Toyota Camry vs Volvo S60

Volvo had managed to completely transform its image from quirky to sexy over the past decade. The 2019 S60, a scaled-down version of the flagship S90, competed with luxury sedans like the BMW 3 Series and Audi A4. The S60's design featured straight lines and precise angles, with an athletic stance thanks to its rear fender and C-pillar. The Momentum trim included a panoramic moonroof, dual-zone climate control, and a leather-wrapped steering wheel, while the R-Design added fog lights and power-retractable side-view mirrors. The Inscription trim offered genuine leather upholstery and 4-zone climate control.

The 2020 Toyota Camry aimed to reclaim its reputation for quality, reliability, and value. Its expressive styling, including a bold front fascia and taut lines, made it the sportiest Camry yet. The interior featured uniformly nice materials and a driver-focused dashboard, with red trim accents in the TRD model. Despite its sporty focus, the Camry maintained a sense of luxury, especially in higher trim levels. The Camry's starting price was $25,380, making it a competitive option in the mainstream sedan market.

The 2019 Volvo S60 offered three powertrain options: the T5, T6, and T8. The T5 featured a turbocharged 2-liter 4-cylinder engine with 250 horsepower and 258 pound-feet of torque, sent to front-wheel drive. The T6, which we drove, had a twin-charged 2-liter 4-cylinder engine producing 316 hp and 295 lb-ft, sent to all-wheel drive. The T8 was a plug-in hybrid with a combined 400 hp and 495 lb-ft of torque, offering a 21-mile all-electric range. All powertrains used an 8-speed automatic transmission. The T6 provided instant throttle and transmission responses, and the S60 felt firmly planted through corners. The T6's fuel economy was estimated at 21 mpg city, 32 highway, and 25 combined, with our test achieving 23.2 mpg.

The 2020 Toyota Camry came with four powertrains: a 2.5-liter four-cylinder with FWD or AWD, a 3.5-liter V6, and a hybrid. The 3.5-liter V6 produced 301 horsepower and was paired with an eight-speed automatic transmission, offering a smooth and powerful driving experience. The 2.5-liter four-cylinder made 203 hp (206 in XSE trim) and provided a lighter, more responsive feel. The AWD system could send up to half of the engine's 184 pound-feet of torque to the rear wheels when needed. The FWD Camry had an EPA combined fuel economy rating of 31 mpg, dropping to 28 mpg with AWD. The V6 models managed 26 mpg, except for the TRD, which was rated at 25 mpg.

The 2019 Volvo S60's interior focused on aesthetics, with sensible steering-wheel-mounted controls and ample cubby space. However, the starter's location and drive-mode selector were awkward to use. The conventional shifter was a smart choice, providing a familiar layout. The backseat offered decent space, and the 11.6 cubic feet of cargo space was average for the class.

The 2020 Toyota Camry was easy to drive, with most controls falling immediately to hand. The front seats offered increased legroom and hip room, while the rear seat had slightly reduced legroom and overall passenger volume. The trunk's 15.1 cubic feet of cargo space was smaller than some competitors. The addition of AWD did not compromise the trunk or passenger compartment, maintaining the same space as FWD versions.

The 2019 Volvo S60 featured the Sensus touchscreen infotainment system, which took a tablet-like approach to menu navigation. However, many features were buried in the screen, making simple tasks cumbersome. The system occasionally lagged and froze, which could be frustrating. The S60 included a Volume dial, Play/Pause button, and Home button for easier navigation.

The 2020 Toyota Camry added Apple CarPlay and Android Auto as standard equipment, along with Amazon Alexa compatibility and a three-month trial of SiriusXM satellite radio. The standard infotainment system felt dated, but the touchscreen was functional and quick to respond. The Camry offered a 7-inch screen on lower trims, with an optional 8-inch upgrade. Higher trims included a 7-inch multi-information display and an optional 10-inch head-up display.

The 2019 Volvo S60 came standard with front- and side-impact airbags, a reversing camera, and a tire-pressure-monitoring system. It also included driver-assistance systems like forward-collision avoidance, lane-departure warning, and traffic-sign recognition. The Advance Package added a head-up display, headlight washers, a 360-degree camera, and active bending headlights, along with the Pilot Assist semi-autonomous driving system.

The 2020 Toyota Camry included the Safety Sense suite, featuring a pre-collision system with emergency braking, dynamic radar adaptive cruise control, lane-departure warning, and automatic high beams. A one-year trial of Safety Connect was also included. Blind-spot monitoring with rear cross-traffic alert was optional. The Camry earned a five-star rating from the NHTSA and a Top Safety Pick+ from the IIHS. There was one NHTSA recall for leaking engine coolant, affecting up to 44,191 cars.