At the very least Volvo has been able to keep their design identity. I really love the Volvo design philosophy. They just really need to improve their infotainment.
I own the late model 22 version of this car and it doesn't have the android interface for which I am grateful. I agree with most of what was said in this review and for the most part am extremely happy with my purchase. I work from home and the car performs short runs. I rarely have to visit the gas station and average around 44 miles on pure electric. For most drivers the power will astound and let's face it, most of us are not rally gods so the handling is more than adequate. It's a great car, looks beautiful and stands out because it's not a Mercedes or a BMW. My brother said it best. You've bought a niche prestige car that people who know will appreciate.
I have a 2022.5 Recharge as well, and I specifically got that versions because it still had the Sensus system. Really love it and also really love that it's quite low key compared to the other luxury brands.
@@tctf1 Thats a good point. Without the exhaust tips the car looks a bit odd but I guess this is the style direction they are moving towards with more electrification of the range. I am also guessing it's a cost cutting exercise as well. Does it need them? If the answer is no then why bother?
I own this exact car. Used primarily for trips less than 50 miles and have accumulated 3500 miles so far at an average of 138.3 MPG! Nearly 80% of the time is pure electric. This value should not be ignored. Oh and it qualified for $7500 PHEV tax credit....so for a $48k net price it's pretty hard to beat. Agree with most of the content of your review.
You definitely deserve that tax credit more than those poor bas*ards driving cheap cars. Next vote yourself tax credits for face-lifts and luxury watches.
The people behind you on the road must absolutely hate you. To get that MPG you must drive like a snail. The whole reason I was looking at the car was It could do 0-60 in 4 seconds and got the EV credit but I found better options.
No other car reviewer's explain and give driving dynamics details the way the both of you always seem to do:)! Yours are must see reviews! Thank you for your dedication to vehicle excellence!
My 2017 v60 t5 (4 cyl) has been great reliability wise. Only failure I've had was at 140,000 miles was the mech fuel pump. You can swap it in a half hour or so. And isn't too expensive.
That gen of c60 as well as equivalent gen of xc60 to it was it seems more swedish in therms of simplicity.These new ones are ubber complex in some areas it's brain hurting,before all these infotainment solutions,and not only ac controls but everything with it.
I’m so glad Savagegeese does reviews on Volvo’s, cause almost no one pays them attention despite from a distance looking like a compelling package. They look good, they have an intriguing powertrain, they’re different. But as it figures they’re application lacks some focus it seems. You know they market this as a sport sedan, I mean look at it. But it sounds like it would be disappointing in a few ways to the other options. (Especially at those extreme prices). Volvo’s character really is best served as EVs
Kirk Keifel just did a review of this car and he is far more positive on it. Not saying one is right or wrong vs. Savage Geese. Just didn't reviewers come to different conclusions.
@@alexnutcasio936 no not best on Evs. Best AS Evs, as in the philosophy of their product design and application is better served with an electric powertrain. This wasn’t a conversation on the capability of their current EV systems, but if you want to have that question, you can definitely find someone who asked.
Volvo’s reason for being is a little odd at this point. High performance marketing really sells cars today, since everyone wants to be a badazz and feel like a race car driver. So sports is what Volvo is pushing, as their traditional forte’ which is outright safety is uncool. It touts the environment and all, harder than most, yet there is nothing environmentally sound in the least about the mass production of new vehicles. Even the EV spin doesn’t work, because batteries are definitely not the answer, it’s just green posturing. So everyone is operating in hypocrisy now. The best thing Volvo and all other automakers could to for the environment is to cease production, but that’s not happening.
Spot on review. I work at a Volvo dealer (no, I'm not a salesperson, I'm a porter as a part-time job outside of college) and I drove one of these back from our service center to our dealer. I've driven more S60s than I can count and the new recharge was quick, but still dreary as hell and feels like driving a desktop computer.
I know he had issues with his own Volvo, but I put 20k miles on a 2021 V60 T8 and it was flawless (the old system). Perfect transitions from supercharger/turbo/electric minus the occasional weird thing if I did something bizarre with the throttle. The Bowers & Wilkins was absolutely the best audio system I've ever had the chance to listen to.
Bought a S60 Recharge Polestar a few months ago as our main family car. The upgraded plug-in hybrid really appealed to us as we can do most of our driving with just electric and I just love the styling inside and out. I"m surprised you observed 26 mpg; on the only long distance run where the battery was depleted, I managed to get about 37 mpg. Also, we get closer to 50 miles on a full charge than the rated 41 miles. (So maybe it's our driving that is more economical?) And yes, there is a body shudder over high frequency bumps in the Polestar version as well.
My brother is a huge fan of Volvo in all its iterations which makes perfect sense since his favorite color is grey, his favorite ice cream flavor is vanilla, his favorite season is winter, and his favorite meal is porridge...did I mention his favorite position is missionary. P.S. yet another master class in automotive journalism.
Have one of these and do want to add that over 7000 miles I’m averaging over 125mpg with a 30 mile each way highway commute while charging nightly and at work. Just did a small road trip and with no charging returned 35mpg with a mix of highway and mountain driving
I have a 2020 S60 poverty spec (T5 momentum) with a couple add ons and I really like it. I bought in spring of 2021 before the car market went totally bananas and got it for a decent price as a off loaner (6.5K miles, 1 yr old). Dealership experience was meh, which was surprising for a premium brand but I guess all dealerships are alike. I like the ride and how it looks inside and out. Everything inside the car is really well done, like they thought about it and made an effort. I am likely going to move on from it when the warranty expires in 2024. Only issue was an O2 sensor crapped out in summer of 21, warranty repair.
I have a S60 T8 since 2019. I drive around like crazy, and never had an issue once. Never on the side of road or had an electrical issue. Feels crazy listening to this.
LOL! as a Volvo Owner! of the XC40, I concur :) they might not be the most luxurious! but they are sure comfortable and great long drive vehicles and just putting around the city too!
I have a 2021 XC40 and agree that the ride is very comfortable. I don’t really notice the sharp impact issues Mark describes, and here in Northern Michigan we have a lot of potholes that can cause that lol But maybe it’s more noticeable on the lower riding S60 than a higher up XC40.
@@9Xavier1 It's noticeable in the SPA cars but not to the almost whiny degree Mark is saying it is. It's a sometimes things that happen on certain sharp crests and such. For the most part, the SPA cars ride reasonably well. I do think and hope that Volvo works on ride suppleness and cured this characteristic in the SPA2 cars.
I have an XC40 as well and totally agree. I love it. Mine is an early 22 Inscription and driving it still brings a smile to my face, 1 year after purchasing it. I recognize that that might change and couldn’t help but snicker when Jack joked about the car not being on the tow truck, lol!
Everyday i dream of owning a 2020 S90 T8, I did the test drive already and its the ultimate daily, an S-Class on a budget plus the best sound system I ever heard in a car, the only thing holding me back are the prices and depreciation, maybe in 2023 who knows… if money isnt a problem these are the best daily drivers out there!
I own a 2019 s90 t8 r design pro. I absolutely love it. Also have a cla200 on the drive. It’s awful compared to the Volvo. A proper pipe and slippers ride but with bags of power when you feel a bit spicy. It’s the only car that brings a smile to my face every time since I owned a Mazda Eunos. Not sure about reliability. Fingers crossed. Some people say they’re poor but been sound so far and my neighbour owned it before with no problems. Mines done 80,000. Getting 90mpg at the moment. 🎉happy days
I have the 2020 polestar Engineered. Fantastic daily driver I use mostly for highways. Very comfortable, I love the plug in for my quick excursions off the highway. I average in the 40 MPG range and on the road this thing pulls hard. Literally have not had a single reliability issue with the motor, the dampers are brilliant!
A 2019 V60 T6 plug in here, 100 000 km on it now not a single issue, looks good as new on the underside despite spending all it's winters driving on salted roads. I don't know what people are complaining about.
I own a Volvo V60 D4 2014. Second owner and bought it 2017. Love the seats, never gets tired in long road trips and the D4 engine is strong with all the torque and low fuel usage. So far it's been great without any issues and I have been eyeing up on the newer generation for some time. Infotainment should be better in the newer, but you actually doesn't use it that much that it's a big deal. Volvo's world class leading safety is the biggest selling point for me. Protecting my family.
Did you hear about the Polestar 1 battery recall? And also as a Volvo owner myself I can tell you parts are always extremely expensive despite the level of the brand. It's a fairly middle of the road luxury brand charging just as much as Mercedes for parts. But at least Mercedes stocks parts for old models and keeps parts avaliable. Its one of the most annoying things about Volvo.
I have kind of stuck with two Vehicles most of my last 60 years of driving. Corvettes and Volvos. I have owned Vettes since 1966 when i bought a 1964. In 1975 I bought a 244 Volvo for my Wife and as the family car. What convinced me on Volvo forever was the 760 Turbo for fun, great ride and safety. I was working late on a project and was coming home tired, Ran off the road and totaled the 760. I got out and walked home with my briefcase. When the car was starting to slide into the ditch I grabbed the steering wheel in my left hand and the gear shift in my ride and I prayed to God to take care of my kids. Once i saw the car in daylight i was amazed, the front end had crushed neatly and the roof was like a washboard. My leg had broken the turn signal lever and the interior was unharmed as I was. We have had Volvos the S40 to the S60 as the kids are gone and our last was a 2018 S60 T5 AWD Polestar. We love the car and just looked over the White S60 T8 Recharge Ultimate and was pretty impressed. I also studied the C8 Corvette the E Ray. My 2014 is 10 years old with 12,500 miles. My wifes 2108 has 18,800 miles. As it happens we can get over $55K in trade value for both our cars that would cover the T8 Ultimate with money left for an extended warranty. I hope I don't regret the change too much. D&M
Nice to see this review, not much buzz in the industry about Volvos. I am a mostly accidental owner of a Volvo, not brand loyal at all. I love my 2019 S60 with the T6, and this new extended range T8 I should want it. Very conflicted though as I feel Volvo abandons the last of their customers that like driving. Over the years they have removed the R-Design branding, ESC Sport mode, drive mode switch, then the drive modes, and the "sport chassis" option. Then they add more battery and power to a refined T8, with a 112mph speed limiter. The Android system issues still persist after years, with less functionality than the old Sensus system (music info in the instrument display?...nope). Oh well, it's not all about HP, I do really like my 2019 and feel it does drive and handle well with the sport chassis. But the dream of being able to get the same car with the new Recharge drivetrain, seems to be too much to ask. I'm too cheap to go Polestar version, heck I am too cheap to buy a new car these days.
It’s nice to hear a more specific explanation for your common statement about how connected a car feels. It’s always slightly bothered me that you guys say a car feels disconnected front to back without elaborating on whether it feels that the front and rear halves of the car move on their own, whether the suspension upsets or damps the road at different rates, or even whether a drivetrain makes the front and rear power application feel unbalanced. It just always felt like a very vague criticism to me and perhaps it’s either that I haven’t driven enough cars to understand what “disconnected” feels like, or maybe it’s that it’s truly difficult to identify what causes a disconnected feeling. It could be worth making a fine print video talking about chassis connectedness like you have other stuff. I’d be curious to hear how suspension design plays into this - stuff like the flat ride paradigm, jacking down vs jacking up, how the damping is compared to the natural frequency, etc., how the body structure plays into it, and how a drivetrain affects it - AWD systems with torque vectoring, separate rear motors, how passive AWD reacts. To be fair you guys cover the drivetrain “connectedness” deficiencies pretty well, particularly with electric or PHEV platforms, but, for instance with the S60, I think a comparison to the TLX torque vectored mechanical AWD would be a good thing to explore and talk about the functional differences on the road. Again, you guys go above and beyond all other channels in talking about these types of technical and dynamics differences so perhaps this is too much to ask. Maybe that would be too technical for those viewers that watch this channel for car buying advice and for them, sure, saying a sports sedan feels disconnected may be enough, but for the enthusiasts that want to learn it would be awesome to hear those kinds of details. I suppose you also often don’t have that data on specific cars but it would be nice to hear a general overview of the concepts and how you feel the cars you review perform in those terms. I myself don’t understand this stuff very well and have picked up on it from your videos and from people talking about tuning race cars, so I apologize if I spouted some misplaced jargon that doesn’t make much sense. I guess this stuff isn’t what makes a channel successful but I’d still love a place I can learn about this that isn’t dry lecture. Oh and I can’t get over how pretty the design of this Volvo is. They hit it out of the park with styling outside and particularly inside, even if the details of infotainment usability kind of suck. I know Volvo isn’t a benchmark for them, but it should be because all the competitors in this segment aside from perhaps Genesis are veering into weird and ugly interior designs. It’s quite funny how Volvo managed to combine drivetrains into a PHEV that somehow delivers the worst of both worlds. Then again it may be more of a testament to toyota and a couple others that they were able to make a dual propulsion vehicle as reliable or more so than an ICE car. When the first PHEV concepts were coming out I remember thinking how pointless they seemed given that you had to design, tune, maintain, carry around, and worry about two entire drivetrains, but then the volt and Prius plug in proved me wrong. And then Volvo proved me right. Hah One more thing, I refuse to accept that a safety focus means vehicle dynamics needs to be tuned for preemptive stability control activation and prodigious understeer. The electronics are good enough to let cars get right to the limits or just beyond them without going over, and while understeer is definitely safer in a crash scenario than a neutral or oversteer biased car, it doesn’t mean that a safe car needs to plow. I think this is a deficit of the front wheel drive platform being sold as a safe car and allowing the safety to be used as an excuse for subpar tuning. I guess any car putting 300hp to the front wheels would be hard to tune into feeling neutral.
As someone who actually owns one of these (exact same trim in the better white blacked out version) I think most of what they pointed out is spot on, really good job. But I don't like the comparison to the ES, because I think it depends on the driving habits of the buyer. If your daily driving is under 40 its all electric, and even under 60 you'd still get better MPG with this Volvo assuming you can charge it daily. For the suspension, the ES is better. But you do have an option to get the Polestar Engineered if you really want better handling, and based on previous years it would make the sportiness of the car match its performance. But not really worth worth the extra $10k in my opinion, you might as well just get a BMW. But then again if you want to "out sporty" this car while matching or besting the power while still getting decent MPG, good luck finding that car that doesn't really exist right now. You'd either have to spend a lot more money or go full electric, which isn't always an option for everyone. And even then, really the only full electric car in this price range that bests this performance wise is the highest model 3 trim, but you give up all the luxury and comfort going that direction. One thing I wish they had pointed out though is the one pedal driving. You don't really get that in any of this cars direct competitors, and it's done so very well in this car.
Agree, the ES comparison is way off. Also don't agree about the vibration when in charge mode. You can tell the motor is on but saying it's an annoying level of vibration...I don't feel that.
The one pedal driving is really more just aggressive regen (non adjustable) technically available on many hybrids (b mode). But point taken. The polestar version is crazy expensive for what it is, but the damper option is very cool. Regardless, I liked this car.
Yeah, I skipped the Polestar because I couldn't justify $16k more for manually adjustable Ohlins on a car this heavy, it just wasn't going to move the needle. The bigger brakes were a maybe but it has mixed braking always on so between friction and regen, it's got good enough brake power. Honestly....I don't think B mode actually gives you any more regen in the mixed braking scheme. It's just combined 2 control inputs into 1. It's weird how you can only manual shift from B mode, not that there's a reason to manually shift it really.
Don't they still offer wagons? Super hard to find though and many have those ugly plastic cladding around wheels vs the normal wagon that looks amazing
Nice review. I really like my 2019 S60 T6 R-Design with Polestar tune. Has the factory lowered suspension and ground effects no longer offered. The Sensus system does include a full EQ for the Bowers and Wilkins though I’ve kept mine flat as you should for well designed systems. Sad to hear of reliability issues from you but hoping it’s not all cars as I really enjoy mine. Hopefully the lack of hybridization improves my chances. A good honest review as always..
I think an interesting comparison would be between this and the Toyota Crown Platinum (hybrid max version). They're both performance hybrids with sorta similar pricing, but very different target audiences. My mother drives a '17 Lexus ES300H currently and while it's worked great for her (before you ask yes she's a real-estate-agent, driving the real-estate-agent car, we know), she wants a less boaty hybrid sedan with a bit more zoom, and the S60 T8 seems like a solid option for that though reliability is suspect. This leaves the Crown, which seems like an appealing package on paper, but so does this.
The Toyota without a doubt is the better choice to buy. However for features, premium features and if you were only going to lease it, the Volvo would be a better choice.
@@atmartens The difference is that, expensive as it is, the Crown isn't exactly a luxury car ... nicer than most Toyotas but not on the same level as a Volvo or a proper Lexus. And we've had plenty of reliable Volvos so long-term ownership is not out of the question. I would always take the S60
This looks exactly what I did to my volvo s90 with plasti dip cans and vinyl wrap on the side chrome moldings. Along with Ali baba blacked out volvo lettering lol
I think you could bring up G80 here as well, especially from cruiser perspective and since you're bringing up a maxed out ES. Yes, that's going to be a 4 cyl, but that's what Volvo is anyways, yet you get a better warranty and tech.
crazy to me how he said it gets less MPG than an M340i. drive both vehicles for a day the way you’re driving in the video and the M340i would get like 12mpg. my Black edition t8 averages 43mpg and i drive it pretty hard. mind you, i’ve owned 2 m340i’s and never got more than 18mpg bc of the way i drive
I am curious what tires were put on that car. My S90 came with P Zeros and I had issues with the small bumps on the road as well. I moved to a P7 AS Plus 3 grand touring tire and it dramatically improved the ride quality of the car. I also think the tires better match the frame of the car and handle the weight of the car better.
Right. I've been suspicious of my tires too. P Zero All Seasons, I don't think they're that great. I hate to throw these away, but I'm expecting (or hoping) the car will feel a little bit better when I can choose my own tire. Maybe in a couple years.
When the Scandinavian guy at the end explains things about their new core computer, and said "we also connect it to our android infotainment system...", I thought he was going to plug in himself.
I think the harshness from the small sharp bumps could be that the chassis and bushings are too stiff. I found the the previous generation S60 had a similar issue with low profile tires, but winter tires with 55 sidewalls removed the harshness.
I saw that too! I was rear needed by a dodge ram 1500 two days ago, I was in my 2014 S60. He was going at least 40 mph. A Nissan in turn rear ended him. Two impacts totaled my Volvo but not only did I walk away (neck pain, some bruising) but my car stopped itself from hitting the car in front of me harder. I tapped a Chevy. I think that my Volvo saved my life. Thanks for the review!
You miss the key point. This car goes 40 miles without burning gas. My ELR did the same. I drove it 25,000 miles and used 70 gallons of gas. Yet, this car is fast, unlike the ELR.. It seats four, unlike the ELR. The ES has about half the electric range. Same with the 330e. Can't compare on weaning off gas.
Notice you guys never mention a Guilia in a comparison. We just got my wife a 22 Veloce and I love it. From what I've seen they fixed most of the reliability issues that were in the 17-19 models. As a turbo 4 it's quick and the handling is awesome. It's 4dr that feels almost like a 2dr. Just curious and maybe you should revisit the Guilia. Thanks for all the great reviews though.
The Giulia is a awesome car handles like a go cart very darty. Only gripe is the 4 popper is decent for what it is but it redlines at like 5500rpm with under 300hp. They should have either tuned up the 4banger to 350ishhp and up the redline or just severely detune the 2.9tt to 350ish hp. It doesn’t have a mid performance motor just either a base 4banger which like I said is more potent then most other 4bangers in the segment or have to get a QV with 500hp. Big miss imo.
Bought the 2022.5 extended range edition of this car about 3 months ago. Also black edition but white paint with the blacked out grill. Only difference really with the 2023 is that it was the final incarnation of Sensus rather than Android Automotive. Through 3 months it’s mostly positive. With the 41 or so miles of range 95% or my driving dropping off the kids, commute to work and such is all in electric. So most of the time it’s a RWD experience on the electric motor. Not a car I’m going to take to the track. But as a daily driver it’s great. And I like the instant torque of the EV engine. And when I put it in pure EV mode I find it gets up to speed on the highway just great. And if you put it in Power mode maxing both the engines can get you 4.5 0-60.
This is why I like PHEVs. You can have the engine as a backup and drive them around town as BEVs and get all the advantage of a BEV. You don't get as quick acceleration but who needs it driving around town?
Thank you Mark for your honest,informative, knowledgeable review , the only other review I watch is retro Motor Week. Dude that was a funny joke on the tow truck!
Problem with any Volvo: you can't get it without Google/Android spyware. Deal breaker. Which is a shame, their design - especially in the Polestar cars - is very good.
If that's your fear, then the same can be said about Chevy, Cadillac, GMC, Toyota, Honda, Renault and countless other brands adopting Android Automotive.
@@marclangman4836 Show me a fully functional mobile phone without spyware and I'm a customer. Meanwhile, the phone often stays home. With cars there actually are plenty of good alternatives.
Great review, but I feel like you guys miss the point of plug-in hybrids (in general) from a fuel economy perspective. Even in a worse-than-average scenario where you have to drive 60 miles round trip from work and there is no charger at the office, you can drive 40 miles (estimated) on electric-only and only have to use fuel for 20 miles. At 26 MPG, that means you'll spend about 0.77 gallons of fuel. That yields a total trip fuel economy of 60 miles / 0.77 gallons = 78 mpg. In comparison, the BMW M340i, with 30 MPG combined, would use 60 / 30 = 2 gallons of fuel on the same trip. Of course, it's not really a fair comparison between a plug-in hybrid and a six cylinder, but the point is that plug-in hybrids won't look good from fuel economy until you actually take into consideration the heavy lifting the battery is doing. In real life, I think a plug-in hybrid is pretty compelling if you can get over some of the complications that come with it. And as long as you're not doing too many road trips, you will get amazing fuel economy without having to go EV and deal with all the range anxiety BS.
Yeah but the truth is they are called plug in hybrids. The hybrid part it's not particularly competitive at. If you payed 65k and all you wanted to use was the ev part for 50 percent of your commuting. You could have just bought a full ev like the BMW i4 or polestar instead. If you are a hybrid compact sedan 30+mpg is required and that's in a world where the ES do 40+mpg.
People always act like electricity is free, but it's not. It's currently cheaper than gas on a per mile basis, but nowhere near free, and some places like Switzerland and California are trying to limit how much you can charge your car when there's a electrical capacity shortage.
@@bigcjm True, it's unfortunate that plug-in hybrids get very mediocre fuel economy most of the time when the electricity runs out, even compared to most traditional ICE cars. But my point is looking at the WHOLE picture. The whole picture is that in a year, you're going to be spending less money on fuel on your commutes compared to a traditional hybrid. I get that EVs can do that better, but if it's your ONLY car and you would like to have a vehicle that's capable of getting out of your state, EVs are just not there yet. I realize plug-ins are not for everybody, and I'm not advocating that it is. All I'm saying is that it is an extremely fuel efficient way of commuting around and not have range anxiety when going on long-trips. And also, calling the B58 "more fuel efficient" in the video is extremely inaccurate, all things considered.
got a V60 recharge slated for delivery in may (only with the harmon kardon sound system)... hopefully the silicon lottery is favourable to me, in this post-silicon shortage world...
i was doing 70 mph in 30 mph zone in the 2021 version of this car when i suddenly realized the black steel frame of a backing up car carrier semi truck was blocking my lane completely ( i couldn't see it in time because it was 95% open and i saw the road right through it, yet i would certainly die if i hit it ) and i had to do very aggressive evasive move using oncoming traffic lane and i thought i would spin out and and end up in a ditch but the Volvo was rock steady - the tires squealed and then it just stabilized itself. so yeah this car is not for race track or carving canyons but when you need to avoid hitting something on the road it performs well, and also the swedes specifically test for this ( Moose Test ) which is far more relevant for real world driving than any track times. i wish the Germans would design cars more for the real world than bragging rights because i do prefer German cars but they don't design for the real world - they design for the imaginary world in which the drivers THINK they will be driving ( on a Formula 1 track or something ).
That sterile, emotionless ending had me rolling. It reminded me of Dieter's Dance World and Sprockets from Saturday Night Live. Completely emotionless, mechanical, and just making a box with seats on four wheels. I drive a lot in the Nordic countries and Volvos are everywhere there, but they're not going to survive again unless they market to outside their home town of Stockholm, China.
Why on earth do manufacturers refuse to paint brake calipers on anything without a performance package? (inb4 money) The blackout edition should at least have the basic floating calipers painted black. It'd help with corrosion, and not call so much visual attention to basic brakes. Also, around @11:45, Jack says "if you care about the sporty part of the drive, just buy a BMW." I'm surprised to hear that, as the 3 series may have been the definitive sport sedan, all the recent reviews, even SG's, suggest it no longer is. Can you guys elaborate?
I appreciate how often you guys bring up the ES, no other journalist ever mentions that car and in my mind it's one of the bargains of the industry (assuming you're a driver who isn't looking to drive it like an enthusiast, aka 95% of most luxury car buyers). Also interesting to compare this S60 to that ES - which makes sense - but both the S60 and ES are indeed somewhat forgotten cars. I love Volvo's but they really are in need of some updates across the board to stay competitive. The black badges look cool but this car is so far behind at this point, although the Volvo recipe will always be a unique one that even when not competitive on paper, will find its loyalists.
I agree. I have a 2018 ES 350 and it's deceptively good. It's the right size, I can sit behind myself (not easy in most cars as I'm 6'1") and quite quick on the road.
Volvo's next-gen starts with the EX90. It was revealed but won't hit the streets until 2024. Problem is, all new-gen Volvos are BEV-only. So if you want a hybrid you have to stick with the current gen.
My 2021 M340 routinely gets up to 32 MPG driving on Northeast and Mid-Atlantic highways without even trying to save fuel. Oh, and that’s even when I fill it with 87 octane regular fuel.
I have a love/hate relationship with Volvo. I have a '22 XC60 B6 (my third Volvo) and the biggest letdown is the infotainment. It's glitchy and unreliable. The system actually crashed on me a few times while driving and I could not get it to reboot. When you can't get climate control working in the summer it's going to piss you off. I also had to wait 6+ months before Apple CarPlay was available with an OTA update.
Mark provides extremely detailed yet un-biased summaries, able to acknowledge that if you're going the purely "something different" route, the T8 has become massively better - while also acknowledging the 3 Series and C-Class are the better modern, luxurious, sporty sedans.
I’ve been trying to ask about the 2023 V60 T8 Recharge for the US… no word. I’m worried Volvo killed it for the US without telling anyone, or getting a build allocation is so hard, it’s basically the same thing
@@savagegeese T used to mean petrol, and D being diesel. Then they changed to B for the Swedish word "bensin" petrol, and kept D as diesel, then they changed it again where every single car, whether petrol or diesel, has a B before it, then they added Recharge. So now, in Sweden - car salespeople are advertising volvos as S60 B4 (Diesel) or S60 B4 (Petrol) as you can no longer tell by the BX/DX badge.... Really confusing - I think they are just trying to get away from diesel and petrol altogether and eventually you will just have EV-only Volvos.
This was the only SG video that I dislike. Also the only review you can find on YT that craps on this car so hard. All other reviews are stellar. Glad I bought the T8 extended range.
I was shopping an S60 T6R with the turbo-supercharged 4cylinder and AWD against an Audi A5 with the EA888 engine. The Volvo was, in my opinion, beautiful to look at. The driving experience was disappointing. The A5 was also nice to look at but lackluster with the turbo 4. In the end, I went with a Ford Fusion Sport. Cost me $10,000 less with half the miles at the time. I guess I just cannot get used to 4 cylinder buzz and noises. While the interior on the FFS is not even in the same league as either car, the daily driver experience with that sweet twin turbo V6 and awesome AWD is the best bang for the buck out there, IMHO. Also, the Q-ship factor is off the charts. I think the one you reviewed must have been an abused early build press car, because mine does not leak a drip anywhere with 31k on the clock and runs 13.7 at over 100mph in the quarter consistently. (I have the slips) Looks are subjective, and while the Volvo and Audi are definitely better looking cars the FFS is not that far behind them aesthetically. Lastly, compared to the aforementioned Volvo and Audi, my car IS faster stock vs stock. 😎 Great review.
I just bought the 2023 s60 recharge. I love it! I thought though, it still had the supercharger as well as the turbo charger. Am I missing something? When I put it in power mode, you can definitely hear the turbo as you drive. I have the plus edition, not the black, core, ultimate, or polestar. I wanted the 360* camera. The biggest gripe I have is the serious lack of storage space. The center console isn't even big enough to store my phone. For the price, I would expect better storage. I disagree with you on the infotainment system. I think it's super easy to use. The google set up is very user friendly, and very quick in response to my touch. The heating/cooling is also easy to use, even though I agree it would be nice to have actual buttons. But, you can always use voice command for it to turn up or down the heat or air.
At the very least Volvo has been able to keep their design identity. I really love the Volvo design philosophy. They just really need to improve their infotainment.
Yes! I always think it looks like a european muscle car. Mean, serious, square look but more elegant-gt like at the same time.
I think what's coming up in 2024 is a big improvement.
Chy na doing good job!
They have the strongest brand identity and artistic design in the industry
I've had my XC60 for almost 2 years now and an XC40 for 3 years before that. I have zero complaints for the infotainment system.
I own the late model 22 version of this car and it doesn't have the android interface for which I am grateful. I agree with most of what was said in this review and for the most part am extremely happy with my purchase. I work from home and the car performs short runs. I rarely have to visit the gas station and average around 44 miles on pure electric. For most drivers the power will astound and let's face it, most of us are not rally gods so the handling is more than adequate. It's a great car, looks beautiful and stands out because it's not a Mercedes or a BMW. My brother said it best. You've bought a niche prestige car that people who know will appreciate.
I have a 2022.5 Recharge as well, and I specifically got that versions because it still had the Sensus system. Really love it and also really love that it's quite low key compared to the other luxury brands.
Unfortunately they dropped the exposed exhaust outlets for 2023 as well
@@tctf1 Thats a good point. Without the exhaust tips the car looks a bit odd but I guess this is the style direction they are moving towards with more electrification of the range. I am also guessing it's a cost cutting exercise as well. Does it need them? If the answer is no then why bother?
They just dump under the car now, but at least they’re not fake plastic exhaust tips like some of the Audis.
@@tctf1 True. I wonder if you could get an older bumper and just take an exhaust from a older gen and put on if you like the look
The most recent generation of Volvo's are the most handsome carts on the road. They're going to age so well.
They break before they age
@@theoyansen8267 not true
@@4240cameron The new ones are less reliable than they use to be.
You said it good carts not cars
@@fortheloveofnoise Only the Hybrids. The gas/diesel ones last way longer, only issues are electronics.
I own this exact car. Used primarily for trips less than 50 miles and have accumulated 3500 miles so far at an average of 138.3 MPG! Nearly 80% of the time is pure electric. This value should not be ignored. Oh and it qualified for $7500 PHEV tax credit....so for a $48k net price it's pretty hard to beat. Agree with most of the content of your review.
You definitely deserve that tax credit more than those poor bas*ards driving cheap cars. Next vote yourself tax credits for face-lifts and luxury watches.
omg... my 2014 qx60 does 14 mpg barely
Plug-in hybrids are just incredible
You sound so happy 🫶
The people behind you on the road must absolutely hate you. To get that MPG you must drive like a snail. The whole reason I was looking at the car was It could do 0-60 in 4 seconds and got the EV credit but I found better options.
No other car reviewer's explain and give driving dynamics details the way the both of you always seem to do:)! Yours are must see reviews! Thank you for your dedication to vehicle excellence!
They nail both normal and enthusiast
My 2017 v60 t5 (4 cyl) has been great reliability wise. Only failure I've had was at 140,000 miles was the mech fuel pump. You can swap it in a half hour or so. And isn't too expensive.
You bought one of the last Volvos you can work on without a computer science degree.
That gen of c60 as well as equivalent gen of xc60 to it was it seems more swedish in therms of simplicity.These new ones are ubber complex in some areas it's brain hurting,before all these infotainment solutions,and not only ac controls but everything with it.
I don't believe you, I guarantee more is failed on that car, have your radio knobs falling off or your fuel tank cover fly off?
@@Rocket9944 mine is the same, I’ve done oil changes and that’s it. The Drive-E is solid.
You have 140,000 miles on a 2017!?
I’m so glad Savagegeese does reviews on Volvo’s, cause almost no one pays them attention despite from a distance looking like a compelling package. They look good, they have an intriguing powertrain, they’re different. But as it figures they’re application lacks some focus it seems. You know they market this as a sport sedan, I mean look at it. But it sounds like it would be disappointing in a few ways to the other options. (Especially at those extreme prices).
Volvo’s character really is best served as EVs
Best on EVs?? They’re so far behind Tesla and even GM in EV technology I am not sure they’ll ever catch up.
Kirk Keifel just did a review of this car and he is far more positive on it. Not saying one is right or wrong vs. Savage Geese. Just didn't reviewers come to different conclusions.
@@alexnutcasio936 no not best on Evs. Best AS Evs, as in the philosophy of their product design and application is better served with an electric powertrain. This wasn’t a conversation on the capability of their current EV systems, but if you want to have that question, you can definitely find someone who asked.
Volvo’s reason for being is a little odd at this point. High performance marketing really sells cars today, since everyone wants to be a badazz and feel like a race car driver. So sports is what Volvo is pushing, as their traditional forte’ which is outright safety is uncool.
It touts the environment and all, harder than most, yet there is nothing environmentally sound in the least about the mass production of new vehicles. Even the EV spin doesn’t work, because batteries are definitely not the answer, it’s just green posturing.
So everyone is operating in hypocrisy now. The best thing Volvo and all other automakers could to for the environment is to cease production, but that’s not happening.
@@alexnutcasio936 we will see with the new Ex90
What a transition at 2:00 ! A truly masterpiece
I saw that too, very nice
Powered by Dell
It was so natural I didn’t notice until somebody mentioned it
Spot on review. I work at a Volvo dealer (no, I'm not a salesperson, I'm a porter as a part-time job outside of college) and I drove one of these back from our service center to our dealer. I've driven more S60s than I can count and the new recharge was quick, but still dreary as hell and feels like driving a desktop computer.
Is there a s60 that you would recommend?
Volvo has some underrated cars, though they were too early with the hybrid / 4 cylinder scene. Should’ve left a few 5 or 6 cylinders in the lineup.
The real T6 is what I have. 300HP and a torque monster on the road.
Well, think of it, a Merc GLE starts with a 4 Cyl now….
not really underrated after seeing that middle console with that fugly and laggy screen...
I have a 2015 S60 Polestar and even after 90,000km i love that engine every single day.
I wouldn't take one of those cars for free.
I know he had issues with his own Volvo, but I put 20k miles on a 2021 V60 T8 and it was flawless (the old system). Perfect transitions from supercharger/turbo/electric minus the occasional weird thing if I did something bizarre with the throttle. The Bowers & Wilkins was absolutely the best audio system I've ever had the chance to listen to.
100% agreed. In Europe there are no known issues with the T8. Im wondering if its maintence related.
They need to make more black editions for other models. It's cheesy but at my job these particular ones sell within a day or two or come pre-sold.
XC90 Black Edition would sell like hotcakes. Damn that Telluride 😂
Bought a S60 Recharge Polestar a few months ago as our main family car. The upgraded plug-in hybrid really appealed to us as we can do most of our driving with just electric and I just love the styling inside and out. I"m surprised you observed 26 mpg; on the only long distance run where the battery was depleted, I managed to get about 37 mpg. Also, we get closer to 50 miles on a full charge than the rated 41 miles. (So maybe it's our driving that is more economical?)
And yes, there is a body shudder over high frequency bumps in the Polestar version as well.
The most beautiful car manufacturer...simple,elegent...its just awesome watching bolbo cars...they dont have to try hard to impress people
You nailed it Mark. It should've been called the "Murdered Out Edition" instead.
Yeah because it will murder your wallet and then your wife will murder you when you lose the house.
@@singular9 Definitely not where I was going with that, but I appreciate the creativeeness
weird wording
Thankfully that sounds family-friendly
Only if the rear taillights were smoked out, then it truly would be murdered out.
Between the powertrain, styling and understated luxury, this is a hybrid I could see owning. The lack of gimmicks is a huge selling point to me.
lack of gimmicks? look at the center stack lol
@@jlolment a touchpad is not a gimmick its the future of car interiors, go keep your cassette player if u want to stay in the past
Same! I’d own this too. And surprisingly enough it’s within a good price range at least by my standards. ❤
My brother is a huge fan of Volvo in all its iterations which makes perfect sense since his favorite color is grey, his favorite ice cream flavor is vanilla, his favorite season is winter, and his favorite meal is porridge...did I mention his favorite position is missionary.
P.S. yet another master class in automotive journalism.
I need a white car and my slacks ironed for next video.
Yes Jack, we know you'd take the BMW equivalent over this -- that's been well establish.
He is so damn biased, isn’t he?
Have one of these and do want to add that over 7000 miles I’m averaging over 125mpg with a 30 mile each way highway commute while charging nightly and at work. Just did a small road trip and with no charging returned 35mpg with a mix of highway and mountain driving
I have a 2020 S60 poverty spec (T5 momentum) with a couple add ons and I really like it. I bought in spring of 2021 before the car market went totally bananas and got it for a decent price as a off loaner (6.5K miles, 1 yr old). Dealership experience was meh, which was surprising for a premium brand but I guess all dealerships are alike. I like the ride and how it looks inside and out. Everything inside the car is really well done, like they thought about it and made an effort. I am likely going to move on from it when the warranty expires in 2024. Only issue was an O2 sensor crapped out in summer of 21, warranty repair.
I have a S60 T8 since 2019. I drive around like crazy, and never had an issue once. Never on the side of road or had an electrical issue. Feels crazy listening to this.
Volvo is mad underrated
LOL! as a Volvo Owner! of the XC40, I concur :) they might not be the most luxurious! but they are sure comfortable and great long drive vehicles and just putting around the city too!
I think the XC40 rides great. I have more problems with the XC90's ride than the XC40.
I have a 2021 XC40 and agree that the ride is very comfortable. I don’t really notice the sharp impact issues Mark describes, and here in Northern Michigan we have a lot of potholes that can cause that lol But maybe it’s more noticeable on the lower riding S60 than a higher up XC40.
@@9Xavier1 It's noticeable in the SPA cars but not to the almost whiny degree Mark is saying it is. It's a sometimes things that happen on certain sharp crests and such. For the most part, the SPA cars ride reasonably well. I do think and hope that Volvo works on ride suppleness and cured this characteristic in the SPA2 cars.
I have an XC40 as well and totally agree. I love it. Mine is an early 22 Inscription and driving it still brings a smile to my face, 1 year after purchasing it. I recognize that that might change and couldn’t help but snicker when Jack joked about the car not being on the tow truck, lol!
This is the only channel i would watch a Volvo review
Everyday i dream of owning a 2020 S90 T8, I did the test drive already and its the ultimate daily, an S-Class on a budget plus the best sound system I ever heard in a car, the only thing holding me back are the prices and depreciation, maybe in 2023 who knows… if money isnt a problem these are the best daily drivers out there!
I own a 2019 s90 t8 r design pro.
I absolutely love it. Also have a cla200 on the drive. It’s awful compared to the Volvo.
A proper pipe and slippers ride but with bags of power when you feel a bit spicy.
It’s the only car that brings a smile to my face every time since I owned a Mazda Eunos.
Not sure about reliability. Fingers crossed. Some people say they’re poor but been sound so far and my neighbour owned it before with no problems. Mines done 80,000.
Getting 90mpg at the moment. 🎉happy days
I have the 2020 polestar Engineered. Fantastic daily driver I use mostly for highways. Very comfortable, I love the plug in for my quick excursions off the highway. I average in the 40 MPG range and on the road this thing pulls hard. Literally have not had a single reliability issue with the motor, the dampers are brilliant!
A 2019 V60 T6 plug in here, 100 000 km on it now not a single issue, looks good as new on the underside despite spending all it's winters driving on salted roads. I don't know what people are complaining about.
Local dealer had one on their showroom floor. Not gonna lie. It looks freaking great in person.
I own a Volvo V60 D4 2014. Second owner and bought it 2017. Love the seats, never gets tired in long road trips and the D4 engine is strong with all the torque and low fuel usage. So far it's been great without any issues and I have been eyeing up on the newer generation for some time. Infotainment should be better in the newer, but you actually doesn't use it that much that it's a big deal. Volvo's world class leading safety is the biggest selling point for me. Protecting my family.
Reliability and parts availability/cost are holding back a unique brand. Thank you for another honest review.
Did you hear about the Polestar 1 battery recall? And also as a Volvo owner myself I can tell you parts are always extremely expensive despite the level of the brand. It's a fairly middle of the road luxury brand charging just as much as Mercedes for parts. But at least Mercedes stocks parts for old models and keeps parts avaliable. Its one of the most annoying things about Volvo.
@@clonetrooper576 I guess that depends on the country. Here in sweden all volvo parts exist basically everywhere and are cheaper than other brands
I have kind of stuck with two Vehicles most of my last 60 years of driving. Corvettes and Volvos. I have owned Vettes since 1966 when i bought a 1964. In 1975 I bought a 244 Volvo for my Wife and as the family car. What convinced me on Volvo forever was the 760 Turbo for fun, great ride and safety. I was working late on a project and was coming home tired, Ran off the road and totaled the 760. I got out and walked home with my briefcase. When the car was starting to slide into the ditch I grabbed the steering wheel in my left hand and the gear shift in my ride and I prayed to God to take care of my kids. Once i saw the car in daylight i was amazed, the front end had crushed neatly and the roof was like a washboard. My leg had broken the turn signal lever and the interior was unharmed as I was. We have had Volvos the S40 to the S60 as the kids are gone and our last was a 2018 S60 T5 AWD Polestar. We love the car and just looked over the White S60 T8 Recharge Ultimate and was pretty impressed. I also studied the C8 Corvette the E Ray. My 2014 is 10 years old with 12,500 miles. My wifes 2108 has 18,800 miles. As it happens we can get over $55K in trade value for both our cars that would cover the T8 Ultimate with money left for an extended warranty. I hope I don't regret the change too much. D&M
Great video as always. Will you guys review the newer Jaguar models like the XF or F-Pace? They have gotten major facelifts the last couple of years.
Nice to see this review, not much buzz in the industry about Volvos. I am a mostly accidental owner of a Volvo, not brand loyal at all. I love my 2019 S60 with the T6, and this new extended range T8 I should want it. Very conflicted though as I feel Volvo abandons the last of their customers that like driving. Over the years they have removed the R-Design branding, ESC Sport mode, drive mode switch, then the drive modes, and the "sport chassis" option. Then they add more battery and power to a refined T8, with a 112mph speed limiter. The Android system issues still persist after years, with less functionality than the old Sensus system (music info in the instrument display?...nope). Oh well, it's not all about HP, I do really like my 2019 and feel it does drive and handle well with the sport chassis. But the dream of being able to get the same car with the new Recharge drivetrain, seems to be too much to ask. I'm too cheap to go Polestar version, heck I am too cheap to buy a new car these days.
I have a 2020 T6 R-Design with Sport Chassis and feel the same.
I love the clean look Volvo has been designing the last few years!
It’s nice to hear a more specific explanation for your common statement about how connected a car feels. It’s always slightly bothered me that you guys say a car feels disconnected front to back without elaborating on whether it feels that the front and rear halves of the car move on their own, whether the suspension upsets or damps the road at different rates, or even whether a drivetrain makes the front and rear power application feel unbalanced. It just always felt like a very vague criticism to me and perhaps it’s either that I haven’t driven enough cars to understand what “disconnected” feels like, or maybe it’s that it’s truly difficult to identify what causes a disconnected feeling.
It could be worth making a fine print video talking about chassis connectedness like you have other stuff. I’d be curious to hear how suspension design plays into this - stuff like the flat ride paradigm, jacking down vs jacking up, how the damping is compared to the natural frequency, etc., how the body structure plays into it, and how a drivetrain affects it - AWD systems with torque vectoring, separate rear motors, how passive AWD reacts. To be fair you guys cover the drivetrain “connectedness” deficiencies pretty well, particularly with electric or PHEV platforms, but, for instance with the S60, I think a comparison to the TLX torque vectored mechanical AWD would be a good thing to explore and talk about the functional differences on the road. Again, you guys go above and beyond all other channels in talking about these types of technical and dynamics differences so perhaps this is too much to ask.
Maybe that would be too technical for those viewers that watch this channel for car buying advice and for them, sure, saying a sports sedan feels disconnected may be enough, but for the enthusiasts that want to learn it would be awesome to hear those kinds of details. I suppose you also often don’t have that data on specific cars but it would be nice to hear a general overview of the concepts and how you feel the cars you review perform in those terms.
I myself don’t understand this stuff very well and have picked up on it from your videos and from people talking about tuning race cars, so I apologize if I spouted some misplaced jargon that doesn’t make much sense. I guess this stuff isn’t what makes a channel successful but I’d still love a place I can learn about this that isn’t dry lecture.
Oh and I can’t get over how pretty the design of this Volvo is. They hit it out of the park with styling outside and particularly inside, even if the details of infotainment usability kind of suck. I know Volvo isn’t a benchmark for them, but it should be because all the competitors in this segment aside from perhaps Genesis are veering into weird and ugly interior designs.
It’s quite funny how Volvo managed to combine drivetrains into a PHEV that somehow delivers the worst of both worlds. Then again it may be more of a testament to toyota and a couple others that they were able to make a dual propulsion vehicle as reliable or more so than an ICE car. When the first PHEV concepts were coming out I remember thinking how pointless they seemed given that you had to design, tune, maintain, carry around, and worry about two entire drivetrains, but then the volt and Prius plug in proved me wrong. And then Volvo proved me right. Hah
One more thing, I refuse to accept that a safety focus means vehicle dynamics needs to be tuned for preemptive stability control activation and prodigious understeer. The electronics are good enough to let cars get right to the limits or just beyond them without going over, and while understeer is definitely safer in a crash scenario than a neutral or oversteer biased car, it doesn’t mean that a safe car needs to plow. I think this is a deficit of the front wheel drive platform being sold as a safe car and allowing the safety to be used as an excuse for subpar tuning. I guess any car putting 300hp to the front wheels would be hard to tune into feeling neutral.
As someone who actually owns one of these (exact same trim in the better white blacked out version) I think most of what they pointed out is spot on, really good job.
But I don't like the comparison to the ES, because I think it depends on the driving habits of the buyer. If your daily driving is under 40 its all electric, and even under 60 you'd still get better MPG with this Volvo assuming you can charge it daily.
For the suspension, the ES is better. But you do have an option to get the Polestar Engineered if you really want better handling, and based on previous years it would make the sportiness of the car match its performance. But not really worth worth the extra $10k in my opinion, you might as well just get a BMW. But then again if you want to "out sporty" this car while matching or besting the power while still getting decent MPG, good luck finding that car that doesn't really exist right now. You'd either have to spend a lot more money or go full electric, which isn't always an option for everyone. And even then, really the only full electric car in this price range that bests this performance wise is the highest model 3 trim, but you give up all the luxury and comfort going that direction.
One thing I wish they had pointed out though is the one pedal driving. You don't really get that in any of this cars direct competitors, and it's done so very well in this car.
Agree, the ES comparison is way off. Also don't agree about the vibration when in charge mode. You can tell the motor is on but saying it's an annoying level of vibration...I don't feel that.
Its not bad its just noticable because the car is otherwise is smooth.
the ES comparison was really something. lexus is no where near its European competitors at all
The one pedal driving is really more just aggressive regen (non adjustable) technically available on many hybrids (b mode). But point taken. The polestar version is crazy expensive for what it is, but the damper option is very cool. Regardless, I liked this car.
Yeah, I skipped the Polestar because I couldn't justify $16k more for manually adjustable Ohlins on a car this heavy, it just wasn't going to move the needle. The bigger brakes were a maybe but it has mixed braking always on so between friction and regen, it's got good enough brake power.
Honestly....I don't think B mode actually gives you any more regen in the mixed braking scheme. It's just combined 2 control inputs into 1. It's weird how you can only manual shift from B mode, not that there's a reason to manually shift it really.
Saw one of these yesterday on the street. All murdered out. Gooooood looking.
Laughed all the way through the drone crash, final thoughts then the Volvo presentation at the end 🤣
So now the only thing missing on American market is the estate version. C'mon Volvo...
They offer a V60 estate in both cross country and T8 Polestar editions in the US market.
In Canada they still offer the V60 and V60 CC
Don't they still offer wagons? Super hard to find though and many have those ugly plastic cladding around wheels vs the normal wagon that looks amazing
@@starkyslp16yes look up 2024 V60 T8 eAWD Polestar Engineered
I own a slightly modified 2018 S90L that I absolutely love, this S60 makes for an interestingly sporty second volvo in my opinion. Volvo for life.
Love the "Sprockets" ending.
Well Done
I sincerely appreciate the honesty regarding the infotainment.
Mark & Jack, any plans to do a live stream before the year end?
man ever since they updated their looks, i’ve always kinda wanted one
Nice review. I really like my 2019 S60 T6 R-Design with Polestar tune. Has the factory lowered suspension and ground effects no longer offered. The Sensus system does include a full EQ for the Bowers and Wilkins though I’ve kept mine flat as you should for well designed systems. Sad to hear of reliability issues from you but hoping it’s not all cars as I really enjoy mine. Hopefully the lack of hybridization improves my chances. A good honest review as always..
Can you Tune Polestar on a T6?
Finally someone reviewed the Black Edition ! Thank you guys !
This is the perfect vehicle for me to stealthily conduct business transactions in.
Or "slink a viper thru these suburban areas." - Don Fagen
My dream car if I could afford it. I have always owned Volvos and have been eyeing this one for toooo long
a day when both Throttle house & Mr Geese upload, is a good day
Jason over in hagerty just uploaded too
I hate these comments, pointless.
As long as RCR reviews a gremlin or a chevette as well.. then it’s a perfect day
Agreed.
I like how there's food crumbs on the seats, spots on the fenders and dirty floormats. Its a car in its natural environment.
I think an interesting comparison would be between this and the Toyota Crown Platinum (hybrid max version). They're both performance hybrids with sorta similar pricing, but very different target audiences.
My mother drives a '17 Lexus ES300H currently and while it's worked great for her (before you ask yes she's a real-estate-agent, driving the real-estate-agent car, we know), she wants a less boaty hybrid sedan with a bit more zoom, and the S60 T8 seems like a solid option for that though reliability is suspect. This leaves the Crown, which seems like an appealing package on paper, but so does this.
I'd say the Crown will be more boaty but cheaper to keep for a long time
The Toyota without a doubt is the better choice to buy. However for features, premium features and if you were only going to lease it, the Volvo would be a better choice.
@@atmartens The difference is that, expensive as it is, the Crown isn't exactly a luxury car ... nicer than most Toyotas but not on the same level as a Volvo or a proper Lexus. And we've had plenty of reliable Volvos so long-term ownership is not out of the question. I would always take the S60
These have aged so well P3 interiors are so outdated but the spa volvos are so good looking even now
This looks exactly what I did to my volvo s90 with plasti dip cans and vinyl wrap on the side chrome moldings. Along with Ali baba blacked out volvo lettering lol
That outro tho… this is why I keep coming back to this channel. Savvy.
Love to see you review Polestar 2 (performance)!
Rut Roh, I hope your drone survived its skirmish with the trees? As always, a great review from Mark and Jack!
I think you could bring up G80 here as well, especially from cruiser perspective and since you're bringing up a maxed out ES. Yes, that's going to be a 4 cyl, but that's what Volvo is anyways, yet you get a better warranty and tech.
crazy to me how he said it gets less MPG than an M340i. drive both vehicles for a day the way you’re driving in the video and the M340i would get like 12mpg. my Black edition t8 averages 43mpg and i drive it pretty hard. mind you, i’ve owned 2 m340i’s and never got more than 18mpg bc of the way i drive
Love Volvo
Interesting. My V60, super charged and turbo charged, has none of the problems you talk about. The T8 in Europe is known for its reliability.
I am curious what tires were put on that car. My S90 came with P Zeros and I had issues with the small bumps on the road as well. I moved to a P7 AS Plus 3 grand touring tire and it dramatically improved the ride quality of the car. I also think the tires better match the frame of the car and handle the weight of the car better.
Right. I've been suspicious of my tires too. P Zero All Seasons, I don't think they're that great. I hate to throw these away, but I'm expecting (or hoping) the car will feel a little bit better when I can choose my own tire. Maybe in a couple years.
When the Scandinavian guy at the end explains things about their new core computer, and said "we also connect it to our android infotainment system...", I thought he was going to plug in himself.
Perfect drive by car. Put it in forced EV mode on approach. Mow em down and haul ass silently. No range anxiety for the escape run. And it looks great
I think the harshness from the small sharp bumps could be that the chassis and bushings are too stiff. I found the the previous generation S60 had a similar issue with low profile tires, but winter tires with 55 sidewalls removed the harshness.
I miss old Volvo.
It's immaculate 🔥🔥
The dude at 11:33 was so high on his phone that I felt like it's a miracle that he didn't hit you.
I thought for sure they were going to get rear ended
I saw that too! I was rear needed by a dodge ram 1500 two days ago, I was in my 2014 S60. He was going at least 40 mph. A Nissan in turn rear ended him. Two impacts totaled my Volvo but not only did I walk away (neck pain, some bruising) but my car stopped itself from hitting the car in front of me harder. I tapped a Chevy. I think that my Volvo saved my life. Thanks for the review!
You miss the key point. This car goes 40 miles without burning gas. My ELR did the same. I drove it 25,000 miles and used 70 gallons of gas. Yet, this car is fast, unlike the ELR.. It seats four, unlike the ELR. The ES has about half the electric range. Same with the 330e. Can't compare on weaning off gas.
I tested it and got an honest 90km/55miles on a charge.
Pretty great
Notice you guys never mention a Guilia in a comparison. We just got my wife a 22 Veloce and I love it. From what I've seen they fixed most of the reliability issues that were in the 17-19 models. As a turbo 4 it's quick and the handling is awesome. It's 4dr that feels almost like a 2dr. Just curious and maybe you should revisit the Guilia. Thanks for all the great reviews though.
Ill drive it if we get it. Good car just gets lost in the mix sometimes.
The Giulia is a awesome car handles like a go cart very darty. Only gripe is the 4 popper is decent for what it is but it redlines at like 5500rpm with under 300hp. They should have either tuned up the 4banger to 350ishhp and up the redline or just severely detune the 2.9tt to 350ish hp. It doesn’t have a mid performance motor just either a base 4banger which like I said is more potent then most other 4bangers in the segment or have to get a QV with 500hp. Big miss imo.
MY 2020+ saw big improvements in reliability and usability.
Best handling base model sedan on the market.
@@stevemiller1626 better than the 3 series? I'd be surprised and what dealers can service alfa?
Bought the 2022.5 extended range edition of this car about 3 months ago. Also black edition but white paint with the blacked out grill. Only difference really with the 2023 is that it was the final incarnation of Sensus rather than Android Automotive. Through 3 months it’s mostly positive. With the 41 or so miles of range 95% or my driving dropping off the kids, commute to work and such is all in electric. So most of the time it’s a RWD experience on the electric motor. Not a car I’m going to take to the track. But as a daily driver it’s great. And I like the instant torque of the EV engine. And when I put it in pure EV mode I find it gets up to speed on the highway just great. And if you put it in Power mode maxing both the engines can get you 4.5 0-60.
This is why I like PHEVs. You can have the engine as a backup and drive them around town as BEVs and get all the advantage of a BEV. You don't get as quick acceleration but who needs it driving around town?
You guys have an excellent production quality and in-depth content! I think best on youtube right now or at least on par with ThrottleHouse. 👍👍👍
Thank you Mark for your honest,informative, knowledgeable review , the only other review I watch is retro Motor Week. Dude that was a funny joke on the tow truck!
Volvo has finally tamed Frankenstein
Wow great detailed review.. you mentioned things I didn't think about..ty
Making me want more than the Corolla Hatchback I’m gonna buy lol
Thanks for never holding back in your reviews
Problem with any Volvo: you can't get it without Google/Android spyware. Deal breaker. Which is a shame, their design - especially in the Polestar cars - is very good.
Spyware??
If that's your fear, then the same can be said about Chevy, Cadillac, GMC, Toyota, Honda, Renault and countless other brands adopting Android Automotive.
@@GlitterGuru Not forgetting android and Apple mobiles !
There is a high probability you have a “spyware” device in your pocket already.
@@marclangman4836 Show me a fully functional mobile phone without spyware and I'm a customer. Meanwhile, the phone often stays home. With cars there actually are plenty of good alternatives.
Yessssss!! Have been wanting SOMEONE to review this new powertrain.
Great review, but I feel like you guys miss the point of plug-in hybrids (in general) from a fuel economy perspective. Even in a worse-than-average scenario where you have to drive 60 miles round trip from work and there is no charger at the office, you can drive 40 miles (estimated) on electric-only and only have to use fuel for 20 miles. At 26 MPG, that means you'll spend about 0.77 gallons of fuel. That yields a total trip fuel economy of 60 miles / 0.77 gallons = 78 mpg. In comparison, the BMW M340i, with 30 MPG combined, would use 60 / 30 = 2 gallons of fuel on the same trip. Of course, it's not really a fair comparison between a plug-in hybrid and a six cylinder, but the point is that plug-in hybrids won't look good from fuel economy until you actually take into consideration the heavy lifting the battery is doing. In real life, I think a plug-in hybrid is pretty compelling if you can get over some of the complications that come with it. And as long as you're not doing too many road trips, you will get amazing fuel economy without having to go EV and deal with all the range anxiety BS.
Yeah but the truth is they are called plug in hybrids. The hybrid part it's not particularly competitive at. If you payed 65k and all you wanted to use was the ev part for 50 percent of your commuting. You could have just bought a full ev like the BMW i4 or polestar instead. If you are a hybrid compact sedan 30+mpg is required and that's in a world where the ES do 40+mpg.
And the only time I had EV range is when I force charged it. Barely had 35 mile range in cold.
People always act like electricity is free, but it's not. It's currently cheaper than gas on a per mile basis, but nowhere near free, and some places like Switzerland and California are trying to limit how much you can charge your car when there's a electrical capacity shortage.
@@bigcjm the i4 is great, but there's a compatibility assurance with a phev. it checks off *every* box
@@bigcjm True, it's unfortunate that plug-in hybrids get very mediocre fuel economy most of the time when the electricity runs out, even compared to most traditional ICE cars. But my point is looking at the WHOLE picture. The whole picture is that in a year, you're going to be spending less money on fuel on your commutes compared to a traditional hybrid. I get that EVs can do that better, but if it's your ONLY car and you would like to have a vehicle that's capable of getting out of your state, EVs are just not there yet.
I realize plug-ins are not for everybody, and I'm not advocating that it is. All I'm saying is that it is an extremely fuel efficient way of commuting around and not have range anxiety when going on long-trips. And also, calling the B58 "more fuel efficient" in the video is extremely inaccurate, all things considered.
got a V60 recharge slated for delivery in may (only with the harmon kardon sound system)... hopefully the silicon lottery is favourable to me, in this post-silicon shortage world...
When will you guys cover the Polestar 2?!?!
They never shipped them to our region.
@@savagegeese hmm I'm sure there is a Polestar Space near you, that would lend you a car??
@@savagegeese Find one. They handle really well. Tons of grip.
@@savagegeese I’m sure you could get your hands on a unit!
i was doing 70 mph in 30 mph zone in the 2021 version of this car when i suddenly realized the black steel frame of a backing up car carrier semi truck was blocking my lane completely ( i couldn't see it in time because it was 95% open and i saw the road right through it, yet i would certainly die if i hit it ) and i had to do very aggressive evasive move using oncoming traffic lane and i thought i would spin out and and end up in a ditch but the Volvo was rock steady - the tires squealed and then it just stabilized itself. so yeah this car is not for race track or carving canyons but when you need to avoid hitting something on the road it performs well, and also the swedes specifically test for this ( Moose Test ) which is far more relevant for real world driving than any track times. i wish the Germans would design cars more for the real world than bragging rights because i do prefer German cars but they don't design for the real world - they design for the imaginary world in which the drivers THINK they will be driving ( on a Formula 1 track or something ).
That sterile, emotionless ending had me rolling. It reminded me of Dieter's Dance World and Sprockets from Saturday Night Live. Completely emotionless, mechanical, and just making a box with seats on four wheels. I drive a lot in the Nordic countries and Volvos are everywhere there, but they're not going to survive again unless they market to outside their home town of Stockholm, China.
😂 that ending had me rolling
Why on earth do manufacturers refuse to paint brake calipers on anything without a performance package? (inb4 money) The blackout edition should at least have the basic floating calipers painted black. It'd help with corrosion, and not call so much visual attention to basic brakes.
Also, around @11:45, Jack says "if you care about the sporty part of the drive, just buy a BMW." I'm surprised to hear that, as the 3 series may have been the definitive sport sedan, all the recent reviews, even SG's, suggest it no longer is. Can you guys elaborate?
Still is a great looking car, but as said not what would choose at this point. Even would choose a M3 dual motor over it.
I appreciate how often you guys bring up the ES, no other journalist ever mentions that car and in my mind it's one of the bargains of the industry (assuming you're a driver who isn't looking to drive it like an enthusiast, aka 95% of most luxury car buyers). Also interesting to compare this S60 to that ES - which makes sense - but both the S60 and ES are indeed somewhat forgotten cars. I love Volvo's but they really are in need of some updates across the board to stay competitive. The black badges look cool but this car is so far behind at this point, although the Volvo recipe will always be a unique one that even when not competitive on paper, will find its loyalists.
I agree. I have a 2018 ES 350 and it's deceptively good. It's the right size, I can sit behind myself (not easy in most cars as I'm 6'1") and quite quick on the road.
Volvo's next-gen starts with the EX90. It was revealed but won't hit the streets until 2024. Problem is, all new-gen Volvos are BEV-only. So if you want a hybrid you have to stick with the current gen.
volvo are kings of turning simple reliable transportation into the direct opposite
They dumped the simple reliable transportation decades ago. The 120, 1800 ES 140, & 240s were such practical,reliable, comfortable cars...
That outro is the most Scandinavian thing I've ever seen
My 2021 M340 routinely gets up to 32 MPG driving on Northeast and Mid-Atlantic highways without even trying to save fuel. Oh, and that’s even when I fill it with 87 octane regular fuel.
Volvo makes a great car
I have a love/hate relationship with Volvo. I have a '22 XC60 B6 (my third Volvo) and the biggest letdown is the infotainment. It's glitchy and unreliable. The system actually crashed on me a few times while driving and I could not get it to reboot. When you can't get climate control working in the summer it's going to piss you off. I also had to wait 6+ months before Apple CarPlay was available with an OTA update.
That would piss me off too. Manufactures need to just leave climate controls out of the touch screen or at least have a balance.
Mark provides extremely detailed yet un-biased summaries, able to acknowledge that if you're going the purely "something different" route, the T8 has become massively better - while also acknowledging the 3 Series and C-Class are the better modern, luxurious, sporty sedans.
I’ve been trying to ask about the 2023 V60 T8 Recharge for the US… no word. I’m worried Volvo killed it for the US without telling anyone, or getting a build allocation is so hard, it’s basically the same thing
Everything is B4, B5 or B6. There is no more T anything. There is a T8 equivalent I believe.
I have no idea what any of these Ts and Bs mean and guaranteed no one in the real world does either.
@@savagegeese T used to mean petrol, and D being diesel. Then they changed to B for the Swedish word "bensin" petrol, and kept D as diesel, then they changed it again where every single car, whether petrol or diesel, has a B before it, then they added Recharge. So now, in Sweden - car salespeople are advertising volvos as S60 B4 (Diesel) or S60 B4 (Petrol) as you can no longer tell by the BX/DX badge....
Really confusing - I think they are just trying to get away from diesel and petrol altogether and eventually you will just have EV-only Volvos.
@@benjaminsmith2287 At least in the US, the MY23 V60 is still called a T8. Only available in Polestar Engineered.
@@ecbsykes OK. It does seem the T8 is the exception. Thanks.
The workmanship in the Volvo is better in my experience than my x3.
This was the only SG video that I dislike. Also the only review you can find on YT that craps on this car so hard. All other reviews are stellar. Glad I bought the T8 extended range.
I was shopping an S60 T6R with the turbo-supercharged 4cylinder and AWD against an Audi A5 with the EA888 engine. The Volvo was, in my opinion, beautiful to look at. The driving experience was disappointing. The A5 was also nice to look at but lackluster with the turbo 4. In the end, I went with a Ford Fusion Sport. Cost me $10,000 less with half the miles at the time. I guess I just cannot get used to 4 cylinder buzz and noises. While the interior on the FFS is not even in the same league as either car, the daily driver experience with that sweet twin turbo V6 and awesome AWD is the best bang for the buck out there, IMHO. Also, the Q-ship factor is off the charts.
I think the one you reviewed must have been an abused early build press car, because mine does not leak a drip anywhere with 31k on the clock and runs 13.7 at over 100mph in the quarter consistently. (I have the slips)
Looks are subjective, and while the Volvo and Audi are definitely better looking cars the FFS is not that far behind them aesthetically. Lastly, compared to the aforementioned Volvo and Audi, my car IS faster stock vs stock. 😎
Great review.
The Volvo XC60 T8 is a lot of fun, at least the TwinEngine version.
Is it as much fun as the original T6?
@@clearcut6818 Well it's faster at the very least!
@@WEKS87 mine 2013 XC60 does 0-60 in 5.8 seconds. Think the new one is 6.1seconds.
@@clearcut6818
The newest B6 XC60 does 0-60 in 6.6s, and the newest Recharge-LR XC60 does 0-60 in 4.2s.
The 2013 R-Design XC60 did 0-60 in 6.2s.
@@CrazyWeeMonkey exactly, slower and pricier.
I just bought the 2023 s60 recharge. I love it! I thought though, it still had the supercharger as well as the turbo charger. Am I missing something? When I put it in power mode, you can definitely hear the turbo as you drive. I have the plus edition, not the black, core, ultimate, or polestar. I wanted the 360* camera. The biggest gripe I have is the serious lack of storage space. The center console isn't even big enough to store my phone. For the price, I would expect better storage. I disagree with you on the infotainment system. I think it's super easy to use. The google set up is very user friendly, and very quick in response to my touch. The heating/cooling is also easy to use, even though I agree it would be nice to have actual buttons. But, you can always use voice command for it to turn up or down the heat or air.
The design is so clean! I love the Volvo's styling.
The older Sensus system was WAY better
Such a good looking car