Volvo S60 sedan unveiled internationally, to rival Mercedes C-Class

Tuhin Guha Updated: August 14, 2019, 04:09 PM IST

Volvo has taken the covers off the latest generation of its C-Class rival, the Volvo S60. The S60 carries on the distinctive design language seen on its newer cars here as well, although the interpretation is more aggressive than seen on cars like the S90 and XC60.

The front gets the Volvo-staple Thor's hammer headlamps, but with the LED DRLs now jutting out closer to the grille. The upright grille is also a more compact design. The bumpers, bonnet, and bodywork see a bit more sculpting to reiterate this car's sportier bend. This theme is carried over to the rear as well, with the upright boot getting more contours.
The interiors are standard for a Volvo, with a digital instrument cluster, 9-inch Sensus infotainment system along with wood/aluminium trim.

The S60, like the XC60, XC90 and S90, is based on the Scalable Product Architecture(SPA). Notably, the S60 is available only in petrol. There are four engine options internationally at launch, all based on a 2.0-litre petrol.
The first is the turbocharged T5 which makes 250PS and is FWD only, a T6 option is next with 316PS and AWD. The other engine options are the more potent turbocharged and supercharged plug-in hybrids. The T6 Twin Engine with AWD puts out 340 horsepower, while the more powerful T8 Twin Engine AWD makes 400PS. More enthusiastic buyers can opt for the T8 in 'Polestar Engineered' guise. This bumps powers to 415PS and brings upgrades to wheels, brakes and suspension.

Needless to say, Volvo's full suite of active and passive safety features will be available. This includes automatic emergency braking, lane departure alert, optional rear cross traffic alert, and optional Pilot Assist which supports the driver with steering, acceleration, and braking up to 80 miles per hour (130 kilometres per hour).

The Volvo S60 has always been a left-field choice to its German rivals like the Audi A4, BMW 3-Series and Mercedes-Benz C-Class. This new version with its distinctive styling and impressive tech seems likely to change that.

Also see: 2019 Volvo S60 | First Drive Review