Sleepy Style, Luxury Appeal - 2015 Volvo S60 Long-Term Road Test

Edmunds.com

Sleepy Style, Luxury Appeal - 2015 Volvo S60 Long-Term Road Test

The 2015 Volvo S60 doesn't stand out like other luxury sedans, but it's a good choice for an unassuming luxury sedan.

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banhugh

For $47k+ taxes people want more. I can get most of this Volvo's features in a fully loaded Accord...

seppoboy

S60 is not cheap, but neither are its competitors. You can get most of this Volvo's features in a fully loaded Accord. You can get most of the fully loaded Accord's features in a Kia Forte. We can play this game all day. The reality is that the Volvo, like BMW 3 series, ATS, A4, Lexus IS, etc. is solidly built, refined, and has extra effort placed in capabilities owners only experience over the long haul, not just in the showroom or a short test drive. S60 has truly great seats, well thought out comfort and convenience features, deeply developed safety features, and a really nice drivetrain. It also has a tasteful design that ages well, not a flavor-of-the-month kind of thing. It is not a huge market, but there is a market for thoughtful and well designed, durable vehicles of inherent value irrespective of social signalling and "prestige". The kind of people who value a Touareg over a flashier Cayenne or ML350 for instance. Volvo seems to be making good use of this generation S60's bones, will be interesting to see its replacement.

legacygt

seppoboy said:

The reality is that the Volvo...has extra effort placed in capabilities owners only experience over the long haul, not just in the showroom or a short test drive.

You can go this route to justify the Volvo's price if you want but you can really say the same thing about any Subaru. That's a brand that doesn't impress on the showroom floor but after a few months of ownership a Subaru grows on you...around the same time that other cars start to disappoint. The 3 series, A4, etc. are expensive but an owner will never be forced to justify their choice to a friend or colleague. Those brands (through a combination of marketing, engineering, design and history) have reputations that people are willing to pay for. Volvo is just not in that space right now.

legacygt

Amazing that when the S60 design first came out it was being marketed as "sexy." In fact, in the promotional materials, it was. But the S60 is the rare car that looks much less interesting in person than in pictures.

random_shots

The styling problems lay beyond the c-pillar. The trunk area ends so abruptly it looks like another car ran into the back of it and has not been repaired yet.

5vzfe

I like the S60s styling, it's simplicity is more elegant to my eyes. This car is nice looking without screaming its intentions. There's enough details (stubby trunk lid, NORMAL-SIZED GRILL, clean tail lights) to differentiate the Volvo from its competitors instantly. I think this car will age well aesthetically, I'm not sure many contemporary Lexus or Nissan vehicles can say the same.

fordescortgt

I got a S60 for the reason that it does not attract attention. I like the idea of a luxury car that flies under the radar. I have the R-design which actually looks pretty aggressive in profile and from the back (with the difusser). However I think you have to want this car, honestly they are pricey, although if you pay full price for an S60 you are doing something wrong. They are heavily discounted. They ride nice, but even in R-design form this does not touch the 3 series or S4 for driving dynamics. They are fast and in sport mode are absolutely manic. passing cars and merging are no problem for this car.

pg123456789

Good looking car, although it does have classic FWD proportions. The current Mazda6 hides its FWD proportions much better though.

Since many have commented how the S60 can look like Honda Civic from the back, the author should have parked the car front in, move the camera to the right so the S60 and black Honda Civic are in the picture. It would be an interesting comparison. I think the Honda looks a little bigger!

erikn206

I like to be reminded that there are parts of the country where Volvos are more rare. Here in the northwest there are Volvos everywhere. Many of them with stickers proving their owner picked them up at the factory in Göteborg.

stever

A reporter is looking to interview owners of the Volvo S60 Inscription. Please email PR@edmunds.com before January 4, 2016 with a few words about your experience with the car if you'd like to be considered for this interview.