Her + His Car Reviews
2016 Volvo S60 T5 Inscription FWD
There are always two sides to everything, right? Well, the truth is there are many more than that!
To keep our car reviews innovative and well-rounded, we are providing you with not just one, but two points of view on the same exact vehicle –
Her and His perspectives.
Her: Anne Fleming, Car Buying Advocate, women-drivers.com
His: Don Hammonds, Writer, AutomobileJournal.com
| HER | HIS |
|---|---|
| Price | |
| $45,925 | $38,700 base, $45,925 with options on test car |
| Performance | |
| The new 2016 S60 is Turbo charged with 240 ample horsepower and 258lb-ft of tourque for this smooth, yet powerful sedan sedan. 8 speed Geartronic transmission; much like Porsche's Triptonic, this allows for ease, power, strength and get up and go. Advanced Stability Control and 18" alloy wheels. We tested the Front Wheel Drive, but also comes in AWD. Handling on the trip to DC was responsive, but left me wanting more. The S60 offers a great safety and value for an entry level luxury player. We are wow-ed. | The 60 T5 Inscription has a 240 horsepower, 2.0 liter turbocharged, direct injection engine backed by an eight speed Geartronic automatic transmission. Even though it feels a bit heavy on the takeoff, this car can really fly, and fortunately it has a really strong chassis and platform an the right equipment to promote strong handling. It has a front McPherson strut suspension up front and a rear multi-link suspension. Because this Volvo also comes with corner traction control through Torque Vectoring, the handling is sharp as a needle and very precise. And the brakes are perfect balanced and strong. |
| Fuel Economy | |
| 25 city/37 highway. For a full-sized 4 door sedan, this vehicle gets tops for gas mileage. Drove Pittsburgh to Washington, DC roundtrip and really appreciated this, since the Pennsylvania Turnpike gobbled up such a high portion of the travel expenses. | Here's where the surprises came for me. The S60 T5 Inscription has really fantastic gas mileage, and I did better than the manufacturer said it would. Though this car is rated at 25 city, 37 highway and 29 overall, for some reason my mileage never fell below 33.2 miles per gallon overall. Very impressive for what I think is a very nice luxury sedan. The Federal Government says you will save $1,250 in fuel costs over fie years with this car, compared to what 1,550 a year over five years using gas that costs $3.00 a gallon and 15,000 miles of driving annually. Total cost could be $9000 over five years. |
| The Car | |
| Ok, so this is where you begin to pay attention. Haven't bought a Volvo in -um- 15 or 25 years? STOP! The new Volvo S60 is highly distinctive. Leaving no stone unturned for the sporty, luxury driver, #Volvo continues to buck themselves back into the U.S Luxury market with a vengeance. I mean, the INSCRIPTION model has added legroom - 3". Well, depending upon how you sit, 3" can add a whole lot of comfort. Interestingly, this model is the first fully produced in China that is offered in the United States. So, I will put that disclaimer up front for any of you that have a thing about made in China - you know who you are. For others, that are interested in kick-ass fuel-efficient turbocharged luxurious vehicle, check out some of the details: harman/kardon sound system, self parking, and a ridiculous ticket that no other luxury company can [really] compete with, stay with me and read on. I know there are a hundred things to talk about with this car, but there are three simple things that so appeal to my senses about the S60 Inscription. First, at the touch of a button, my blind spots disappear; that is, the head rests flip to a 90 degree rested angle. Of course, that is, if no riders are in the back seat. Second, how about a shout out for good-old-fashioned knobs when driving. I really love being able to put my fingers on a dial and turn the heat/sound/air control/what-e-ver. I hate the touch screens. I am supposed to be driving - yet it agitates me and frankly is not safe, to be constantly looking over to see if the exact touch point of my index finger is in the right spot to turn the temp up one degree. So, shout out Volvo. Lastly, I love the simplicity of the air control gauges - all in the shape of positions. Duh. Simple wins the day. There is another favorite regarding the unpredictability of driving, when we think its someone ELSE's fault, but maybe we weren't paying the optimum attention. Ehem. Check it out in the Safety section. And, can I say thank you for NOT having paddle shifters. it would be redundant, I know. But, as an aside, what woman is really using those paddles shifters anyway? Lastly, interesting that Consumer Reports didn't give this model a higher rating. |
The Inscription is a new model for Volvo S60 this year with the wheelbase and rear seat legroom increased by 3 inches. If you get the T5 Drive E version you get:
Or you can step up to the AWD S60 T5 AWD Inscription. If you get the S60 T5 AWD inscription, it has:
So where does Volvo fit in the luxury car world? I would say that the brand fits somewhere between the entry level luxury car groupings like BMW three series, Cadillac ATS, and Lexus IS, etc. Yet the S60 is not quite as well turned out as cars like Cadillac CTS or Lexus GS. Part of the issue are the intangibles. Volvo, mainly because of less cache or luxury tradition or heritage, somewhat less luxury inside and less exterior flash. |
| Safety | |
| So I am driving with my dear friend Matthew in New Castle, Pennsylvania on Rt. 60 - a two lane highway - at about 8:30pm and lots of fog is rolling in. The steering wheel starts to shake and bake. I quietly say "Matt?" as my body temperature rises and I concurrently assume something must be wrong with the tires. The Tires! Matt, who has been in the car less than 5 minutes, gently tells me "I think this car has a Lane Keeping System - its vibrating to let you and gently steer you back on track - and it will auto-brake if there was a car ahead of you." "Ohhhh, right," I mutter. Love that too! Click above to check out this amazing technology. If you are driving in smog or falling asleep, it is a highly useful tool. The City Safety is remarkable, too. Our upgraded model had the Pedestrian Avoidance system - always a necessity for urbans. Yes, they are all part of the supportive "Intellisafe" package is pretty sophisticated, but for us and our families, its pretty safe! Airbags all over the place. Low Speed Collision Avoidance System. Feeling extra secure in the UNIBODY steel safety cage. Whiplash Protection System. |
A whole raft of good stuff here - no surprise since safety is one of the most important heritage talking points with this brand. The list includes City Safety-Low Speed Collision Avoidance System, Unibody high strength steel safety cage; Head Impact Protection, Whiplash protection System, head restraints all around, front passenger dual chamber side impact monitoring side impact airbags, tire pressure monitoring system, LED Daytime Running lights, electronic stability control, and a host of other items. |
| Technology | |
| On board Wi-fi, 3D Navigation, Electronic ignition and push start and stop, Rear parking assist and backup camera, Nice touch on the Inscription trims, Adaptive TFT display, Love the active high beam - who came up with this? Save my coordinating back and forth and definitely the on-coming driver's eyes from time to time! This fabulous technology truly optimizing night vision. Adaptive cruise control. Love the rain-sensing window wipers... C'mon man, how does it know? | Lots of it on this car. You name it. It has it. Glass moonroof, leather upholstery, eight way power seats in front, power lumbar support sport seats, keyless entry with approach lighting, electronic parking brake; LED dual zone electronic climate control system, heated power retracting heated mirrors with memory function, power ear sunshade, with retractable side sunshades, electronic ignition with push button start and stop, power foldable rear set headrests, rear parking assist alert and backup camera, Inscription trim details, auto-dimming inside rear view mirrors, adaptive digital TFT Display, rain sensing window wipers, etc. |
| Aesthetics & Styling | |
| The handsome bold look of the S60 Inscription is noticeable. The inside is appealing and there is no shortage to details on the cabin, layout and design. Clearly Volvo is taking on their rivals and a with the impeccably styling, and notice to the sense and substance, pay attention y'all. It seats five. The comfort creatures of the car entice. Plush luxurious leather seats. 8 way power seats with lumbar and memory. Glass Moonroof. Personalized climate control for DIY. Trunk space not competitively sized. | The basic design of the S60 Volvo models has been around for a while, but it has been greatly freshened this year. The design, while clearly an S60, is more flowing and smoother, devoid of some of the character lines that intended to age the S60 in recent model years. Now the design looks more contemporary, and even rugged with a feeling of energy designed in all aspects of the car's styling. Aggressive-looking road wheels, another Volvo trademark, set off the new design nicely. Inside, the interior is one of the most inviting you will ever see. There's a sense of contemporary, airy simplicity to the dash and to the familiar and striking pencil thin console design. All of the switch gear (controls) look like expensive pieces of jewelry and the surfaces of the silver controls have raised metal surfaces that are sa tactile. The seats invite long hours of driving, making this Volvo a true highway-going lounge on wheels for lucky drivers and passengers. There's plenty of stretch-out room all around, too. Materials are of the highest quality, and double stitching is used all around. The seats are strongly supportive yet the surfaces of the seats have some of the softest, most buttery leather you will feel in any car. |
| Warranty | |
| 48 months or 50,000 miles Limited Warranty. | 48 months, 50,000 mile limited warranty coverage, 144-month corrosion protection, Volvo On Call Roadside Assistance. Complimentary factory scheduled maintenance for the first three years or 36,000 miles. |
