For added effect, the parking lot and road leading to Timberline Lodge were marked by numerous cars spinning their tires and struggling to move. My most recent tank of fuel delivered a strong 27.53 MPG. No, that figure does not top our car’s EPA highway rating of 32 MPG. Then again, the pace we maintained hurtling down Interstate 5 from Oregon to California was far more “spirited” than any testing conducted by the EPA. Safety recall aside, there were no earth-shattering revelations during our service visit; just simple maintenance and a car wash, handled professionally, at no cost, and in an agreeable time frame.
Motionless in Corona Times
On the descent from Timberline Lodge, my dad spun our 1987 Toyota 4Runner, fortuitously sliding rearward into the snow-covered mountain rather than off the cliff that loomed on the other side of the road. As an adult, it was a joy to pass that memorable site with grip and stability that eluded my father 32 years prior. The world may be a disorganized mess right now but at least our Volvo is sorted.
Auto Hold Release
2012 Volvo S60 R-Design review: 2012 Volvo S60 R-Design - CNET
2012 Volvo S60 R-Design review: 2012 Volvo S60 R-Design.
Posted: Tue, 18 Oct 2011 07:00:00 GMT [source]
In our previous update, I registered appreciation for Pilot Assist, a feature included on our long-term Volvo S60 that can manage the steering, brakes, and accelerator on the driver’s behalf. With a few hundred miles more under my belt, I have a few supplemental observations. As a 42-year-old dude, I’m old enough to remember when 3,000-mile oil change intervals were the norm.
What MPG does the 2019 Volvo S60 get?
The compact luxury sedan segment is chock full of attractive four-doors, and the S60, in my eyes, is most attractive among them. It’s classically handsome on the outside with just the right amount of minimalist Scandinavian influence, while at the same time exuding a pinch of sex appeal from some well-placed curves. A shrunken S90 comes to mind when looking at it, and the miniaturization of the full-size sedan’s elongated profile helps bring the S60 visual weight into perfect proportion with itself. What is a Volvo S60 and why did we add it to our long-term test fleet? Well, the S60 is a compact luxury sedan that competes with icons like the BMW 3 Series and Mercedes-Benz C-Class. If the S60 does its job right we should experience a year of luxurious trappings, modern technology, and engaging road manners.
The car features multiple drive modes that top out in aggressiveness with Dynamic mode, but even the default Comfort mode is sharper and more engaging to drive than your standard compact luxury sedan. The S60’s interior also benefits from Volvo’s extensive application of screens. Behind the steering wheel is a 12.3-inch driver’s display featuring all-digital gauges and extensive functionality from the car’s infotainment system.
As you might expect on account of it being a Volvo, the S60 is about as safe a car to drive as they come. Those items alone can cost thousands of dollars extra on competitors’ cars and are sometimes restricted only to the most expensive trim levels. In regards to space, the S60 fits both its driver and passengers like a tailored shirt. Sure, it’s a compact sedan, so there’s not a lot of extra room for heads, elbows, and knees, but what’s there is just right for normal-sized adults to travel in comfort. Rear seat passengers, especially, should be grateful, as compact luxury sedans are notorious for sacrificing rear seat head- and legroom on the altar of form over function – the S60 doesn’t. TrueCar does not broker, sell, or lease motor vehicles.
It’s a curvaceous strip of tarmac with a zillion curves and precious few passing lanes that meanders skyward to a tiny town called Running Springs. Our year-long ownership experience was an odd one. It started with joyful road trips to Las Vegas and Oregon and concluded with several months of pandemic-imposed motionlessness.
Apple CarPlay Connection Issues
The steering, as well, is accurate and weighty. Only through them are the S60’s superlative qualities honed to near perfection. R-Design models feature Nappa leather-covered seats that are dressed up with fabric accents. The front buckets are all-day supportive, and the aft bench is nearly as comfortable, being commendably spacious, even for taller folks. This Volvo competes with other luxury sedans like the Audi A4 and BMW 3 Series.
Browse Best Cars
In that environment, the Pilot Assist feature worked brilliantly. The S60 smartly kept itself in the middle of its lane, adjusting speed to maintain an appropriate distance from vehicles ahead. All the while, I observed our progress, relaxed, with one hand on the wheel; enjoying the music and insights of Dolly Parton’s America (a fun podcast if you’ve got a spare eight hours or so). After climbing aboard, shedding our snow gear, and letting the S60 warm up, we cautiously pulled forward, listening for tell-tale signs of tire slippage. The S60’s full-time all-wheel-drive system simply distributed power to each of our car’s four tires. Doing their part, those 235/45R18 Continental ProContact TX all-season touring tires delivered stellar grip on the snowy, icy road leading down the mountain.
Best of all is the optional set of 19-inch R-Design wheels that sets the perfect tone for this car’s mission. There are plenty of features to analyze with our 2020 Volvo S60 but perhaps the biggest area of interest is Pilot Assist. That’s Volvo’s driver assist feature that can manage the steering, accelerator, and brakes during tedious commutes; under constant adult supervision of course. Whether Pilot Assist actually eases the burden of daily commutes remains to be seen but, LA traffic being what it is, we’ll have plenty of opportunities to put the system through its paces. It turns out that, at certain angles, the chrome trim surrounding our car’s cupholders can focus and reflect the sun’s radiant energy directly into the driver’s eyes.
Well, at least it’s short during Corona times. Many modern luxury cars feature eye-catching metallic speaker grates and elaborate motorized tweeters that rise from their dashes. It reminds me of 30 Rock’s Jack Donaghy when asked if he liked Phil Collins. For connecting my ears and heart to the intentions of an artist like The Weeknd, what truly matters is sound.
Unfortunately, the T6 engine does require premium fuel. This S60 T6 AWD R-Design test car also comes with a couple optional upgrades to further improve safety, starting with full LED headlights that actively bend around corners and feature automatic high beams. Next up is Volvo’s advanced Pilot Assist semi-autonomous drive system that lets you follow-the-leader on the highway without driver input.
In the center, though, is an even more impressive vertical 9-inch touchscreen running the brand’s Sensus infotainment system. From a design standpoint, these screens integrate perfectly, avoiding the tacked-on look of some competitors. That doesn’t mean the S60 can’t get pricey.
To help answer that question, our long-term 2020 Volvo S60 utilizes an array of cameras. Those camera images stitch together to form a high-resolution, quasi bird’s eye view above the vehicle, presented on the 9-inch infotainment screen. It’s a helpful asset when squeezing into cozy nooks but the implementation could be better. The wait was barely longer than if I’d just taken the S60 to a car wash. On that note, Volvo Cars washed our S60 too. Total charge for the car wash and repair, $0.
No comments:
Post a Comment