What they said when the Volvo S60 was new… (Mar 19 2001)
THE square edged days of shoebox style were finally consigned to the history books and used car sites with the arrival of Volvo’s S60.
It put the final touch to a line-up that includes one of the best-looking cars on the road, the C70 coupe, and slots neatly into place between the smaller S40 and luxurious S80.
The Swedes, now owned by Ford, set out to achieve a combination of function with fashion – a case of retaining the brand image of safety and reliability but doing it with elegance.
So will buyers of compact executive sports saloons be wooed by the Volvo charm offensive when the same arena is inhabited by the likes of the BMW 3-Series, Mercedes C-Class and soon to be launched Jaguar X-Type?
On shape alone the S60 looks a winner. Its low sloping roofline echoes that of the C70, while the dark egg-crate grille, V-shaped bonnet, pronounced shoulders and short rear overhang point to an immediate Volvo familiarity. It is an extremely stylish piece of work.
Hop inside and everything is quite clearly focused on the driver, who for the first time since the early 70’s sits behind a three-spoke steering wheel. Only difference is that this time it contains a 60-litre airbag.
The seats and driving position are spot-on, a small graphite coloured centre console houses no less than 52 easily accessible buttons and knobs and the sound system is up there with the best.
Nor is there a shortage of practical features, hence the coat hanger knob on the passenger head restraint, front and rear cupholders and waste bag holder in the back seat.
If the S60 has a failing itis a common one for this size of car. Rear seat passengers are not blessed with the best of leg and headroom, though Volvo has set the seat bases lower than in its bigger cars to help with the latter. The boot, though, holds almost as much as the S80 and is just as flexible thanks to foldable backrests.
A trio of turbocharged five-cylinder petrol engines, producing 180, 200 and 250bhp, power the line-up.
The entry level 2.0 litre test car houses the smallest of these and provides adequate punch.
What I donit like is the "spaceball" gearshift which may work easily enough but looks more like something out of a concept car.
As a driver’s car the S60 is rewarding. Its torsional stiffness, wide track and stability
traction control make it the best handling range of Volvos.
And ,of course there’s that safety package. Dual stage airbags for driver and front passenger, side impact bags to protect the chest, an inflatable curtain to guard against head injuries plus Volvo’s whiplash system.
The company’s ambition for the S60 this year is to sell 6,000 cars - a modest one considering BMW shift more than 27,000 3-Series annually. It should succeed, and at the same time maintain its exclusivity.
Words: Mike Torpey
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