Volvo launches S60 at $55K

Volvo has significantly undercut the leading German luxury brands with the pricing of its new S60 and V60 sedan and wagon.

Starting at $54,990 (plus on-road costs), the entry-level S60 T5 Momentum is nearly $9000 cheaper than the Mercedes-Benz C200 and almost $13,000 less than the entry-level BMW 320d.

In fact, three of the four models in the Volvo S60 line-up are cheaper than the new-generation BMW. Only the entry-level Audi A4 gets within cooee of the S60’s base price at $56,100.

It’s a similar story for the Volvo V60 wagon, which undercuts the cheapest Benz by nearly $10,000, the outgoing BMW (which is still on-sale but soon replaced) by a bit more than $6000. The A4 equivalent is more than $7000 more expensive.

The pricing is much lower than Volvo Car Australia managing director Nick Connor recently said it would be, but makes sense considering his desire for a no-discounting policy on the new car.

On-sale in August, the S60 and V60 return Volvo to the Australia passenger car market for the first time since it dropped the V40 and S90 in 2018. A V60 Cross Country is expected to arrive in 2020.

As we’ve recently reported, the S60 and V60 are based on Volvo’s SPA (Scalable Product Architecture) that underpins all 60 and 90 Series Volvo models – including the popular XC models. They complete Volvo’s current product cycle with second generation SPA model development now underway.

There will be three models of both S60 and V60 offered Down Under, along with two powertrains.

The T5 Momentum, Inscription and R-Design will be powered by a 2.0-litre petrol-turbo 187kW/350Nm four-cylinder engine driving all four wheels via an eight-speed automatic.

That mean as well as a price advantage, the Volvo S60s and V90s will start with an all-wheel-drive and power advantage over the equivalent Germans, although the BMW tops the T5 on torque.

The T8 R-Design plug-in petrol-electric hybrid combines a 2.0-litre turbocharged engine and two electric motors to deliver a combined 311kW and sizable 680Nm to all four wheels via an eight-speed auto.

Standard safety equipment across both sedan and wagon ranges will include semi-autonomous Pilot Assist, low and high-speed autonomous emergency braking, Volvo’s unique run-off road protection and mitigation, cross traffic alert with blind spot information and lane keeping aid.

Momentum key features include 17-inch wheels, Volvo’s signature nine-inch centre touch screen, park assist front and rear, adaptive cruise control, keyless-entry and hands-free boot/tailgate, LED headlights, pollutant and particle filtering ‘Clean Zone’ dual-zone climate control , leather trim and Apple CarPlay and Android Auto smartphone integration.

The Inscription swaps to 19-inch wheels and four-zone climate control, adds a head up display, 360-degree camera, automated parking, active bending capability to its LED headlights, interior ambient lighting, heated front seats and cushion extensions.

R-Design attractions include a different 19-inch wheel design, the active Four-C chassis, gearshift paddles and different leather seats.

How much does the 2019 Volvo S60 cost?
S60 T5 Momentum $54,990
S60 T5 Inscription $60,990
S60 T5 R-Design $64,990
S60 T8 R-Design $85,990

How much does the 2019 Volvo V60 cost?
V60 T5 Momentum $56,990
V60 T5 Inscription $62,990
V60 T5 R-Design $66,990
V60 T8 R-Design $87,990