by Anthony Fongaro - photos via Volvo - 08/28/2023
What can I say about a modern Volvo that I haven’t said before? They’re understated, have 2.0-liter engines in various tunes, and do not have the best infotainment system. Everything from the XC90 to the V60 has the same design. This includes the Volvo S60 Recharge. Although this is a special Ultimate Black Edition, the interior and engines are exactly the same. After a few years, how does the S60 fare?
I love black or dark editions of vehicles, and the S60 Ultimate Black Edition looks amazing. Everything is black! Take a look at the exterior, and the badging is silver. No wait, it’s black. Funny enough, the only other color you’ll see is white for the T8 Recharge. As you’ll imagine, the 19-inch diamond cut wheels are also black. There are still the Thor’s hammer lights along with a large black Volvo badge. This is a sleeper!
Before you enter, remember to take your time to use the door handle. If you go quick, you just won’t open. Getting inside, the thing that pops the most is the crystal shifter. All controls are in the infotainment system and I recommend just using Apple CarPlay and Android Auto. This isn’t the most user-friendly infotainment system and I hope Volvo upgrades this for their future EV models.
Not a surprise for a Volvo, the seats are very comfortable with heating and ventilation. Fit-and-finish are lovely, even with an all-black interior. An optional Bowers and Wilkens is a $3,200 option I would get. It’s a fantastic sound system with a blend of treble and bass. As for the digital dials, they are also starting to look dated. The only thing you can see within the dials is a map or nothing at all. This S60 also came with a head-up display. It’s still a comfortable interior, but starting to get a little old.
Since this is the T8 Recharge, this has a 2.0 liter supercharged and turbocharged motor along with motors. When everything is combined, this powertrain creates 455 horsepower/339 kW and 523 lb-ft/409 Nm. With an eight-speed automatic and AWD, this propels the S60 from 0-60 MPH in around 4.5 seconds. It’s a quick sedan and can catch some more sporty vehicles. Pretty much all Volvos are created more for comfort than sportiness and it’s true. Push it and this will understeer.
Instead, keep this in the regular drive mode and this is a comfortable cruiser. This has Volvo’s safety suite including adaptive cruise control, blind-spot monitoring, and large door mirrors. An EV range of around 30 miles isn’t too bad and can be recharged through the engine. If you’re careful and in eco mode, you can get over 50 MPG! Pricing for the S60 with the T8 engine starts at $59,000 with an as-tested price of $64,000.
I still like the Volvo S60, especially in the Recharge trim. It’s a comfortable sedan and quick. The tech is on the lower end and needs to be updated. I won’t ding it for not being sporty because Volvos are more about comfort. As the Ultimate Black Edition, this is the most “sinister” S60 you’ll find. If you care more about comfort than sportiness and want a good EV range, look at the Volvo S60 Recharge, especially with the Ultimate Black Edition.
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