2012 Volvo S60 Price, Review, Specs, what car reviews, The S60 is Volvo’s midsize sedan which is redesigned for 2012 after skipping the 2011 model year. The S60 was added to the Volvo lineup for the 2001 model year to replace the S70, built on a variant of the S80 platform. The S70 name was added in 1998 when Volvo’s best-selling sedan, the 850 received a new interior. The 850, was widely praised for its spirited performance and handling in contrast to Volvo’s reputation for building safe, if somewhat stodgy cars. For 2007 the S60 received minor exterior updates, stronger suspension, more safety equipment, and more options.
Body Styles, Trim Levels, and Options
The 2012 Volvo S60 is a midsize luxury sedan available in three trim levels — T5, T6 and T6 R-Design. The T5 comes standard with 17-inch wheels, heated mirrors, cruise control, dual-zone automatic climate control, an eight-way power driver seat with memory functions and adjustable lumbar, power-folding rear headrests, a leather-wrapped tilt-and-telescoping steering wheel, T-Tec cloth upholstery, Bluetooth and an eight-speaker sound system with a CD player, HD radio, satellite radio, an auxiliary audio jack and an iPod/USB audio interface. The T6 adds a more powerful engine and standard all-wheel drive, plus 18-inch wheels, bigger brakes, sport-tuned suspension, different steering tuning (includes selectable settings), leather upholstery and the auto-dimming rearview mirror. The Premium package available on the T5 and T6 adds adaptive bi-xenon headlights, a sunroof, an eight-way power passenger seat and, for the T5, the leather upholstery and auto-dimming rearview mirror.
The T6 R-Design adds more power, special styling, unique 18-inch wheels, a sport-tuned suspension, a rear spoiler, special interior trim, a sport steering wheel, sport seats and the contents of the Premium package.
The Climate package adds heated front seats, heated windshield washers, automatic wipers and headlight washers. The Multimedia package adds a rearview camera, a navigation system with real-time traffic and a 12-speaker premium surround-sound audio system. The Technology package adds adaptive cruise control, driver-attention warning, lane-departure warning and a collision warning system with auto braking and pedestrian detection. Stand-alone options include a blind-spot warning system, front and rear parking sensors, keyless ignition/entry and a dual-screen rear seat entertainment system (not available on R-Design).
Available on the T5 is the Dynamic package, which adds 18-inch wheels and the T6′s sport-tuned suspension and selectable steering settings. Available on the T6 is an adaptive suspension called Four-C that includes three driver-selectable settings, as well as chassis tuning from the T5 Touring and (at no cost) 17-inch wheels.
Powertrains and Performance
The front-wheel-drive 2012 Volvo S60 T5 gets a 2.5-liter turbocharged inline-5 engine that produces 250 hp and 266 pound-feet of torque. A six-speed automatic is standard. The S60 T6 AWD gets all-wheel drive and a 3.0-liter turbocharged inline-6 that produces 300 hp and 325 lb-ft of torque. A six-speed auto is standard.
The T6 R-Design gets a more powerful version of the same engine good for 325 hp and 354 lb-ft of torque. All-wheel drive and the six-speed auto are still standard. Volvo says the R-Design should be three tenths of a second quicker than the T6 AWD from zero to 60. Fuel economy is also identical.
Safety
Upholding Volvo’s sterling reputation for passenger protection, the 2012 S60 comes loaded with standard safety features that include antilock disc brakes, stability and traction control, front-seat side airbags, full-length side curtain airbags, whiplash-reducing front head restraints and City Safety. The latter can help the driver avoid rear-ending other vehicles or a stationary object at speeds of up to 19 mph by automatically applying the brakes if he doesn’t react in time.
Optional (via the Technology package) is Volvo’s new pedestrian detection feature, which can apply full braking force (reducing speed by as much as 22 mph) to help you avoid hitting pedestrians who are at least 31 inches in height. This package also includes electronic warnings for driver inattention, lane departure and impending collision, the last of which includes automatic braking. Other safety options include front and rear parking sensors and a side blind-spot warning system.
Interior Design and Special Features
Interior materials in the 2012 Volvo S60 are on par with the rest of the entry-level luxury sedan class. The heavier graining on the dash and doors won’t suit everyone, but there’s no denying that the interior leather, vinyl and plastic are quality materials. Volvo’s unique take on wood and metal accents also give the S60′s cabin more personality than most rivals.
The straightforward dual-temperature adjustment dials and “mode man” pictogram make climate-control adjustments simple and intuitive. The audio system is fairly easy to use, too, though the array of small audio buttons is starting to look dated. The available DVD-based navigation system finally eliminates the complicated back-of-the-steering-wheel controls in earlier Volvos for a more conventional dial-type controller. The interface works fine in practice, although Volvo’s navigation software still feels a few years behind.
As one expects of a Volvo, the front seats offer excellent long-trip comfort and proper support. Unfortunately, the backseat isn’t quite as accommodating. The seats themselves are supportive, but legroom and foot room are tight for adults over 5-foot-8. Competitors like the C-Class and 3 Series are similarly sized, but an Acura TL or Cadillac CTS are more welcoming.
The trunk’s 12-cubic-foot capacity is a bit small for the class as well, but a low liftover height makes it easy to access the space. Both the rear seats and the front passenger seat fold down, and there’s a separate ski pass-through.
Driving Impressions
Volvo has gone to great lengths to characterize the 2012 S60 as “naughty,” as if it’s a misbehaving sport sedan. Really, the 2012 Volvo S60 is a comfortable, sophisticated and well-behaved luxury sedan with ample power whether you go with five or six turbocharged cylinders. It’s a sure-footed handler with nicely weighted steering that feels substantial without being heavy.
Regardless of output, the T6 engines are smooth and powerful, and the all-wheel-drive system can transfer different degrees of power to individual wheels to maximize traction and grip through turns or on slippery roads. The new base T5 model, meanwhile, lines up favorably with other entry-level luxury cars like the 328i and C250 that feature turbocharged four-cylinders. Most buyers should be more than happy with the acceleration, response and fuel economy this engine returns.
2012 Volvo S60 Price :
MSRP range: $31,300 – $42,950
Invoice price range: $29,422 – $40,373
2012 Volvo S60 Specs :
Drivetrain : All Wheel Drive
Curb Weight (lbs) : 3812
City (MPG) : 17/18
Hwy (MPG) : 26
Horsepower : 300@5600
Torque (lb-ft) : 325@2100-4200
Wheelbase : 109.3
Length (in.) : 182.2
Width (in.) : 73.4
Height (in.) : 58.4