The premium compact sedan segment is a hotly contested one, and the 2019 S60 is Volvo’s current offering.

Build anew from the ground up, it is based on the Swedish manufacurer’s Scalable Product Architecture (SPA) and aims to compete head-on with established rivals such as the BMW 3-Series and Mercedes-Benz C-Class, to name but two.

Consumer Reports bought an S60 T5, which is powered by a 250 horsepower turbo four. They specced it with heated front seats and steering wheel, an upgraded sound system and adaptive cruise control with steering assist, bumping the price to $47,100.

Also Read: How Does The New 2019 Volvo S60 Stack Up Compared To Its Predecessor?

In the U.S., the S60 comes in four different trim levels called the Momentum, Inscription, R-Design and Polestar Engineered. Pricing starts from $35,800, which undercuts the 330i Sedan by almost $4,450, and depending on how much one is willing to spend, can be had with more powerful engines or even as a plug-in hybrid, as well as with all-wheel drive.

No doubt, all the basics are there, yet it’s the little things that matter. And there are lots of things that failed to impress the reviewer, including some hard plastics, mostly on the backs of the front seats, and the infotainment system that handles everything, from the radio to the climate control, which is tricky to use.

The handling is good yet relaxed, but the ride is on the stiff side and occupants will feel that on bumpy roads. There were other niggles, too – but we’ll let the reviewer take it from here and talk you through some of them.