motoring
Clean, mean
Swedish driving machine
by Matt Joy
The last few years have been interesting for Volvo. From being
part of the mighty Ford empire to being snapped up by a
Chinese corporation, the Swedish car maker has been forced
to become more agile and independent in an increasingly
crowded market.
delivering a smooth, rattle-free performance. To complement
the new engine range Volvo has introduced a new six-speed
manual and eight-speed auto gearbox option. The former is much
improved over its predecessor, with the latter proving pleasingly
responsive and predictable in a range of driving environments.
The notion of independence has included developing more of its
own technology and engines since it cut the cord with Ford, and
although these things take time, it’s now that we can see the fruits
of its labours. Focusing on their consumers increasingly important
issues of emissions and economy, Volvo’s decision to go down the
four-cylinder diesel route isn’t surprising.
Whilst these engineering changes are a big deal, the rest of the S60
has remained the same as before. Far from being a bad thing, the
car’s soft curves, practical saloon shape and driver-friendly cabin
help set it apart from its often more clinical rivals.
Its promise of the usually unobtainable high power and reduced
noise combination, however, is. These new in-house developed
and produced turbo diesel engines promise to give the likes of
BMW, Audi and Mercedes a few sleepless nights - exactly the
brands Volvo seeks to challenge.
On the road the S60 delivers a refi ned, quiet and
polished driving experience that’s on par with the
best Germany has to offer.
Fitted to the firm’s fleet-friendly S60 saloon, the new 2.0-litre
D4 motor boasts 181 horsepower and, crucially, emits only 99g/
km CO2 plus offers a combined economy figure of 74.3mpg.
Impressive stuff, but surely there’s a trade-off somewhere? You
might think that Volvo’s decision to base its future on four-cylinder
engines is a risky one, but the reality is very different. Clever
engineering and the desire to simplify its line-up has resulted
in a package that’s equal to, and in many cases better than, the
competition.
The Volvo engineers’ efforts to banish unnecessary noise and
vibration from the cabin has been successful, with the car
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And if you’re keen to stick with the business user theme for the
D4-powered S60, the generous level of standard equipment, plush
interior and practical cabin and boot space should take the edge of
those long, dull motorway journeys.
All in all, the updates to the range have done a great job of
boosting the S60’s appeal, vitally important if the car is to compete
head on with the more established competition.
Facts at a Glance
Model:
Volvo S60 D4 SE Nav,
from £29,395 on the road.
Engine:
2.0-litre diesel unit developing 181bhp.
Transmission: 6-speed manual transmission as
standard, driving the front wheels.
Performance:
Maximum speed 143mph,
0-62mph 6.9 seconds.
Economy:
74.3mpg.
CO2 Rating:
99g/km.
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