Car & Driver Long Term Test: S60 T6 AWD

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The venerable car magazine runs a 2012 Volvo S60 T6 AWD through their long term test machine… and they like it. So far. This from a magazine that ranked the same model last in a shootout just two months ago and IMHO has traditionally neglected Volvos.

They’ve had it almost a year and put 24k miles on it. Some notables, directly from the article:

• Service: $0
• Normal Wear: $0
• Repair: $0
• Damage and Destruction: $0

Not bad. I haven’t driven the new S60, but from their C&D piece, it looks like you might want to avoid lane departure warning and the other nanny options, and maybe the navigation. My 2004 V70 R‘s nav was rarely worth the time spent programming in the destination address. It was too tedious.

the 2012 Volvo S60 T6 AWD

Design and Styling

• Exterior: The 2012 S60 embraced a “coupe with four doors” aesthetic, featuring a sleek, aerodynamic profile with flowing lines and a pronounced wedge shape. The C-pillar stretches to the tail lamps, and a double wave contour runs from the headlamps to the rear, giving it a dynamic look. It introduced a larger Volvo iron symbol, LED daytime running lights parallel to the grille, and widely spaced “V-O-L-V-O” lettering on the rear. The R-Design trim added a glossy piano black grille, color-matched body components, and distinctive 18-inch “Ixion” alloy wheels, with an exclusive Passion Red color option.
• Interior: The cabin retained Volvo’s Scandinavian roots with a driver-oriented layout, featuring a signature waterfall center stack, aluminum accents, and a sporty three-spoke steering wheel. Upholstery options included beige, black, and Beechwood Brown, with inlays in Charcoal, Shimmer Graphite aluminum, or Urbane Wood. The interior was designed to feel like a five-seater with ample comfort, though it leaned toward a sportier vibe inspired by racing tracks. Sport seats with extra side support were standard.

Performance and Powertrains

The 2012 S60 offered a range of engines, with three trims available in the U.S. market: T5, T6 AWD, and the high-performance R-Design. Below are the key powertrain details:

• T5:
  • Engine: 2.5L turbocharged inline-5 (B5254T5, “White Block” engine).
  • Power: 250 hp at 5,500 rpm, 266 lb-ft of torque (295 lb-ft with overboost).
  • Transmission: 6-speed automatic Geartronic with sport mode, featuring improved valves for faster shifts.
  • Drivetrain: Front-wheel drive (FWD) standard, with all-wheel drive (AWD) optional.
  • Performance: 0–60 mph in 6.4 seconds (FWD) or 6.6 seconds (AWD).
  • Fuel Economy: FWD models rated at 21 mpg city/30 mpg highway (24 mpg combined); AWD models at 20 mpg city/29 mpg highway. Improvements in the compression ratio (from 9.0:1 to 9.5:1) and reduced internal friction boosted efficiency by 1 mpg in city and combined cycles.
• T6 AWD:
  • Engine: 3.0L turbocharged inline-6 (B6304T4, “SI6” engine).
  • Power: 300 hp, 325 lb-ft of torque.
  • Transmission: 6-speed automatic Geartronic with sport mode.
  • Drivetrain: Standard Haldex AWD with Instant Traction and Corner Traction Control with torque vectoring.
  • Performance: 0–60 mph in 5.8 seconds.
  • Fuel Economy: 18 mpg city/26 mpg highway.
• R-Design:
  • Engine: 3.0L turbocharged inline-6 (B6304T4) with enhanced tuning.
  • Power: 325 hp, 354 lb-ft of torque, making it Volvo’s most powerful six-cylinder engine at the time.
  • Transmission: 6-speed automatic Geartronic with sport mode.
  • Drivetrain: Standard Haldex AWD.
  • Performance: 0–60 mph in 5.5 seconds.
  • Fuel Economy: 18 mpg city/26 mpg highway, unchanged from the T6 AWD.
• Diesel Options (Non-U.S.): In markets like Europe, the S60 offered diesel engines, including the 1.6L DRIVe (115 hp, 270 Nm, 65.7 mpg, 114 g/km CO2 with a 6-speed manual) and the 2.4L D5 (215 hp, 440 Nm, 60.1 mpg with manual, 47.9 mpg with automatic). The D5 was available with optional AWD.

Chassis and Handling

• Platform: The P3 (EUCD) platform was a full-size evolution of the P1 compact platform, offering a wider and longer footprint than the first-generation S60. It was shared with models like the S80, V70, and XC60.
• Chassis Options: The S60 featured two chassis setups:
  • Dynamic Chassis: Standard in Europe, with stiffer springs and dampers for sporty handling.
  • Touring Chassis: Standard in some markets, with softer settings for a smoother ride.
  • FOUR-C Active Chassis: Optional on all variants, this self-adjusting suspension was tuned for dynamic performance.
• R-Design Enhancements: The R-Design included a Sport Chassis with a strut brace for improved body rigidity, monotube rear dampers for faster response, 15mm shorter front springs, and 15% stiffer springs compared to the T6 AWD’s Dynamic Chassis. These upgrades enhanced steering response and handling.
• AWD System: The Haldex-sourced AWD, standard on T6 and R-Design, featured a new six-piston radial pump driven by an electric motor for improved efficiency and handling. Software tweaks optimized the system for sporty driving.

Safety and Technology

Volvo’s reputation for safety was evident in the 2012 S60, which introduced groundbreaking features:

• Pedestrian Detection with Full Auto Brake: A world-first system that detected pedestrians and applied full braking power if the driver didn’t respond, reducing or preventing collisions.
• City Safety: Standard across all trims, this system automatically braked at speeds up to 30 km/h (19 mph) to mitigate or avoid low-speed rear-end collisions.
• Driver Assistance:
  • Blind Spot Information System (BLIS) for detecting vehicles in rear blind spots.
  • Lane Departure Warning to alert drivers of unintended lane changes.
  • Driver Alert Control to detect fatigue or distraction.
  • Adaptive Cruise Control (ACC) with Queue Assist, maintaining a set gap to the vehicle ahead, functional down to a standstill with automatic transmission.
• Volvo Sensus Infotainment: A 5-inch or 7-inch color screen in the center stack managed audio, navigation (if equipped), and other functions. It featured a thumb-activated rotator on the steering wheel and buttons on the center panel. The standard high-performance multimedia system included a CD/DVD player, HD Radio, AUX/USB inputs, MP3 capability, a 160-watt amplifier, and eight speakers. Bluetooth hands-free and audio streaming, plus a six-month SiriusXM subscription, were standard. The Premium Sound system offered Dolby Pro Logic II Surround, a 650-watt amplifier, and 12 speakers with Audyssey’s MultEQ technology.
• Additional Features: Optional parking sensors, a rear Park Assist camera, and a front grille camera with a 180-degree field of vision for safer parking and blind exits.

Trims and Pricing

• T5: The base trim, starting at around $32,795 (including $895 destination charge), offered a competitive value proposition compared to rivals like the BMW 3 Series and Mercedes-Benz C-Class. It included FWD (AWD optional for $2,000) and a robust suite of standard features.
• T6 AWD: The mid-range trim, with standard AWD and a more powerful engine, priced higher but still competitive.
• R-Design: The top-tier trim, emphasizing performance with unique styling, enhanced chassis, and the most powerful engine. It was praised for its sporty dynamics but noted for a twitchy accelerator pedal in some reviews, making the T5 a better all-around choice for some buyers.
• Value: The S60 T5 was lauded for its value, offering AWD and a strong feature set for thousands less than competitors like the Audi A4, BMW 328i, and Mercedes-Benz C250.

Reception and Legacy

• Praise: The 2012 S60 was celebrated for its striking design, practical luxury, and advanced safety features. In a Cars.com comparison test, the T5 finished second out of six sport sedans, behind only the BMW 328i, highlighting its value and performance. Reviewers appreciated the T5’s refined turbocharged five-cylinder engine for delivering smooth power, though the R-Design’s aggressive tuning was seen as less civilized for daily driving.
• Criticism: The S60 leaned more toward luxury than outright sportiness, lacking the steering feel and driver engagement of rivals like the BMW 3 Series or Alfa Romeo Giulia. The R-Design’s twitchy accelerator was a noted drawback.
• Market Position: The S60 carved a niche as a practical luxury sedan, balancing safety, comfort, and performance. It appealed to buyers seeking a refined alternative to German competitors, with a focus on Scandinavian design and value.

Maintenance and Parts

Used parts are available through recyclers like Erie Vo-Vo Inc., which stocks high-quality OEM components for 1998–present Volvos.

The P3 platform’s shared components with other Volvo models (e.g., S80, V70, XC60) make parts relatively accessible. FCP Euro and other suppliers offer genuine, OEM, and aftermarket parts, with many backed by lifetime replacement guarantees. Common maintenance items include brake pads, rotors, and filters. Performance upgrades, like ViVA Performance’s Stage 1 Turbocharger Upgrade for the T6 engine, can boost output while maintaining reliability.

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Last Updated on May 24, 2025