The new S60 has grown slightly, with its wheelbase going from 106.9 inches to 109.3. That equates to a two-inch increase in rear-seat leg room.

The R-Design model gets special spoilers front and back, rear diffuser, chrome exhaust tips, and those awesome wheels. Inside, there’s leather seating with R-Design accents, aluminum pedals and perforated-leather steering wheel cover and gearshift knob.

The Volvo's premium interior is simple, functional and appealing. (Photo: Volvo)

The premium interior is really a handsome exercise in restraint, feeling stylish and refined without all the frou-frou. The center dashboard, slim enough so that there’s a storage space behind it, is especially appealing. Volvo likes to say that its interiors speak to the heritage of Scandinavian design, and that’s hard to dispute.

The newly redesigned interface with the audio/climate/computer systems has been updated and improved, with actual rotating dials plus steering-wheel controls that provide immediate access.

Naturally, Volvo’s safety ethos puts it ahead of the pack with a plethora of accident-avoidance and crash-protection systems on board.

The S60 T6 R-Design is the top model, priced at a fairly reasonable $43,900 for a completely equipped model, lacking only navigation. On the test Volvo, the only optional extra were those Ixion alloys, which cost a paltry $700, and $895 for shipping, bringing the total to $45,495. Compared with competing premium sports sedans with similar equipment, that’s a bargain.

Volvo has raised the performance bar with the help of its Polestar colleagues, and the T6 R-Design has become a bona fide member of the European-style sports machines than double as everyday family cars.

The enduring problem, which will not be easily overcome, is that most hot-dog drivers would rather brag to their friends, colleagues, dates, etc., “I drive a BMW (or Audi, Porsche, etc.)” rather than “I drive a Volvo.”

Details

Vehicle type: Five-passenger, four-door sedan, all-wheel drive.
Engine: 3-liter turbocharged inline six, 325 horsepower at 5,400 rpm, 354 pound-feet of torque at 3,000 rpm.
Transmission: Six-speed automatic with sport-mode manual shifting.
Wheelbase: 109.3 inches.
Overall length: 182.2 inches.
Curb weight: 3,835 pounds.
EPA mileage rating: 18 city, 25 highway, 21 combined.

Bob Golfen, Automotive Editor for SPEED.com, is a veteran auto writer based in Phoenix, Arizona, with a passion for collector cars, car culture and the automotive lifestyle. SPEED.com fans can email Bob Golfen at