Volvo South Africa has positioned itself squarely in the hatch, station wagon and SUV markets. A bold move to ditch the family and executive saloons, where the Swedes once had three offerings. That’s now down to just one, the Volvo S60.
It comes with a choice of five petrol motors and two diesels. Mine for the week was the D4, Volvo’s entry level turbo charged diesel unit, with the additional of the R Design package which adds bigger wheels and a splash of aggressive styling.
The four cylinder turbo charged diesel motor is a peach, as is the eight speed automatic ‘box. It’s revvier than any diesel I’ve driven and the gearbox is responsive, complementing the motor well. The package is quiet and refined, not to mention exceptionally frugal.
On the road the S60 feels firmly sprung, leading to sportier road manners than one might expect from the Swedish company that has such a strong safety focus. It’s part of the company’s drive for a more exciting image no doubt, going hand-in-hand with optional packages like the R Design. The result is decent amounts of grip and body control in corners, but does lead to the ride feeling excessively harsh especially with the big rims and low profile tyres.
I must admit I’m a fan of the looks. The recent face lift was a refreshing one, and just as much so for the interior, where Volvo did away with the overwhelming mass of controls opting for a ‘less is more’ approach.
Volvo does style a lovely interior, though, remaining quite unique in the way its console and instrument cluster in presented. Everything looks and feels very high quality too, as close to the best German rivals as anyone else and more in some areas of detail. A non-extendable arm rest between the two front seats being the only niggle I could pick out.
Volvo’s drive to become a more exciting brand may well overshadow the S60’s real strengths, while the addition of the R Design package, in my opinion, ruins what is by all accounts a comfortable ride in the pursuit of an image that the car’s dynamics can’t quite deliver.
With low noise levels, the stylish interior, a vast array of safety features, agreeable dynamics and a world-class diesel engine the standard Volvo S60 is a compelling case in itself. The optional package should remain just that.
Price: R487 200
Engine: 1969cc four cylinder turbo charged diesel
Power (kW): 133
Torque (Nm): 400
Acceleration (0-100km/h): 7.4
Top speed (km/h): 230
Consumption (l/100km): 4.2 (claimed)
Service:Â 5 year/100,000km maintenance plan
