Volvo S60 D5 ON THE ROAD

Review & Photos by Rob McSorley

Svelte coupe-esque sports saloons hardly ever appear in the sentence as Volvo but this S60 couldn't be more different from past Volvos. It's a direct rival to the BMW 3 series and Mercedes C-Class and is said to be Volvo's sportiest and most focused drivers car yet. Read on to find out if it lives up to the hype.

The S60 D5 certainly has the performance credentials to go with its sporty image with its gutsy 2.4-litre five cylinder diesel engine nestled under the bonnet. It produces a very decent 212 bhp and 420 Nm of torque which is delivered between 1500 and 3250 rpm. It delivers its power in a smooth and progressive manner with plenty of growl and is free of any lag. It's able to reach 62 mph in a hot-hatch rivalling 7.2 seconds going on to 143 mph.

Despite the large capacity of the engine and performance on offer don't be fooled into thinking it's going to cost the earth to run. You can expect 60 mpg combined and emissions of just 124 g/km that slips the D5 into VED band D which is £100 to you and me.

On the move the S60 is superbly comfortable thanks to sumptuous seats and a ride that is beautifully damped providing a soothing ride no matter what you put in its path. It also handles competently with plenty of grip and well contained body movements feeling poised yet relaxed. 

The experience does however lack excitement mainly due to the rubbery six-speed gearbox that hates to be rushed and steering that although meaty is imprecise. What it does do incredibly well though is isolate occupants exceptionally well from the goings-on outside with minimal wind and tyre noise. The engine is also free from any diesel rumble and remains hushed unless accelerating hard.

The cabin is one of the nicest around as it's smartly designed and constructed of prestige materials throughout. The layout is also spot on with Volvo's familiar floating centre console with buttons grouped together by function. The dials too are a marval to behold thanks to their aluminium effect surrounds and magic floating needles. 

Opting for the cream interior of our test car is definitely worth doing as it brightens up the cabin. Despite the coupe-like roofline interior space is actually very good with enough room for two burley passengers in the rear and the boot too offers a competitive 339 litres of space which can be extended by folding the rear seats down if needed. The driving position is also multi-adjustable although visibility is a little restricted by the thick pillars both front and rear.

Kit levels are very generous too on our SE Lux Nav with standard auto dimming rear view mirror, alloy wheels, power folding door mirrors, automatic wipers and Bi-Xenon headlights with Active Bending (to help see round corners further), power folding rear headrests, electric driver’s seat adjustment with position memory and leather upholstery. There's also climate control, cruise control, electric windows front and rear, steering wheel controls for the stereo, stereo with CD player and MP3 connection, Bluetooth and integrated satellite navigation with a 7-inch colour display screen. 

Our car is also fitted with some expensive options including the £1,850 Driver Support Pack that includes a host of safety kit such as a blind spot warning system, adaptive cruise control and lane departure warning all of which ensure all occupants are kept as safe as possible at all times.

Perhaps the most successful part of the S60 package is its exterior styling that is a really break from Volvo tradition and looks particularly menacing in the Savile Grey Pearl of our test car. Elements such as the signature broad waistline are still present but the car has a nice squat stance with a low front end and curvaceous lights with separate inner daytime running lights next to the rounded-off corporate grill. Our car boasts larger 18 inch grey alloy wheels that fill the arches nicely complimenting the sleek roof line and distinctive boomerang tail lights.

Tech Data

Price as tested: £40,090 (£33,045 excl options)
Engine: 2.4 20v 212 bhp - 0-62mph: 7.2 secs - Maximum Speed: 143 mph -
Economy: 48.7 mpg (urban) –68.9 mpg (extra-urban), 60.1 mpg (combined) - Emissions: 124g/km (Band D) - VED (12 months): £0
Dimensions: Length: 4628 mm - Width: 1865 mm - Height: 1484 mm - Wheelbase: 2776 mm
*data from Volvo UK

DriverVIBE Verdict

The S60 is a very likeable, well rounded four door saloon that looks fantastic, is very comfortable to drive and has a very sophisticated interior with a host of full proof safety technology. It may not be the most exciting car to drive let down by a rubbery gearbox action and vague steering but it feels safe and stable at all times. In D5 form it also offers strong performance and very good economy. The only sticking point may be the asking price which with the extras fitted to our car stacks up to £40,090. That said all S60 trim levels are well equipped so there should be a model to suit all tastes and budgets.

All photographs and text are the exclusive property of Rob McSorley (except where stated otherwise). They are made available for your personal viewing enjoyment only. No images are within the Public Domain. The photographs may not be copied, reproduced, redistributed, manipulated, projected, used or altered in any way without the prior permission of Rob McSorley (info@DriverVIBE.com).