Volvo S60 Review

Performance4.5/5

There’s no lack of choice of engines with the Volvo S60 – a total of eight are on offer. There are four petrols and four diesels, so something for everybody. Starting with the petrols, there is a four cylinder 1.6 litre (150 bhp), a four cylinder 1.6 litre (180 bhp), a four cylinder 2.0 litre (240 bhp) and a six cylinder 3.0 litre (304 bhp) automatic. If you are a diesel person, you can select from a four cylinder 1.6 litre (115 bhp), a five cylinder 2.0 litre (136 bhp), a five cylinder 2.0 litre (163 bhp) or a five cylinder 2.4 litre (215 bhp). The diesels are all good performers, but don’t discount the petrol engines, none of which are really likely to disappoint.

Handling4/5

It’s comfort all the way in the Volvo S60, with the wonderful armchair-like seats, great all-round visibility and suspension which soaks up the worst of the roads’ uneven surfaces. On the whole, engine and road noise is minimal, although the five cylinder diesel engines could be quieter. The car has good grip and responsive steering; it’s a great little executive salon, equally at home on the motorway, country lanes or in town.

Exterior4.5/5

Volvo have produced a sleek, svelte saloon here, with some clever detailing. Its distinctive boomerang-style rear lights and square-edged exhaust add real style to the attractive design of the car; the S60 is unlikely to go un-noticed on the road.

Interior4/5

The interior of the Volvo S60 shouts ‘quality’ – the sturdy plastics, the classy fabrics and the user-friendly controls are all up there with the best, and the seats are comfortable and supportive. There is ample room for four leggy adults, although rear passengers will need to mind their heads on entry, due to the low, sweeping roofline. A fifth passenger in the centre of the rear bench might not be so comfortable though, because the sculpted seats leave a bit of a bump in the middle. The price to pay for the ample rear legroom is a boot which is smaller than many of the car’s rivals; with 380 litres it is not heavily capacious. The rear seats do not fold flat, so if you are frequently in need of lots of stowage, this could well cause you some problems.

Equipment5/5

The S60 comes in five trim levels; the Business Edition, the SE, SE Lux, R-Design and R-Design Lux. all of which are packed with kit.  At entry level, the car is equipped with, amongst other things, electronic climate control, cruise control, height adjustable driver and passenger seats, leather steering wheel and gear knob, Bluetooth hands free system, City Safety system, anti-theft alarm, tinted windscreen, 16 inch alloys, power adjustable and heated door mirrors, and rear park assist. Further up the range, goodies include R-design power steering system, various ‘sports’ accessories, high performance sound audio system, 17 or 18 inch alloys, rain and tunnel sensor, air quality system – oh, yes, and a grocery bag holder.

Safety5/5

The Volvo S60 has yet to have its Euro NCAP rating, but there is every reason to expect that it will come out of it with the full five stars. This car is packed with safety features; six airbags, anti-skid control; and its Driver Support Pack includes pedestrian protection (a world first), whiplash safety system, Volvo’s City Safe System, adaptive cruise control, lane departure warning system and a blind spot information system.

Buying & Owning4/5

Wallet-conscious buyers will want to look at the DRIVe model, offering, as it does, 60 mpg, and emissions of under 115g/km. Not all models across the range will be so economical, though the diesels will certainly be the best bet. The Volvo S60 is not the cheapest amongst its rivals, nor is it the most expensive – but it probably won’t retain its retail value as much as others. It comes with a three year/60,000 miles warranty and, of course, Volvo’s usual badge of reliability.

Reviewed by cars2buy