In March, the car data has been released, and in this issue, we will focus on the mid-size car market, and the top sales volume in the segment is still the Mercedes-Benz C-Class, the protagonist of the overseas luxury brand BBA. It is worth noting that Volvo, which is also a luxury car brand, seems to be suspected of "dragging its feet", and even on the premise that the model sales increased by 651 units in February, its market sales ranking is still firmly in the 30th place, without any change. Is it because its product is not good? The answer is obviously no, because this car has recently had a big terminal discount.
Taking Dali in my area as an example, the sales calculated a landing price for me according to the 2024 Volvo S60 B4 Zhiyuan Luxury Edition. The guide price of the new car is 339,800 yuan, the cash discount in the store can be given to 98,800 yuan, the price of the naked car is as low as 241,000 yuan, and the landing price is about 257,000 yuan after counting the expenses of commercial insurance and purchase tax. Then, I believe that Volvo S60, as a luxury mid-size car, will attract a lot of attention after the price drops to about 240,000. What is the price-performance ratio of this car? Let's analyze it together.
Judging from the appearance, the appearance of the Volvo S60 is not a new face either. The car was first launched in December 2013, and although it has undergone several iterations and upgrades, the family-oriented front face has not changed much. The front part inherits the family-oriented design language, with smooth and concise lines, which are highly recognizable. In particular, the front and rear "Thor's Hammer" headlights and "Viking Tomahawk" taillights are not only representative, but also give the vehicle a unique personality.
In terms of body size, the Volvo S60 has a length, width and height of 4778/1850/1437 mm, a wheelbase of 2872 mm, and tire specifications of 235/45 R18. Because of the body design with wide body and double shoulders, the appearance of this car from multiple angles has a refreshing and capable effect. The design of the tail is relatively delicate and elegant, and the details are better at seeing the edges and corners, and the overall aesthetic taste is more pleasing to young people.
In terms of interior, Volvo S60 and Volvo XC60 are basically the same, and the Zhiyuan version of the model also adds a large area of walnut texture trim to the interior. In addition, the 12.3-inch full LCD instrument cluster is not absent, and the 9-inch multimedia central control screen enhances the sense of science and technology in the car, but the operation fluency and underlying operation logic need to be further improved.
In terms of configuration, Volvo S60 offers four models, which meet the needs of people with different budgets through different styles of interior collocation and different power and comfort configurations. Among them, the Zhiyuan luxury version, as a mid-range model, is not only equipped with L2 level assisted driving, but also equipped with front side airbags, side air curtains, front and rear parking radar, openable panoramic sunroof, leather steering wheel, inductive rear tailgate, keyless entry of the whole car, leather seats, front seat lumbar support/leg rest/memory, adaptive high and low beams, monochrome atmosphere lights, automatic anti-glare in the rearview mirror, automatic dual-zone air conditioning and other functions, these configurations can basically meet the needs of daily comfortable travel, but also take into account the safe travel.
In terms of space, Volvo S60's rear space performance is average, especially compared with BMW 3 series and Mercedes-Benz C-class, not only the rear platform bulge is higher, but also the rear space layout is not very reasonable, the measured rear legroom is only 656 mm, which is comparable to the common A-class car rear space, the leg room is relatively cramped, and the seat cushion length is insufficient, which is not very friendly to the middle passengers in the second row. However, it is worth noting that the seat padding is softer, so the ride is more comfortable, which is in line with the expectations of most home users.
In terms of power, the Volvo S60 is available with two powertrains, the B4 and the B5, both equipped with a 48V mild hybrid system to improve the starting power response and fuel economy. For reference, the B4 version of the 2.0T engine in order to achieve a balance between power and economy, using Miller cycle technology, the maximum power of 197 horsepower, peak torque of 300 Nm, with 8AT gearbox, the official 000 acceleration time is 7 seconds 9, WLTC comprehensive fuel consumption is reduced to 5.99L/100km, although the power label is one level lower, but the strength should not be underestimated. As for the B5 version, the power is the same as the current Volvo XC60, the maximum power has been increased to 250 horsepower, the transmission system is still an 8AT gearbox, the official 000 acceleration time is 6.9 seconds, and the WLTC combined fuel consumption is 6.67L/100km.
During the test drive, I felt that the B4 power model had strong starting power, sensitive handling, and the gain of the steering wheel steering with the speed was just right, and the double wishbone front suspension could make up for the lack of lateral support in time in the face of rapid turning and lane changes, helping the body posture to recover quickly, giving the driver a lot of confidence. In addition, the consistency of the entire power output is good, the surging power will be felt when the throttle is lightly pressed, and the gearbox is also relatively aggressive in downshifting.
epilogue
The Volvo S60 faces stiff competition in the luxury B-segment segment, especially when compared to its BBA brand counterpart. The design and configuration of the S60 has certain advantages in its class, but there is still room for improvement in terms of brand influence and market recognition. The price of the Zhiyuan version dropped to 240,000 yuan, which undoubtedly increased its market competitiveness and was very attractive to consumers who pursued cost performance. However, when buying a car, it is still recommended that you have a test drive experience according to your own needs and budget in order to make the most suitable choice.