2019 Volvo S60 T6 R-Design: Sleek and sophisticated luxury sedan

Volvo is doing a lot of things right with its lineup, and a prime example of this is the S60 sedan, specifically the T6 R-Design version of the car.

Volvo is in the midst of a renaissance of sorts. The company has new backing from Geely and has spent the last couple of years revamping its lineup. The S60 is one of the most recent models to receive the new styling and design treatment.

Volvo’s S60 has fared well so far this year in terms of sales. According to GoodCarBadCar, the company has sold 31 percent more S60s so far this year than it did in 2018. This suggests that customers like the changes.

I had the chance to spend a week with the vehicle to check it out up close. Over the course of seven days, I put the S60 to the test.

A Sophisticated and Elegant Exterior and Interior

When Volvo dropped off the car, I couldn’t help but smile. The V60 is a truly handsome machine. The car’s Thor’s Hammer headlights, sleek but muscular curves, and beautiful deed red paint job looked fantastic. It’s one of the most elegant exterior designs in the small luxury car segment.

Inside, the cabin is a work of Scandinavian minimalism. It’s handsome and simplistic while still looking modern and luxurious.

The main fixture of the cabin is the single large 9-inch touchscreen infotainment system. It looks fantastic and is mostly easy to use, but it can be a little difficult to use at times, as everything on the car from the heated and cooled seats to the climate controls and stereo system is controlled through it. It takes a little getting used to.

Otherwise, I had no real complaints about the interior. The materials are top-notch. The leather is smooth, soft, and thick, Volvo uses real aluminum for the trim pieces, and even the parts of the cabin that have plastic on them feel sturdy and high-quality.

Engine and Driving Impressions

There’s a lot to love about the S60 once you get behind the wheel, too. In T6 form, the car comes with a 2.0-liter turbocharged and supercharged four-cylinder engine that makes 316 horsepower and 295 pounds per feet of torque. There’s also a 2.0-liter turbo four-cylinder in the T5 trim level, but I didn’t get to drive that one.

The T6 R-Design version of the car is the sportier variant. I have to say the vehicle feels genuinely quick in a straight line or down a twisty road. The adjustable suspension handles road imperfections well, and the car feels fun and sporty at times.

It also cruises well on the highway. The adaptive cruise control and lane-keep assist make long highway cruises simple. I drove the car over 300 miles during my time with the vehicle. It never felt like it struggled no matter what I threw at it. It’s no track car, but for an everyday sporty sedan, the S60 delivers.

Final Thoughts

In the end, the 2019 Volvo S60 is a fantastic small luxury sedan. It’s elegant and comfortable on the inside and attractive on the outside. The car drives wonderfully and is sporty enough to be a lot of fun when you find a good road.

Is it the best small luxury car out there? That really depends on what you’re looking for. Some folks will find a Mercedes-Benz C-Class or BMW 3-Series to be a better option. However, those cars only offer a slightly better experience for more money.

The Volvo S60 is several thousand dollars cheaper than both the Mercedes and the BMW. If the price is important to you and you’re a little tired of the German brands, then you should definitely give the Volvo S60 a look.

It will be interesting to see if sales for the S60 continue to grow. I would expect them to and that could mean BMW and Mercedes will have to up their game.