Since then, Alex has reviewed nearly every new vehicle available in South Africa, travelled globally for high-profile launches, and even raced as a works driver for Toyota Gazoo Racing. A proud feather in his cap is that he also led the digital division at CAR Magazine (South Africa’s oldest and most respected motoring publication), building its online presence significantly through editorial direction and multimedia content.
Through its nearly 100-year history, Volvo has been more renowned for Scandinavian simplicity and safety rather than motorsport and performance bragging rights. The three-point safety belt came in 1959 and was followed by dozens of innovations since.
Every now and then, though, the Swedes come up with something that doesn’t look out of place in a retirement village, but could very well give hidings to potent sports cars. This sedan is one of them, wearing its understated exterior with little to no hint of the brand’s former racing successes. Despite the more highly-strung Polestar banner’s existence, it isn’t one of those either. Instead, it boasts enough power and twist courtesy of hybridization to get it off the line quicker than many performance-oriented cars of today.
Engine
2.0-liter turbocharged hybrid
Power
455 hp
Torque
523 lb-ft
0-60 mph
4.1 seconds
Top Speed
114 mph
In this world, performance generally wears bold badges and aggressive styling. Appraisals for what is under the surface are embellished onto it. Ever prominent are the overstyled, but underwhelming SUVs that have flooded the market due to demand from buyers who want the best of both worlds, or superficial over substance. On the other hand, the Volvo S60 Recharge exists in a vacuum in the very same world and is a reminder that Volvo can make fun cars.
Beneath that simple and timeless Scandinavian design lies a hybrid powertrain that delivers performance that challenges the notion that speed must be loud and ostentatious. Under the bonnet (and floor) of the S60 Recharge T8 Ultra is a 2.0-liter turbocharged four-cylinder engine paired with an electric motor, producing a combined 455 horsepower and 523 lb-ft of torque.
In terms of performance metrics, this powertrain, sent to all corners, propels the sedan from 0 to 60 mph in just over four seconds, rivaling some of the most celebrated sports cars on the market. Further insights show that it won’t win any Autobahn brawls with its anaemic top end, but it certainly has enough grunt to get it up there impressively quickly.
Aside from the performance, its appeal for many comes from its ability to do this with an air of subtle sophistication. Like almost all Volvos from before, the potent S60 boasts Scandinavia’s trademark minimal design both outside and in, and rarity appeal courtesy of such low volume being sold. What’s more, Volvo’s all-wheel-drive system has been lauded for delivering optimal traction (particularly with snowy conditions beneath), while the eight-speed automatic transmission is arguably better than its rival BMW 3 Series or Mercedes-Benz C-Class. Being the hybrid that it is, it can even travel for an EPA-estimated electric-only range of 40 miles when driven in pure EV mode.
Ironically, the S60 Recharge has a dual personality, as it can deliver surprising sports car-busting performance while achieving an EPA combined fuel economy of 31 MPG (when the battery is fully charged). The added bonus of hybrid powertrains is their ability to deliver instant torque, which helps with off-the-line acceleration.
When compared to contemporary sports cars, the S60 can run with an F87 BMW M2 CS, B8 Audi RS4 Avant, and Volkswagen Golf R MK7 up to 60 mph before running out of steam and even beat models like the Mustang EcoBoost, Mustang GT, and Mustang Dark Horse in both the 0-60 sprint and the quarter mile. For reference, Ford claims the Mustang lineup mentioned above can clock 0-60 in 4.5 seconds, 4.2 seconds, and 4.1 seconds, respectively, while quarter-mile times are listed at 13.2 seconds and 12.5 seconds for both V8 models. This is identical to Car and Driver’s independently reported 12.5 seconds at 112 mph for a 2023 model year Volvo.
Of course, it was never really built to go up against performance cars of yesteryear or hot hatches of now. Instead, this was built as an entry-level to mid-size luxury sedan that serves as a competitor to other vehicles like the BMW 3 Series and Mercedes-Benz C-Class. But Volvo sedans have always had a habit of flying under the radar globally.
In the States, the 2025 model year Scandinavian sleeper sedan caters to luxury and performance preferences. A division is made between the B5 mild-hybrid and the aforementioned T8 Recharged plug-in variants. The B5 is endowed with a turbocharged 2.0-liter four-cylinder engine that benefits from mild-hybrid assistance and is good for a total of 247 hp to either the front or all wheels. Buyers can select a variant in the lineup that begins with the Core trim. One up from this is the Plus, which is equipped with more creature comforts and added features, and that trend continues with the Ultra (formerly Ultimate), and Ultra Black Edition, which sit atop all others. Pricing is on par with its Euro rivals, with deals on the Core starting at around $43,000 while the Ultra Black Edition tops the price sheets at just shy of $60K.
The S60 will be put to pasture as the final production run of the sedan with a fossil-fueled powertrain as the EX30 takes the baton into the future. This shift aligns with Volvo’s commitment to electrification and sustainability, aiming to have fully electric vehicles comprise 50% of its global sales by the close of this year. Volvo has been strongly committed to this approach, and the outgoing S60 serves as a bridge between traditional internal combustion engines and full EVs with its hybrid powertrain. There is also no doubt that Volvo’s exploits with electrification have proven fruitful in terms of acceleration performance.
A look at the EX30 Twin Motor Performance shows a grocery-getting SUV that can hit 60 mph in just over 3 seconds, but some of the appeal to enthusiasts has been foregone. Despite more aggressive intentions with a fully electrified lineup, the Swedish automaker adjusted its long-term plans last year and shifted from a 2030 EV-only goal to a more pragmatic approach that will see 90%+ of production now being electrified (including battery-electric and plug-in hybrid vehicles). The forecasted trend with the S60 aligns with the broader Volvo plan, but with an ever-evolving industry, there may still be the inclusion of fossil-fuel-powered engines after the close of the decade.
The arena the S60 plays in is saturated with not only mid-size luxury sedans, but ones that offer a healthy dollop of performance too. The go-to sleeper is the M340i (available with xDrive), which offers similar performance to the Scandinavian sedan. Sticking with Europe, one of the other mainstays would be the Audi S5 Sportback. Lesser popular models that tend to fly under the radar but can deliver surprising performance include the Genesis G70, Alfa Romeo Giulia and Lexus IS. The answer to this question would come down to preference, despite the Volvo’s penchant for understated performance that is superior to most of its rivals in this case. It doesn’t have the same visceral curbside appeal or cachet as the M-badged German, or stylistic flourishes as Alfa Romeo’s offering, but it retains the premium hallmarks that have become synonymous with Volvo’s hunkered-down four-door.
Like all to wear Volvo’s badge from before it, the S60 has its priorities rooted in safety instead, which are one of the brand’s primary selling points. It certainly isn’t for everyone, particularly those who want a car that looks as fast as it goes, but this understated styling has made the S60 an unknown quantity for anything mildly performance-oriented at a set of traffic lights.
Source: Car and Driver, Volvo, Edmunds
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