Some 30 years ago, I drew the ire of the nice folks at Gothenburg when I wrote that the Volvo 240 “looked and drove like a tank”. Yes, Volvos back then were very safe, but they had a stodgy image matched by angular lines and battlefield handling.
Since the new millennium, however, the conservative Swedish company has made rapid progress in the aesthetic aspects of its vehicles. And nowhere is this more apparent than in the all-new Volvo S60 saloon.
Its styling is definitely more dramatic than any other Volvo’s. Short overhangs, taut shoulders and a coupe-like silhouette give the Volvo S60 a dynamic and striking look.
In fact, “sexy” would be a good way to describe it. (Just a decade ago, who would have believed a Volvo could actually be sexy?)
The exterior sets new standards for the marque, and the interior reinforces this impression.
Build quality is first-rate. Every visible surface, whether leather, metal, wood or plastic, has been chosen with care to reflect top quality and craftsmanship.
The pinnacle of this “total quality” drive has to be the floating centre console’s decor, which can be specified in charcoal, shimmer graphite aluminium or genuine wood.
On the go, the Volvo S60 feels solid, with a tighter, more cohesive feel than its larger S80 stablemate. And the dividends in overall refinement, thanks to impressive suppression of noise, vibration and harshness, are obvious.
Unless Volvo creates a new S60R, the current top-of-the-line Volvo S60 model is the T6. The revised 3-litre turbocharged inline-6 now delivers 304bhp, a healthy 19bhp more than the S80 and V70.
Meticulous development and reduced internal friction, have resulted in a level of smoothness and refinement missing from the original T6 unit. The engine note is still not exactly invigorating, but nonetheless unobtrusive.
A sprint to 100km/h in just 6.5 seconds means the Volvo S60 T6 is pretty quick. More importantly, the new Volvo S60 is very agile.
Its steering response is quicker and more accurate than in other Volvos, while the stability systems allow more slippage before cutting in. It is still a less involving drive than an equivalent BMW or Audi, but the Volvo S60 now comes pretty close.
Ride quality is impressive, with decent damping and good body control over uneven surfaces. Driving fast over rural roads reveals the true depth of the new Volvo S60’s dynamic ability – this car never loses its composure.
The S60 is still a Volvo, and that means class-leading safety. Its world-first Pedestrian Detection system employs a camera in the front grille to warn the driver of a crossing pedestrian.
If the driver does not respond in time, the system brakes the car to avoid running over the person. Pedestrian Detection is bundled together with Adaptive Cruise Control with Queue Assist and Collision Warning with Full Auto Brake in a $4600 option package, which is worth ordering in my opinion.
Volvo now has a potent weapon to take on the incumbents in the executive compact class. While it may not have as illustrious a badge as the prime German marques, there is no doubt that the Volvo S60 T6 is a very complete car for its price.
Volvo’s new Chinese HQ will surely admire the S60’s amenities and quality.
Volvo S60 T6 3.0(A)
ENGINE 2953cc, 24-valves, inline-6, turbocharged
MAX POWER 304bhp at 5600rpm
MAX TORQUE 440Nm at 2100-4200rpm
GEARBOX 6-speed automatic with manual select
0-100KM/H 6.5 seconds
TOP SPEED 250km/h
CONSUMPTION 10.1km/L
PRICE INCL. COE $223,000 (as of December 2010)
The Volvo S60’s rivals include the Audi A4 Sedan, BMW 3 Series Sedan and Mercedes-Benz C-Class
