The 2023 Volvo S60 Looks Faster Than It Is but Boasts 2 Big Benefits
One of the hottest sedans of the year, the 2023 Volvo S60, is a car for anyone who loves combining reliability with sleek style. Affordable and family-friendly, the Volvo S60 is good-looking and compact, which might lead many buyers to believe they will enjoy the same peak performance on the road. Unfortunately, the Volvo S60 has received relatively low handling, power, and acceleration ratings. Still, this could be balanced out by two of the S60’s undeniable strengths – safety and fuel efficiency.
The 2023 Volvo S60 offers mediocre driving performance
The all-new 2023 Volvo S60 is stylish and attractive, with many experts naming it as one of the top sedans of the year. However, the vehicle has some significant drawbacks, especially regarding driving performance. As noted by MotorTrend, the vehicle’s exterior is a bit deceptive, with the Volvo S60 looking much better than it drives.
Notably, the steering and handling are subpar, with tires that constrain handling and a driving experience that isn’t nearly as high-powered as it could be. In particular, MotorTrend calls out the Volvo S60’s more upgraded trims, such as the Polestar, for not being as sporty as it should be. In terms of stats, the S60 B5 offers an impressive fuel efficiency of 26/35 city/highway mpg (FWD) and 25/33 city/highway mpg (AWD), along with 247 horsepower, while the S60 T8 EAWD has a 2.0-liter turbo- and supercharged I-4 + electric motor.
Where does the S60 rise above the competition?
The Volvo S60 might not be the fastest car on the road, but it’s a contender in terms of safety and fuel efficiency. The vehicle has an impressive five-star overall safety rating with the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, with five stars nearly across the board. The S60 has an overall rating of five stars, with four stars for frontal crash, five stars for side crash, and five stars for rollover tests.
Volvo has long touted safety as a core brand value, and the 2023 Volvo S60 bears that up. It comes standard with features like forward collision warning, lane keep assist, adaptive cruise control, blind-spot monitoring, and automatic high beams and windshield wipers. It also boasts generous cargo space and enhanced steering assistance. All in all, the S60 is a comfortable, secure vehicle that offers a range of options for almost every driver’s needs.
How much is the 2023 Volvo S60?
If you’re considering purchasing a 2023 Volvo S60, you’ll want to know which trim level is right for you. The base trim, dubbed the Core, has a starting price of $42,395 before optional accessories and packages, while the Plus is $45,095, and the top trim level, the Ultimate, starts at $47,845. According to the Volvo website, a few features include Google Assistant, Google Maps, a laminated panoramic sunroof with a power sunshade, and a two-zone climate system. Each upgraded trim level builds on those base features with more luxurious options and enhanced interiors, including other paint colors and driver assistance features.
Opting for the Ultimate trim grants you access to more exclusive features, including Harmon Kardon premium sound, a graphical heads-up display, and a four-zone climate system. Select the 2023 Volvo S60 Black Edition, with distinctive black glossy detailing and black 19-inch wheels, to make an even more stunning statement on the road. While you probably won’t be surpassing every car on the highway, your presence in the S60 will certainly make an impact.
