it is not ostentatious or flashy, especially for those who don’t know much about the quality and safety of Volvo it can look like a regular sedan but it is not. As you get to know this brand you will fall in love more in more with this Swedish car and understand its great value.
The new 2023 S60 lineup comes with a facelift and new infotainment software with google built-in.
The redesigned Volvo S60 is a clear example of how new Volvo models, including the new S60, are more elegant while being smart, safe, technological, quiet, and unpretentious.
The new S60 is a very American sedan, built at the Volvo’s plant in South Carolina, and is created and designed for the American market, with comfort and smooth handling in mind. This sedan has simple visual delights, like a low hood line, short overhangs, and nice front and rear lines that add to its bolt appeal.
The compact sports sedan segment is one of the toughest on the market, and it’s in decline, but it’s where segment leaders gain prestige and popularity with consumers to continue climbing among their models.
With the S60 completing Volvo’s refreshed line-up of vehicles, you now have a perfect little family of Volvo cars with attractive, engaging designs inside and out, well-developed technology, and adaptable infotainment systems.
Pricing
The 2023 Volvo S60 is offered with different packages and options. The mode that I am driving is the S60 eAWD Black Edition Hybrid Plug-in Recharge. For those who don’t want a plug-in, the S60 is also available as a hybrid only. For 2023 the S60 is not available as a regular non-hybrid gas model in line with the trend of Volvo walking away from regular gas cars, and moving towards hybrid and electric cars only.
Pricing for the 2023 S60 Recharge starts from US$52,345 MSRP, not your typical budget sedan as this is a premium car that not everyone can afford, but those who can buy it will enjoy the result of great technology, safety features, amazing fuel economy, and a luxury minimalist exterior and interior style.
It comes with a long list of standard equipment, plenty of options, a good warranty, and a very good infotainment system, with a big screen helping the driver to enjoy more each ride onboard the S60.
Among many packages and options available, the S60’s Advanced package is worth it for the upgraded luxury provided by its 360-degree camera system, an additional 12-volt outlet in the cargo area, a head-up display, and a semi-autonomous drive mode.
Performance
I am test-driving the S60 eAWD Black Edition hybrid, this sedan runs fast and with lots of power at 455 horsepower and 523 pound-feet of torque. in the all-wheel-drive Recharge plug-in hybrid. All S60s get an advanced eight-speed automatic transmission.
Enhanced by the smart all-wheel drive, the S60 Recharge performs with great agility while delivering relaxed control and a smooth drive to enjoy every road. Essential to its performance is Volvo’s SPA modular platform suspension kit which feels very smooth.
Driving the S60 feels similar to its rival German cars, cornering confidently and softening big bumps.
I am sure that most sedan drivers would enjoy the Volvo S60 solid, safe, and very precise ride.
The steering wheel feels firm without being heavy, and the all-wheel-drive system distributes power to individual wheels in a smart way to maximize traction and grip when cornering or on slippery roads.
Technology and Safety
Compact in size and enhanced by built-in Google apps, the S60’s operating system is unique in the industry (also shared by Polestar, a Volvo subsidiary) and features excellent voice recognition as well as an easy-to-use menu structure. Google built-in apps include Google Maps, Google Assistant, and Google Play.
Every S60 features a tablet-style infotainment system that works through a Google-based interface. The system’s native voice assistant works well.
Apple CarPlay and Android Auto are standard, while a Bowers & Wilkins premium audio system is optional.
The S60 comes loaded with standard safety features including antilock disc brakes, traction, and stability control, front-seat side airbags, full-length side curtain airbags, and whiplash-reducing front head restraints. It Includes electronic warnings for driver inattention, lane departure, or impending collision, forward collision warning, full-speed automatic emergency braking, a road sign reader, a drowsy driver warning system, and control of the vehicle remotely.
Interior Design
Entering the cabin of this sedan you can feel its excellent build quality, which revels in exclusive materials throughout and rare attention to detail. The design is undeniably edgy and packed with flourishes like jeweled switches and extremely comfortable seats.
Its luxury features include a 12.3-inch digital gauge cluster, ambient interior lighting, a head-up display, massaging front seats, and more.
Rear-seat passengers will appreciate the generous head and legroom compared to other vehicles in its compact sedan segment.
Volvo
Volvo is the Scandinavian car of excellence. Volvo started around 1927 in the city of Gothenburg in Sweden. Gothenburg is the second-largest city in Sweden, after Stockholm. Even if Volvo is recognized as a Swedish car, the company is now owned by a Chinese multinational, The Geely Holding Group from China. However, the headquarters of Volvo are still located in Gothenburg, Sweden, so technically it is still a Swedish car, manufactured with the traditional high standards and quality of Sweden.
