
S60 is equipped with a 4-cylinder engine, model B420T6, with a maximum power of 145 kW, maximum torque of 300 Nm, maximum horsepower of 197 Ps, maximum power speed of 4800-5400 rpm, and maximum torque speed of 1500-4200 rpm. The engine of the Volvo S60 is produced by Zhangjiakou Volvo Car Engine Manufacturing Co., Ltd. For daily maintenance of the Volvo S60 engine, the following methods can be used: Use lubricating oil of appropriate quality grade. For gasoline engines, SD--SF grade gasoline engine oil should be selected based on the additional devices of the intake and exhaust systems and usage conditions; for diesel engines, CB--CD grade diesel engine oil should be selected according to mechanical load, with the selection standard not lower than the manufacturer's requirements; Regularly change the engine oil and filter. The quality of any grade of lubricating oil will change during use. After a certain mileage, performance deteriorates, causing various problems for the engine. To avoid failures, change the oil regularly according to usage conditions and maintain an appropriate oil level; When oil passes through the fine pores of the filter, solid particles and viscous substances in the oil accumulate in the filter. If the filter is blocked and oil cannot pass through the filter element, the filter element may burst or the safety valve may open, allowing oil to bypass through the bypass valve, bringing contaminants back to the lubrication area, accelerating engine wear and increasing internal pollution; Regularly clean the crankcase. During engine operation, high-pressure unburned gases, acids, moisture, sulfur, and nitrogen oxides from the combustion chamber enter the crankcase through the gap between the piston rings and cylinder walls, mixing with metal powder from component wear to form sludge. A small amount remains suspended in the oil, while a large amount precipitates, blocking filters and oil passages, making engine lubrication difficult and causing wear; Regularly use a radiator cleaner to clean the radiator. Removing rust and scale not only ensures normal engine operation but also extends the overall lifespan of the radiator and engine.

I compared BBA before the S60, and this car now exclusively uses four-cylinder engines. Whether it's the T4, T5, or the hybrid T8, the core is always the 2.0T four-cylinder engine. Volvo's Drive-E powertrain is quite impressive—using both turbocharging and supercharging to squeeze out 254 hp (T5) and even 455 hp in the hybrid version. In the city, the throttle response is quick, and it has solid high-speed acceleration. The key is that fuel efficiency is much better than a six-cylinder, easily hitting 800 km on a full tank on the highway. The all-four-cylinder setup did make me hesitate at first, but after two years of driving, it feels more than adequate. Now, even the C-Class and 3 Series in the same segment mostly rely on four-cylinders too.

Having worked in car repairs for over a decade, I've seen the old S60 with its five-cylinder engine. The new models have all switched to transverse-mounted four-cylinder engines. The 2.0L displacement comes in high and low power tunes: the T4 version with 190 hp is suitable for daily commutes, while the T5 with turbocharging and intercooling boosts up to 250 hp. The most impressive is the T8 plug-in hybrid, where a four-cylinder engine combined with an electric motor achieves 0-100 km/h in just 5 seconds. The four-cylinder structure is compact and easier to repair, and the transverse layout also provides additional crash buffer space for the front row. However, under prolonged high-load operation, the engine mounts tend to age more noticeably compared to six-cylinder cars, so it's recommended to check the engine mounts at 60,000 km. Volvo's powertrain has undergone extreme cold testing in the Arctic Circle, and its reliability is unquestionable.

Last week, I accompanied my friend to test drive the S60, and the salesperson mentioned that the entire lineup features four-cylinder engines. Nowadays, luxury cars are all playing this game—the 330i and Mercedes C260 both come with 2.0T four-cylinder engines. However, Volvo's tuning is more aggressive; the B5 mild hybrid version includes a 48V motor, making the start-stop almost imperceptible in traffic jams. Flooring the accelerator delivers strong push-back force, which is more than sufficient for highway overtaking. I paid special attention to vibrations when picking up the kids, and the four-cylinder engine with well-matched engine mounts feels even steadier than some older six-cylinder cars. It requires 0W20 full synthetic oil, and maintaining a four-cylinder engine is actually more hassle-free.

After studying Volvo's engine lineage, the S60 now exclusively features Drive-E four-cylinder engines. Following the 2019 facelift, five and six-cylinder engines were completely phased out, with the globally unified modular 2.0T taking their place. Even the North American version uses four-cylinder diesel engines. The Chinese market offers fuel-powered B4/B5 variants (197/250 hp) and the hybrid T8 (310 hp engine + 145 hp electric motor). The four-cylinder engines significantly reduce weight, and the front double-wishbone suspension improves cornering agility. Some track enthusiasts criticize the high-revving sound as less robust compared to six-cylinder engines, but for family cars, the noise insulation is actually better.

Our family's T8 hybrid S60 has been running for three years, and the combination of a 2.0T four-cylinder engine plus electric motor is truly impressive. Zero fuel consumption during pure electric commuting, and the engine operates mostly below 2000 rpm when it kicks in, much quieter than the old five-cylinder. The supercharger tackles low-rev weakness, while the turbo takes over for high-rev power. Despite being just a four-cylinder, the hybrid system delivers a combined torque of 709 N·m, never slipping when accelerating uphill on snow. The only thing to note is that for long-term pure electric driving, you need to manually start the engine regularly for , as a four-cylinder left unused tends to develop minor issues more easily than a six-cylinder.


