New Volvo S60 D5 SE LUX Premium
by Tim Barnes-Clay, the man behind the wheel.
Date: 06 January 2011
THE ALL-NEW S60 is a four-door coupé; sportier and more distinct than any previous Volvo.
But it is not just about looks. The car also delivers real driving enjoyment because the chassis team at the Swedish car maker have fine-tuned the S60 to offer the most dynamic driving characteristics ever seen before on one of their cars.
Crisp, Controlled and Punchy
The S60 has crisp steering, decent cornering ability, a well controlled body and excellent brakes.
The twin-turbo D5 power-plant, on test here, mated with a six speed manual transmission, is punchy - delivering brisk acceleration from low revs, no matter where you are in the gear range.
It accelerates from 0-60mph in 7.4 seconds and returns a brilliant average fuel consumption of 53.3mpg.
First-rate Materials
The new model certainly manages to combine composure, performance and economy with comfort as well, because inside the Volvo there are first-rate materials and, in SE Lux Premium trim, luxurious leather seats.
The car also benefits from standard features including electronic climate control, cruise control, an information centre, remote audio controls, and a leather steering wheel and gear stick.
The S60 is practical too, with bags of room in the front and the back, and a boot big enough to gobble up all you could expect to load into a saloon.
Safety
Of course, safety is well-woven into Volvo’s DNA and the all-new S60 features the Scandinavian company’s ground-breaking Pedestrian Detection with Full Auto Brake system.
The technology consists of a radar unit integrated into the car’s grille, a camera fitted in front of the interior rear-view mirror, and a central control unit.
The radar’s task is to detect any object in front of the car and to determine the distance to it. The camera's role is to determine what type of object it is.
The full auto brake part of the equipment also responds to vehicles in front of the S60 that are at a standstill or moving in the same direction.
Emergency Situation
In an emergency situation, you first receive an audible warning combined with a flashing light in the windscreen’s head-up display. In order to generate an immediate, intuitive reaction, this warning resembles a brake light. At the same time, the car’s brakes are pre-charged. If you don’t react to the warning and an accident is imminent, full braking power is automatically applied.
Pedestrian Detection with Full Auto Brake can avoid a collision with a pedestrian at speeds of up to 21mph.
At higher vehicle speeds, the system's focus is on reducing the car’s speed as much as possible prior to the impact, with the speed falling by up to 21mph.
Awesome technology, or what?
Overall
Overall the new Volvo S60 is a well designed, comfortable, classy and good to drive car. The range certainly offers something different from the major German executive saloons and its list prices are a lot lower than those cars too!
PROS ‘N’ CONS
PROS
- Attractive
- Comfortable
- Spacious
- Economical
CONS
- CO2 emissions are only average
FAST FACTS
- Max speed: 146 mph
- 0-60 mph 7.4 seconds
- Combined mpg: 53.3
- Engine: 2,400 cc five-cylinder Turbodiesel
- Power: 202 bhp @ 4000 rpm
- Torque: 310 lb ft @ 1500-3250 rpm
- CO2: 139 g/km
- Price: £34,115 OTR
