2015 Volvo S60 T5 Drive-E first drive

VOLVO'S MIDSIZE SEDAN GAINS A NEW TURBOCHARGED FOUR-CYLINDER

    What is it?

    Volvo is in the midst of a product revolution, and while the limelight for the moment has been grabbed by the all-new XC90 SUV and the debut of the V60 Cross Country, Volvo also made a few crucial changes to the S60 and V60 cars while no one was looking.

    The second generation S60 has been on sale since 2011, so it's still relatively fresh, but new for 2015 is the Drive-E family of engines. This new four-cylinder engine family will be found in just about every Volvo in the next couple years. While the engine itself is new, the T5 and T6 badging traditionally appended to five-cylinder and six-cylinder variants of the S60 is staying. In other words, the turbocharged S60 T5 Drive-E produces 240 hp and 258 lb-ft of torque, while the T6 Drive-E adds supercharging, for an output of 302 hp and 295 lb-ft of torque. Both versions of the four-cylinder feature the new eight-speed Geartronic automatic transmission with manual shift capability.

    The T5 name also applies to a turbocharged five-cylinder engine when paired with all-wheel drive, while the T6 badge can also be found on the 3.0-liter six-cylinder versions of the sedan and wagon. This is indeed as confusing as it sounds, and we hope the Drive-E engines will get more logical names moving forward.

    Volvo has thoroughly updated the S60 for the 2015 model year, and aside from the new powerplant and the eight-speed gearbox the S60 now offers start/stop technology, an ECO+ driving mode with ECO-coast and ECO-climate modes and electrically assisted power steering. Volvo has also added lane keeping aid system to the Technology Package, and a new optional Park Assist Pilot, in addition to revamping the power steering system. 

    Volvo's Sensus Connect system is now standard and comes with a six-month complimentary subscription, as is the Volvo On Call telematics system which also comes with six months free. The Premier trim level has gained Sensus Navigation with Mapcare, while the Platinum trim the Harmon Kardon Premium Sound System and active dual xenon headlights. The new Convenience Package, part of the Platinum trim level, includes Keyless Drive, a rear park assist camera, HomeLink garage remote, a grocery bag holder, digital compass, and power retractable outside mirrors. Volvo has also added a few standalone options to the S60, including keyless drive, a quick-fold front passenger seat, piano-black trim inlays, and the Harmon Kardon premium sound system that could otherwise be had in the Platinum trim. The Sport Package, coupled with 19-inch wheels, also includes paddle shifters. And all of these changes to equipment also apply to the T6 Drive-E model.

   For now, the T5 Drive-E engine is coupled exclusively with the front-wheel drive S60. For all-wheel drive, buyers will have to look to the five-cylinder T5 model, though that's likely to change in the near future as the four-cylinder engines and their hybridized versions replace the five-cylinder and six-cylinder engines.

    How does it drive?

    Volvo fanboys (and fangirls) will remember that 245 hp was the output of ye olde 850 T-5R sedans and wagons; those cars also had the suspension of a forklift and a disconcerting amount of turbo lag. Under the hood was a 2.3-liter inline-five that worked its magic with that characteristic five-cylinder wail, an engine that also underscored Volvo's positioning of its midsize sedan as something between the Audi A4/BMW 3-series and the Audi A6/BMW 5-series. That positioning carried over to the first and second generation S60, though in terms of size, price, and technology the S60 is far closer to the smaller German sedans than the midsize range. And 240 hp is now the output of the Drive-E four-cylinder. So how does it stack up?

    In city driving the new four-cylinder provides plenty of low range torque, with the eight-speed transmission is judicious in doling it out. The gearbox doesn't overreact to throttle inputs, and it also doesn't require a lead foot to get to the point and get the car moving down the road. At city speeds the S60 is very docile and predictable, offering excellent road manners even though the steering feel remains a bit wooden. This is a front-wheel drive car, but there is almost no hint of torque steer -- those familiar with Volvos of the last decade will find it just right, if not a bit on the light side. 

   On the highway, the Drive-E engine provides plenty of mid-range torque and the S60 has no trouble getting going with much faster traffic. The power provided by the turbocharged four-cylinder is linear, and there are no major gaps in the powerband. Still, the T5 Drive-E engine is the junior mill in the lineup, so it does take a few more seconds for it to execute maneuvers that more powerful versions of the S60, like the six-cylinder T6 R-Design AWD, could do. The Drive-E engine is responsive, and the eight-speed automatic transmission certainly helps a lot by eliminating huge jumps in RPMs when traffic calls for quick action. That same eight-speed automatic also helps keep engine noise down to a minimum at highway speeds, though the rest of the S60 is as noisy as ever. Volvo promises fuel economy figures of 25/37 city/highway, with a combined rating of 29 mpg in the T5 Drive-E version of the S60, and we managed to average 27 mpg over the course of a week.

    Do I want it?

    The second-generation S60 is a massive improvement over the first-generation model, and the new engine and gearbox combination make it a reasonably entertaining driver. With a starting price of just over $34,000, the S60 T5 Drive-E offers good handling along with an interior that is just big enough, though it does require a fair amount of options to dress this car up.

    Our S60 T5 Drive-E was optioned with the Platinum Package, which includes leather seats, a power moonroof, Sensus navigation with Mapcare, dual xenon headlights, 17-inch wheels, a Harman Kardon sound system, and accent lighting. The Convenience Package added keyless drive, a grocery bag holder, and a rear camera, while the Technology Package added a collission warning system with automatic braking, lane keeping aid, and adaptive cruise control. Along with the Climate Package which added heated front and rear seats and a heated steering wheel, and the Sport Package which added paddle shifters, 19-inch wheels, and a sport suspension, the S60 stickered out at $45,425.

     So it does take some coin to option an S60 with luxury goodies...and this is still the junior model in the range with front-wheel drive. The price is not out of line, but it puts the S60 squarely in line with other cars, namely the Mercedes-Benz C-class, that offer more refinement for the dollar.