Test drives are great, but they’re not perfect. You can’t really get a feel for a car just driving it around the block for a mere 10 minutes. That’s why MotorTrend drove the 2019 Volvo S60 for a solid year before writing a review.

So how did the review go? Is the 2019 Volvo S60 a great car or is it a total disaster on four wheels? Should you seriously consider getting a S60 or run for the hills?

The trial was brutal

The MotorTrend team didn’t have the 2019 Volvo S60 for more than a day before it set off on its maiden voyage. They took it on a six day road trip from Detroit, Michigan to California, and back. The journey was long, but the ride was comfortable thanks to the care Volvo took while designing the seats. 

Soon after, the S60 took a second journey from Los Angeles to Houston. In a mere two weeks, the S60 traveled over 3,500 miles. The AWD system handled snow and ice with no issues, and delivered the passengers back home safely. 

The specs were spectacular 

While the 2019 S60 isn’t one of the fastest cars on the road, it has earned a place as one of the fastest cars Volvo has produced. It can go from 0 to 60 in 5.8 seconds, which isn’t bad. This is thanks to the 2.0-liter four-cylinder turbocharged engine that can produce 316 hp and 295 lb-ft of torque.

The Pilot Assist tech is a semi-autonomous driving aid that drove itself for a few seconds on straight highways. It can’t drive fully on its own, but automakers are working on that.

The S60 MotorTrend drove had the Advanced safety package which included a head-up display, 360-degree view camera, full LED adaptive headlights lights, and LED foglights. 

The tech is pretty sweet. The standard touch screen is 9-inches, but you can upgrade to a 12.3-inch digital driver display, navigation, and a Harman Kardon premium audio system. For $600, you can opt for the linear lime deco inlay, which gives the S60 a more sophisticated look. You can also get heated rear seats and a heated steering wheel. 

The journey wasn’t always easy

The 2019 Volvo S60 really impressed the MotorTrend team, but it wasn’t without its issues, however. The panoramic sunroof gave a little too great of a view when it wouldn’t close. After months of functioning flawlessly, it suddenly quit working and refused to close. 

This wasn’t a simple repair, and the S60 was in the dealership for a full day. The dealers were able to fix it within the same workday, however, and didn’t have to keep it overnight.

There was only one other problem that revealed itself that needed to be addressed, and that was a failure with the evaporative emissions tube. This had to be repaired twice, but it didn’t take that long to address.

Other than those two problems, the MotorTrend team didn’t have any issues with the 2019 Volvo S60. The really great part was that everything was covered under the warranty, so any issues that cropped up didn’t cost any money.

The final verdict on the 2019 Volvo S60

After a year with the 2019 Volvo S60, MotorTrend had to make a decision. Was it worth it, or should consumers pass on the S60 in favor of something newer and fancier? So what was the final verdict?

According to MotorTrend,

“My biggest complaint is that I visited the dealer three more times than usual, but I never had to leave the S60 overnight for service. Overall, our Volvo S60 was a road warrior. It logged over 19,953 miles, went cross-country twice, and it always delivered a comfortable ride. It also looks handsome from every angle. I already miss it.”