2014 Volvo S60: Review

The new for 2014 Volvo S60. It has a new front bumper, horizontal LED daytime running lights, new grille and some additional chrome. Our favourite new addition, though, are the matte grey wheels. These look tremendous. The same, however, cannot be said about the facelift. The previous S60 was one of nicest looking cars in its class – it was contemporary, sporty and elegant at the same time. But, now with the new face, it looks less exciting; it seems Volvo is targeting customers who are at least 10 years older than the previous lot.

The highlight on the inside is the new TFT screen. It is borrowed from the V40 Cross Country. But, its three modes – Elegant, Eco and Performance – will appeal to a younger audience for sure. We prefer the Performance mode, not because it makes the S60 go any faster or handle any better, but the red surround to the instrumentation, a central tacho display and large speed numbers, leave you with the feeling of driving something exciting. And the Volvo S60 is in fact, a nice drive. But we will get to that a little later.

We also like the front seats. These are large and supportive and hold you well in place. The driving position is good too and the visibility from the front windscreen or through the outside rear view mirrors isn’t bad either. Both front seats are electrically adjustable and the driver also gets three memory settings. There’s more pampering equipment on board too – a two-zone climate control function, sunroof, multifunctional steering wheel, usable armrests, cruise control and a high-end music system with remote control for the rear passengers.

Yes, the rear passengers. Now, Volvo says the S60 is a sporty sedan; a sedan whose owner would drive himself. But, the fact is, we like to be chauffer driven here in India, no matter what the car, the class or the price. So for the majority of S60 prospect owners, the space at the back isn’t bad at all. There’s decent knee and shoulder room and there’s place to put your feet under the front seats. The seat back, like on the front seats, supports the occupant well too. It’s just the under-thigh support that’s not up to the mark. The rear passengers like the ones at the front get cup holders, usable armrests and some stowage in the form of door pockets. The boot, meanwhile, is spacious and well shaped. And with 60:40 split rear seats that fold, one can stuff in longer items into the car too. 

The Volvo S60 is only available as a diesel. But, there are two diesel engines to choose from. The most expensive version of the S60 uses a 2.5-litre, five cylinder diesel with 215PS of max power and 440Nm of peak torque. This makes it the most powerful and torquey car in its class. Called the S60 D5 it is only available in the completely kitted out Summum trim. It costs Rs 35.5 lakh, ex-showroom in Delhi.

The one we are driving is a Summum too, but with a smaller 2-litre diesel and it costs Rs 32.5 lakh. There’s also a Kinetic trim available (again with the smaller 2-litre diesel) which is priced at a fraction under Rs 30 lakh, but it loses out on some pampering features. The 2-litre diesel versions are badged D4 and make a max power of 163PS. This makes them the least powerful in their class. The torque rating of the engine at 400Nm though, is right up there. And, even though the D4 is mated to a 6-speed automatic instead of a 7-speed or 8-speed auto ‘boxes the competition offers, the potent and flat torque of the engine manages to disguise the need for another cog quite well. What is obvious though, is the loud and comparatively unrefined nature of this 2-litre engine.

Get latest updates on
the automobile community

Login Now

Thankfully, the cabin insulation is top class, and one can feel the difference when driving at three digit speeds. Like we said earlier, the D4 has a lot of torque, so much so, in fact, that the S60 torque steers every time one gets on the throttle with enthusiasm. And apart from a slight turbo lag, the performance of this engine leaves little to be desired – it is linear and almost unrelenting – but do remember not to rev it all the way to the redline for it takes an eternity to upshift close to the redline. Short shift and it feels much better. 

The S60 also feels great around a set of corners. Volvo’s claims of S60 being a sporty sedan really come to the fore on a winding road. Now, before you let your expectations overtake you, no, the S60 isn’t a point and shoot car or go-kart like in its handling. What it is, is a luxury sedan that turns into bends with precision, but with a hint of planning so that there’s no understeer. It holds its line beautifully around a corner and is very much up to the task of altering lines if the need be. And because it has torque vectoring, one can get on the power sooner and it still pulls you out with vigour and without running wide at corner exits. The steering is a tad heavy though, but the ratio is well judged.

What isn’t as well judged, is the ride quality on the S60. It works fine at high speeds and over undulating roads, but drive it over a road with camber changes, and it tramlines. Go over anything but a mild bump, and it tends to crash into it, then be it a bump, a pothole or even road joints. And even though the ride isn’t noisy, it is jiggly.

So, how different is the new S60 from the one it has replaced? Well, to us, it doesn’t look as young as it did. But, it drives as well, still has torquey diesel engines, and it still handles beautifully. It also remains well built and finished on the inside. And, in typically Volvo fashion, it comes with all sorts of safety assistance from City safety to six airbags to ABS and ESP to whiplash protection. So, is it worth buying? The S60 was always worth buying, and that holds true even now. But, given the stares it generates because it isn’t as common as the Germans on the road today (the Passion Red paint job helped, of course), we’d say buy it if you want to stand out in a crowd. You won’t regret it.