Volvo ready to take on its German rivals

Review - Volvo S60A radical overhaul of design and technology has allowed Volvo position its new S60 as a dynamic alternative in the family saloon segment

IT HAS BEEN a long time coming, but Volvo is finally ready to put up a challenge to its German rivals in the all-important family saloon segment. The Swedish brand – soon to fall under the control of Chinese parents after several years in the Ford family – has spent many years battling to make its mark in the mainstream premium sector.

Despite being highly regarded as an alternative to the dominant German fare, a limited offering has hindered its progress, and in this segment, dominated by the likes of the BMW 3-Series, Audi A4 and Mercedes C-Class, the previous car was too long in the tooth. This S60, it hopes, will change that.

Volvo has adopted a new look recently. At a motor show several months ago, we were told that the designers felt the Volvo look was just too discrete on the road. The Swedes were looking for an image that clearly identified the car as a Volvo from 100m away. In that they’ve succeeded.

Based on the underpinnings of the recently launched XC60 crossover, the new car is a radical overhaul. Far sleeker in its lines, its opening statement is a prominent grille and some very tidy proportions, along with a sweeping rake on the rear that gives it a slightly coupé appearance. The proportions are tidy, but the interior space is not as tight as the exterior might suggest.

Volvo has been eager to give the car a proper premium feel and the interior reflects that, with quality surfaces on all the major contact points. From the well-bolstered seats to the steering wheel and switchgear, you never feel short-changed in the S60. The central console controls are still a little fiddly, dominated by buttons, but overall the cabin is comparable to German rivals.

The backseat legroom is adequate for a car of this size, if a little tight when seated behind a tall driver, while rear headroom is acceptable, though again not too impressive. One gripe we would have with the interior may seem rather petty at first: the central armrest. It was more of a hindrance than a comfort feature, particularly when we tested the manual versions of the car with their relatively long-throw gear changes. Given that it’s up against cars like the 3-Series and A4, Volvo should have opted for a shorter shift transmission for the manual models.

On the road, the new S60 is a positive drive. It’s not quite as dynamic as the BMW 3-Series or the new C-Class, but it’s close enough to put it right in the mix. It is also offered with Volvo’s 4C chassis as an option, but the regular suspension is perfectly fine. We’ve always found the 4C’s suspension settings underwhelming in any case.

The electric power steering can be adjusted to give more feedback but in reality it’s by a matter of degrees and while the lighter setting isn’t as numb as we might have feared, the tighter “hard” setting doesn’t turn the S60 into a go-kart either. It’s another technical feature that doesn’t deliver as much as promised.

The best news about the S60 is the 2-litre five-cylinder 163bhp diesel engine – oddly called the D3 – that is remarkably agile and eager to please in this car. Matched with a nice throaty sound that’s surprising for a diesel, its low-range torque will be ideal for Irish roads. On some very twisting country roads we were able to leave the car in third gear and let the engine use the full potential of its rev range to pull us along.

The larger 2.4-litre D5 certainly has more potency, but it needs a clear stretch of road to demonstrate its superiority, and for our money the D3 is the best all-rounder. That’s great news for Irish buyers who don’t have to pay a performance penalty for saving a few euro on the price. Next year a 1.6-litre 115bhp diesel version will arrive under Volvo’s lower emissions DRIVe family and putting out 115g/km, but it’s going to be hard to beat the 2-litre for its all-round ability, and it’s still only 139g/km.

In other markets there are two petrol engines on offer – a 2-litre 203bhp and a 3-litre T6 304bhp version – but neither is going to be offered here, a further sign that the premium market is now completely dominated by diesel these days.

In reality few will grumble, for both the diesels offer ample pep. But it’s not just about performance. The Swedes were eager that the new S60 offered something new to the motoring world. The brand has garnered a strong consumer reputation for safety and it hopes to build on that with a new pedestrian protection system.

For the launch of the XC60 crossover in 2008, Volvo introduced its City Safety system with full auto braking. Using a laser located on the windscreen behind the rearview mirror, it tracks the traffic ahead. When it estimates that a rear shunt may occur at urban speeds, it sounds an alert. If the driver doesn’t react, it automatically applies the brakes to prevent – or if the speeds are too high then limit the impact of – a collision. It’s a useful feature that comes as standard on the S60.

What’s new is that they now offer a pedestrian detection system as an option on this car. Combining the radar from the adaptive cruise control system and a new camera fitted in place of the laser, it monitors the road ahead for pedestrians.

To combat our natural cynicism of company promises, Volvo laid on a three-foot dummy, which we were to attempt to run over in an absent-minded fashion. Think about those moments you’re fiddling with the radio, in mid-debate with children in the back seat, or illegally checking mobile phone messages, when suddenly a pedestrian steps out on the road.

Taking a typical traffic speed of 35km/h, we drove straight at the dummy child. As we got within a metre of impact, alarms started to sound but we took no heed and kept the accelerator pressed. We were determined to knock the stuffing from this errant obstacle in our way. In less than a second the full force of the brakes were applied and we came to a stop, the front bumper millimetres from the “child’s” midriff.

The system seemingly decides in milliseconds that the driver is either bent on mayhem or totally distracted and disengages the accelerator input while fully applying the brakes. It’s a very impressive safety feature, particularly when you learn that over half of pedestrian fatalities occur at speeds of less than 50km/h. Even if you try it at a faster speed and fail to act, the impact is significantly reduced. That may not prevent injury, but Volvo estimates that if speed is cut from 50km/h to 25km/h, the system is expected to reduce the fatality risk by as much as 20 per cent and in some cases by up to 85 per cent.

Admittedly the system does come with a raft of provisos. It doesn’t work at night and the camera won’t pick up a pedestrian if it’s caught in the glare from a low-set sun or a bright reflection. It also errs on the side of keeping responsibility with the driver. Nevertheless it’s another step towards reducing fatalities on our roads. It’s one element of an options pack available to buyers as the Driver Support Package for €2,250 that adds on adaptive cruise control, lane assist, blind spot alert (BLIS) and a driver alert system that monitors your driving and sounds an alarm if it thinks you are starting to doze off or become less responsive.

Which brings us to the price. The D3 S60 starts at €32,250, which is a very competitive price, on average about €3,000 less than equivalent powered rivals. Add in some extras on the Volvo and its rivals and that gap starts to widen. The same is true of the D5, which begins at €36,250. And those who opt for the higher power don’t get punished as the car still retains its 139g/km emissions and Band B tax of €156 a year.

That really makes the S60 a serious alternative to the usual Teutonic trio that dominates this segment of the market. These prices may well tempt some buyers of higher-end mainstream family cars to take the step up to the S60 as well. The motor industry may gripe about low profit margins and falling prices, but it’s the one bright light in an otherwise gloomy economic story for Irish motorists.

Combine all the elements on offer here and the S60 suddenly becomes a really viable proposition in a segment that looks likely to grow again once the first signs of economic recovery take root. Volvo may not be ready to topple the Germans in the overall market, but this car is a significant leap in the right direction.

Factfile - Volvo S60 D3

Engine:2-litre five-cylinder diesel with 163bhp and 400Nm of torque

0-100km/h:9.2 seconds

L/100km:5.1

Emissions:139g/km (Band B – €156)

Prices:S – €32,250; ES – €33,750; SE – €36,500; SE Lux – €39,050

In Irish showrooms:Mid-August

S60 D5

Engine:2.4-litre five-cylinder diesel with 205bhp and 440Nm of torque

0-100km/h:7.8 seconds

L/100km:5.4

Emissions:139 g/km (Band C – €156)

Prices:ES – €37,750; SE - €40,500; SE Lux – €43,050

In Irish showrooms:Mid-August

S60 1.6 DRIVe

Engine:1.6-litre diesel with 115bhp and 270Nm of torque

L/100km:4.3

Emissions:115g/km (Band A – €104)

Prices:Not confirmed but likely to be close to €30,000

In Irish showrooms:2011