Rebel with a Good Cause
The people have spoken, and automakers listen. What we ask for – a contrasting mix of utility, economy, performance and tech, is a difficult balance to strike. It’s almost an act of defiance to buy, of all things, a family sedan. Amid a sea of full-size pickup trucks, compact crossovers and SUV’s, these last few holdouts must be doing something right to remain in such company. So how about this Volvo? It’s stylish, comfortable, safe and practical. Volvo’s sales have always been on the modest side in our country, and amid a goal to eventually reach an all-electric near future, is this blend enough of a stepping stone to carry us to the finish line?
Volvo’s reputation for safety can only be challenged by its elegance in design. Across the board, the brand prioritizes a more minimal approach to design. Vehicles are refreshingly clear of unnecessary aggression – a lesson certain brands could take to heart. This S60 Recharge is distinguished by the small flap over the front fender, concealing a charging port for the 143-hp electric motor. Combined with its 2.0L turbo-four, the Recharge boasts a seriously impressive 455 horsepower and 523 lb-ft of torque.
What’s perhaps a little less impressive is the 64km of electric range. Sure, it’s fine for shorter commutes, especially in the city, but we live in a country where cold weather hovers in the air for what seems like half the year. Cold weather already saps electric range, as does driving with heat or air. Such minimal range also requiring the use of charging stations is a peculiar decision. But on the bright side, it also means charging will be faster than most-any other plug-in vehicle. In fact, you can just plug in to a regular 120v socket and have a full charge the next day – assuming where you park has an accessible outlet. If you don’t – you will see your fuel economy suffer quite noticeably. In conjunction with electric power, we averaged around 7.8 L/100km. But on combustion alone, that figure jumped past 11, and not in a Spinal Tap way.
That modest battery pack does mean your trunk space remains the same as the standard S60 at just under 12L. Which is a great segue to talk about the interior. Our tester featured the standard Charcoal leather, thankfully contrasted nicely by the timeless warmth of wood inlays. Sure, wood veneer screams late 90’s early 2000’s luxury, but there’s a way to make it work – case in point. It’s like an Eames lounge chair, without the insufferable personality that tends to go with them. While there’s no crystal gear shifter present in our tester (that’s part of a $7,800 trim upgrade that offers a rare wool cloth seat option), this alternative is handsome in its own right. Our tester featured some excellent optional Harmon Kardon speakers (a $1,200 option), but it did make us miss the audio feature from Volvos of yore, simulating venues like the Gothenburg Concert Hall.
Volvo features a blend of digital and analogue on its dashboard, strongly favoring the latter. We’d have preferred to see physical buttons for climate control rather than media (save for the volume knob) because frankly, we never touched them. Steering-mounted controls work more than well enough. Volvo’s new-ish Google-powered infotainment system is going to feel familiar to anyone using an Android device (though it does also support CarPlay.) It’s largely intuitive, but still requires some touch-screen fumbling around to fulfil basic functions like climate adjustment or changing the drive mode – and for a company so focused on safety, this feels like an oversight. Some of its shortcomings also come into play when you try to park. This is a tall enough screen, yet it can only accommodate either a top-down view, or a rear camera. Yet there is certainly space enough for both.
Volvo has certainly dipped its toes in performance enough times in the past – and with a power figure like the Recharge boasts, you might expect to feel some of that heritage come through. Set the drive mode to Power, and you’ll certainly get a little kick in the back of your seat, but don’t expect this to feel like an M5. Like its design, it excels in modesty. This is not a sporty, dynamic corner carving pocket rocket. It’s a comfortable cruiser with smooth, gradual power delivery. When charge is available, the S60 Recharge drives like there’s an inline-6 under the hood. It’s certainly maneuverable and nimble enough if you need it to be, but driving it in that manner is like sprinting in dress shoes.
The S60 Recharge starts at just under $59,6950 in Canada – and qualifies for a $5,000 federal rebate – plus any applicable provincial incentives your locale may offer. Sorry Ontario. Sedans are a niche enough market as it is, and this Volvo, even more so. Biting the EV bullet is not an easy choice to make, and while this isn’t quite the full depth of that experience, it is indeed, a stepping stone.
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