If there’s one model range of car that defines what Volvo stands for it’s the S60. Two generations ago the car went by the 850 moniker and spawned such legends as the 850 R with its signature yellow hue and black rims. Since then the S60 name has largely been associated with ageing nameless people whose life revolves around dropping children off at school, wearing grey suits, eating vegetables and picking up the kids from school.
Not that any of these pursuits are ignoble: it’s just that none of them scream fun. Or exciting. Or exhilarating. Words like these have been used to describe one or two models against which the all-new Volvo S60 is pitting itself. All three are German, all three are the bread and butter models in their companies. You know the ones I’m referring to.
This time though, Volvo has brought out its biggest guns as a means of recapturing some of its old magic. Despite being offloaded by previous owner Ford to Geely, one of China’s most successful car companies, Volvo seems to be gliding along just fine in terms of new and updated product. In fact, I’d say the Swedish brand has not seen such an awesome product renaissance since, well, since the 850 actually.
A claim was made that the new S60 is as good, if not better, than its three main rivals. That’s as far as the driving experience is concerned. A brisk drive along the southern coast line revealed the truth: Volvo’s claim is true. I accelerated, braked, turned, slowed down, curved and sliced through every type of road and came out highly impressed. Yes, one of the Germans has not been matched but the other two have. And this by a front-wheel-drive (FWD) Volvo nogal.
Spec wise the car is 4.6 metres long, 1.87m wide, has a wheel base of 2.8m and is 1.5m high, in total. It fits into the genre. Which brought up my question at the Volvo S60 launch: if the S60 competes with the Audi A4, BMW 3 Series and Mercedes-Benz C-Class, then where does the S40 fit in? It was said that the S40 is one of the entry points into Volvo, sort of like a grown-up C30. It is positioned below the S60 and its prices reflect as much.
Steering feedback is more precise, more engaging than in any other Volvo I have driven, even in the two front-wheel-drive models which typically showed some understeering when pushed. Two chassis choices are available in the international market, but Mzansi only gets the stiffer choice. I suppose we are a country that prefers a sportier ride than the Chinese middle class for example, who place comfort and prestige above all else. Not to say the S60 rides hard, since we could not make a direct comparison during the drive. Seats are lush with soft leather housing and were very comfortable.
The interior is quite familiar. New Volvos feature the single metal frame in the centre. It runs from the top of the dashboard down to the centre console where it encases the gear lever and cup holders. Materials used are soft and feel like high quality stuff at the touch of the hand. Dials are clearly visible and each function can be accessed with ease. All three models I drove feature a new colour screen with information about all sorts of stuff, like satellite navigation, the music system, petrol/ diesel consumption and other useful info.
Three models, as earlier explained, are on the price list for our market. The rest will be sent through in 2011. At entry is the 2.0T with a four-cylinder petrol turbo engine. Its power is 149kW made at 6000rpm, while peak torque is 300Nm between 1750rpm and 4000rpm. For now we only have it in 6-speed manual guise and that will help it attain a 0 – 100km/h time of 7.7 seconds, according to Volvo. Top speed is rated at 235km/h. Average fuel consumption of 7.9 litres per 100km and C02 emissions are 184g/km.
Step up and you find the D5, a delicate machine made of turbo diesel power, common rail direct injection technology and a 6-speed automatic gearbox. It’s a 2.4-litre 5-cylinder type with 20 valves, 151kW at 4000rpm and 420Nm between 1500rpm and 3250rpm. Customers will love it for its smooth operation and its frugality, certainly the two most apparent talents I uncovered during 100km slip. Very little argument can be made against its power numbers as well as its fuel consumption figure, said to be 6.3 litres per 100km. Greenies will also be pleased with its C02 status of 166g/km, while performance fundis won’t be disappointed with its claimed 0 – 100km/h time of 7.8 seconds and the 230km/h top speed.
Topping the new S60 range is the new T6 whose strength comes from a 3.0-litre petrol turbo with a rather forceful 224kW at 5600rpm and maximum thrust of 440Nm between 2100rpm and 4200rpm. Acceleration feels urgent but composed, thanks to Volvo’s all-wheel-drive (AWD) system and the 6-speed Geartronic gearbox. Volvo says 6.5 seconds is all that’s needed to reach 100km/h from standstill, and that the highest speed that can be attained by the T6 is 250km/h. Being a more feisty customer, the T6 does not rate fuel consumption that highly, as evidenced by the average figure of 9.9 litres per 100km and C02 emissions of 231g/km.
Volvo’s slogan for the new S60 includes the word “naughty” and the T6 is the naughtiest of them all. What really excited me about the car is that it really is up there with the best of the lot in its class as far as power, performance and panache are concerned.
This being a Volvo, safety is a given parameter from as early as the design stages. Therefore you’ll find airbags, whiplash protection, dynamic stability control, ISOFIX attachments for the rear seats, ABS and adaptive brake lights among the long list of standard safety equipment. Unfortunately safety bits such as the blind spot information system and the lane departure systems which were pioneered by Volvo, are sold as optional through the entire range. The flagship pedestrian detection system which can detect pedestrians and apply brakes in time to avoid slamming into them – depending on the car’s speed, is also optional at R18 600.
In order to take on the best you need the best car. This is undoubtedly Volvo’s best sedan so far as it ticks all the relevant boxes with such ease, one would think it’s been leading this class for years. No doubt buyers wanting to enter the segment will glance over Sweden side and discover something as good as what is offered in Germany.
2010 Volvo S60 Pricing
(Includes VAT and C02 Taxes)
2.0 T manual (R355 500)
2.0 T automatic (R371 900)
D5 (R408 000)
T6 (R464 000)
No comments:
Post a Comment