The S60 is a mid seized sedan that has been produced by Volvo since 2000 remaining in its Series One format for almost a decade till the Series Two made its debut in the Spring of 2010, with the first models hitting the showrooms of North America in the Autumn for 2011.
The 2012 Volvo S60 sedan's sweeping design is yet another example of the Swedish motoring giant's desire to shake of their "safety before everything" image and come up with a car design that is more in keeping with the 21st century, whilst never sacrificing even an iota of Volvo's total emphasis and commitment to safety. The S60's front facing has been given the now typical Volvo brush stroke, and is now considerably more wedge shaped, dominated by a set of prominent headlights and secondary fog lights hovering over and beside a revamped front grille resplendent with the Volvo emblem. Those sweeping lines continue throughout the vehicle culminating in a jauntily shaped tail again dominated by horizontally positioned tail lights.
The Volvo S60 front wheel drive model comes with a choice of two engines, either a 2.5 liter inline 5 cylinder turbo-charged version producing 250 horsepower and 266 pound per feet of torque paired with a six speed automatic transmission is standard. This is the only model among the three engine choices that comes with front wheel drive.
The next model in the range is the Volvo S60 T6 that comes with all wheel drive as standard and is powered by a 3.0 liter inline 6 cylinder turbo-charged engine producing 300 horsepower and 325 pounds per feet of torque. This powerful drive train is partnered with a six speed automatic transmission.
The highest powered engine for the S60 is the T6 R-Design that while remaining on a 3.0 liter inline 6 cylinder turbo-charged base has been re-tuned to provide 325 horsepower and an impressive 354 pounds per feet of torque. The Volvo S60 T6 R-Design salon comes with all wheel drive and six speed automatic transmission. In keeping with its sporty-luxury status the T6 R-Design comes with an upgraded styling package including unique eighteen inch alloy wheels on 235/40R18 all season tires.
The S60 provides a great deal In terms of comfort with more than enough head and leg room for driver and the front seat passenger, resplendent in their bucket seats. The three back seat passengers might struggle just a little with around 34 inches of leg room and 38 inches of head room.
Also leaving just a little to be desired is the Volvo S60's baggage carrying capacity with just 13.9 cubic feet of trunk space available, although, on the up side, access to the trunk is more or less uninhibited, and if need be, it is possible to fold the rear seats flat and push the passenger seat forward to earn some extra storage.