2019 Volvo S60 vs 2020 Toyota Prius

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 sedan, competed with luxury models like the BMW 3 Series and Audi A4. The S60 featured straight lines and precise angles, but its rear fender and C-pillar gave it an athletic stance. The design was so appealing that it invited further investigation, even if it didn't always put function first.

The 2019 Volvo S60 came in three trims: Momentum, R-Design, and Inscription. The entry-level Momentum trim included a panoramic moonroof, dual-zone climate control, and a leather-wrapped steering wheel, among other features. The R-Design, which was the test model, added fog lights, power-retractable side-view mirrors, and an R-Design steering wheel with paddle shifters. The top-tier Inscription trim offered genuine leather upholstery and 4-zone climate control, along with the contents of the Advance Package, which included active bending headlights and a 360-degree camera.

The 2020 Toyota Prius retained its iconic shape, optimized for aerodynamics, which had been a staple since its second generation. Toyota made subtle changes to make it look more like a sedan, but it remained a hatchback. The Prius had a futuristic style that still looked contemporary, with a cabin defined by the central location of its instrumentation and gauges.

The Prius came in four trims: L Eco, LE, XLE, and Limited. The base L Eco trim featured 15-inch alloy wheels, automatic climate control, and a 7-inch touchscreen infotainment system with Apple CarPlay, Android Auto, and Amazon Alexa compatibility. The LE trim added a rear windshield wiper and additional driver-assistance features. The XLE trim included 17-inch alloy wheels, synthetic leather upholstery, and wireless device charging. The Limited trim offered adaptive, self-leveling headlights, a head-up display, and a large 11.6-inch touchscreen.

The 2019 Volvo S60 offered three powertrain options: T5, T6, and T8. The T5 featured a turbocharged 2-liter 4-cylinder engine producing 250 horsepower and 258 pound-feet of torque, sent to front-wheel drive. The T6, which was the test model, had a twin-charged 2-liter 4-cylinder engine making 316 hp and 295 lb-ft, sent to all-wheel drive. The T8 was a plug-in hybrid with a combined output of 400 hp and 495 lb-ft of torque, featuring a 21-mile all-electric range.

The T6 provided plenty of acceleration, with instantaneous throttle and transmission responses. Despite its front-wheel-drive layout, the S60 felt like a firmly planted rear-wheel-drive sedan, staying flat through corners. The T6 with AWD had an estimated fuel economy of 21 mpg city, 32 highway, and 25 combined. The T5 was estimated at 24 mpg city, 36 highway, and 28 combined.

The 2020 Toyota Prius featured a 1.8-liter four-cylinder engine paired with an electric motor, producing a combined 121 horsepower and 105 pound-feet of torque. It came with front-wheel drive, but an all-wheel-drive variant, the Prius AWD-e, was also available. The AWD-e employed a second electric motor for the rear wheels, operating at speeds up to 43 mph.

The Prius had smooth acceleration, especially at lower speeds, with a seamless transition between electric and conventional power. It offered three drive modes: EV, Eco, and Power. The unique shifter design took some getting used to, but the Prius was engaging to drive, with a low center of gravity providing sharper handling than expected. The ride was smooth, making it ideal for commuting.

The 2019 Volvo S60 had a form-over-function approach to its interior design. While it offered sensible steering-wheel-mounted controls and ample cubby space, some controls were awkwardly placed. The starter was located between the front seats, requiring a "T-Rex Arm" reach for those with long arms. The drive-mode selector was a roller that was also awkward to use. However, Volvo made a smart choice with a conventional shifter design, which was more user-friendly.

Backseat space in the S60 was decent, especially compared to competitors like the Lexus IS. The S60 offered 11.6 cubic feet of cargo space, which was average for its class.

The 2020 Toyota Prius made excellent use of its space. The doors had deep pockets, and there were helpful trays around the center console. The front seats were spacious and comfortable, with good driver visibility. The rear seats also offered plenty of space, though taller drivers needed to watch their heads.

The Prius had 50.7 cubic feet of cargo space with the rear seats folded. With the rear seats up, it offered 24.6 cubic feet in LE and AWD-e models, and 27.4 cubic feet in other trims. The hatchback design made loading large items easy, making the Prius one of the most spacious and versatile hybrid options.

The 2019 Volvo S60 featured the Sensus touchscreen infotainment system, which had a tablet-like approach to menu navigation and graphics. However, many features were tucked away in the screen, making simple tasks like changing the temperature cumbersome. The system occasionally lagged and even froze, which could be frustrating.

The 2020 Toyota Prius came standard with a 7-inch touchscreen, featuring a sensible menu layout and standard Android Auto and Apple CarPlay. The Limited trim upgraded to an 11.6-inch screen with a customizable layout. The Prius also offered satellite radio, HD Radio, a head-up display, and a 10-speaker JBL premium audio system. The top-center instrument panel provided critical readouts and could be toggled via the steering wheel.

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 Pilot Assist, a semi-autonomous driving system.

The 2020 Toyota Prius was equipped with Toyota Safety Sense 2.0, which included automatic emergency braking, forward-collision warning, lane-departure warning, adaptive cruise control, and automatic high beams. Optional features included blind-spot monitoring, rear cross-traffic alert, and active park assist. The Prius earned a five-star rating from the NHTSA and a "Top Safety Pick" from the IIHS, though it fell short of the highest "Top Safety Pick+" rating.