Volvo has built its reputation by offering some of the safest vehicles on the road for many years. For a long time those vehicles lost a great deal when it came to design because the automaker built mostly squared off and boxy looking sedans that sold very well on the platform of safety. For the past few years the offerings from Volvo have become increasingly more stylish and appealing giving shoppers a choice that of not only safe vehicles but also ones that have a very eye-catching appearance.

The S60 is a mid-sized sedan that makes this new direction of Volvo show up with a great deal of appeal. The S60 for 2015 is mostly a carry-over from 2014 and adds only the Drive-E four-cylinder engine line up to this outstanding sedan. These engines are expected to replace all the engines the Volvo currently offers and are built to perform much better than the current ones.

Driving the S60 offers a smooth and energetic ride that is powered by the new Drive-E engines offering excellent power as well as a handling that is highly responsive. The finely tuned suspension soaks up the road with ease and the highly responsive steering handles and curves and traffic that comes its way. Adding the Sport package adds an even better handling than on the base models allowing the S60 to perform expertly in many situations.

The engines of the S60 come in two different groupings. The front-wheel drive models receive the new Drive-E engines while the all-wheel drive vehicles come in powered by carry-over engines. The base model S60 is powered by the 2.0-liter turbocharged inline four-cylinder Drive-E engine that offers 240 horsepower and 258 lb.-ft. of torque. This engine is mated to an eight-speed automatic transmission and this powertrain allows the S60 to achieve fuel efficiency of 25 city/37 hwy mpg.

The second Drive-E engine is a 2.0-liter turbocharged and supercharged inline four-cylinder engine that reaches as much as 302 horsepower and 295 lb.-ft. of torque. Married up with the same eight-speed automatic transmission this powertrain reaches fuel efficiency numbers of 24 city/35 hwy mpg for owners to take advantage of.

For the all-wheel drive models the first engine is a 2.5-liter turbocharged inline five-cylinder engine that brings in 250 horsepower and 266 lb.-ft. of torque. This engine is paired with a six-speed automatic transmission and achieves a fuel efficiency of 20 city/29 hwy mpg and adding the control and confidences of a great all-wheel drive system.

The final engine is a very powerful 3.0-liter turbocharged inline six-cylinder engine that brings in 325 horsepower and 354 lb.-ft. of torque. This engine is partnered with the same six-speed automatic transmission and offers a fuel mileage of 17 city/24 hwy mpg. Both of the six-speed transmissions are equipped with a manual shift mode that allows drivers to shift on their own when they want to.

With a logical and enticing design inside the cabin the S60 is easy to enjoy and offers instruments that are intuitively located making the S60 ease for anyone to get in and go. The seating is comfortable from any angle and the features offered are very enjoyable. The interior is covered in soft and luxury laden materials that make this a car many people will want take a ride in. There is even a decent amount of metal trim in the interior for owners to enjoy and take pleasure in. All of this makes the inside of the S60 one of the most enjoyable across the spectrum of luxury cars.

The outside of the S60 shows off with smooth stylings that appears to have disallowed any sharp angles anywhere on the outside of this great car. The smooth transitions form the hood to the roof via a low and luscious angle continues all the way to the rear of the car an makes this a Volvo that will gain notice on any street. The front of the car is actually very well understated with the signature Volvo logo adorning the grill and simple shaped headlights flanking this grill that are both attractive and highly functional.   The S60 is also equipped with a chunky spoke inspired set of wheels that add a bit of strength to the exterior appearance of the car.

The standard equipment offered for the S60 includes a full array of safety and security features as expected from Volvo including City Safety, Collision Warning, Full Auto Braking and Pedestrian Detection. Add to this all the luxury features that any owner may desire at the base model and this is a very safety conscious and easy to enjoy car for daily driving or family toting.

The optional equipment for the S60 shows up in some packages including a Premier trim package that adds 17-inch Sadia aluminum-alloy wheels and several other great features. The Premier Plus trim package adds active xenon headlights and front and rear parking assistance. The Platinum trim comes in with a premium 12-speaker 650-watt sound system, a navigation system that offers real time traffic information and auto-dimming mirrors. The Technology Package adds Collison Warning with Full Auto Brake and adds the Cyclist Detection System to the Pedestrian Detection System. The Sports Package adds sports seats, paddle shifters, alloy wheels and a more dynamic chassis to the car. Last there is a Blind Spot Information System Package that adds blind spot monitoring and warning to add an even higher level of safety to the car.

The starting price point for a base model T5 Volvo S60 comes in at just over $34,000 which is an excellent opening price point that is much less than many of the competitors. The T6 comes in above $39,000 and the all-wheel drive models start at $35,500 and $44,000 respectively. The S60 makes a great and affordable choice for anyone looking for an excellent luxury sedan and one that makes sense with all the added safety features and benefits for owners to enjoy.