Volvo S60 26/08/2010
 
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Is the latest S60, an all-new design, worthy of stealing customers from its perceived German rivals? It is a major step forward from the previous version.

For a start the new S60 is much better on the eye. It has a rakish, coupe-like body with a sharp nose.

And despite the sleeker visuals there is proper family car space inside, particularly in the back, and a really big boot.

Slip behind the wheel and your surroundings maintain the image. The dash is functional yet stylish, and I still very much like the ‘floating’ centre console, a flat plate which you can put your arm behind. 
It does drop some of the switches a little low down but said switchgear is bang up to date and easy to get used to.

The new S60 launches with three engines, but we can ignore the range-topping 304bhp turbocharged 3.0-litre, as few buyers will be interested. Almost all S60 drivers, and around three quarters of these will be company motorists carefully studying their tax options, will be filling up with diesel.

You can have a 2.0-litre D3 with 163bhp, or a 2.4-litre D5 with 205bhp. I tried both engines on challenging roads and they both impressed. They were eager and responsive, yet they will both do more than 50mpg.

If you are seriously environmentally and wallet-conscious however you should wait for the 1.6 DRIVe model due later next year, with 65mpg-plus and because it only produces 115/gkm of CO2 emissions and has low tax liability.

On the road the S60 feels assured, though the ride is a little stiff, tending to a sporty setup a little beyond what the car is meant to be about. While the grip is plentiful in corners, it’s not the most exciting, involving drive out there, but then it’s not meant to be.

The overwhelming impression is one of safety, an area where Volvo has always been a leader. All the usual electronic devices are present (many first invented by Volvo) while the latest is a new pedestrian detection system that will brake the car automatically if the driver fails to react to someone stepping into the road ahead. It’s an impressive system – on the launch event they set up dummies for us to try and hit, and try as we might, we couldn’t get them.

The new S60 is a definite improvement over its predecessor, and a significant one. But will it steal customers from the Germans? Maybe its attention-grabbing looks could persuade those customers to step into its showroom instead of the Audi-Beemer-Merc one up the road.

By Andrew Charman 

 

 


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