Vikram Gour takes a look at the new Volvo S60 heading for Indian shores. It's touted to be the sportiest Volvo ever, but does it spell success in the Indian market?

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Volvo is a brand associated with safety to the extent that the company has been at the pioneering end of many a safety feature. It’s an old statement but it still is apt and that is that there is a little bit of Volvo in every car.  However, with changing times, building a brand on a single pedestal had to change. Competition hasn’t been easy and there was no doubt in the fact that an element of excitement needed to be incorporated to the Volvo brand. As Volvo itself put it, it was time to get naughty!  Enter the Volvo S60, a sedan that is everything Volvo stands for, but with a naughty twist!

Touted as Scandinavian design, which can best be translated to subtle classic lines enhanced with a twist of taunt sporty lines to offer just the right mix of attitude with the end result being a very good looking car.  It has the ability to stand out amongst its peers and the fine lines are further enhanced by neat little touches. Probably the most noticeable such touch is the little lights on the snout. The bonnet flows muscularly down towards the front grill and on the fold are these neat lights that just look, well, for a better word-sexy.

The front end is purposeful and unlike Volvo cars till now, the head on look is young and youthful, yet reminiscent of the Volvo family DNA. From the side, the S60s clean lines flow seamlessly from the front to the sporty rear and clearly brings out a rather sporty stance. In fact Volvo claims that the S60 is their most sporty sedan design ever! The taunt rear and those signature Volvo rear lights work well to complete the exterior package and present a car that can hold its own against the competition, namely the Audi A4, BMW 3 Series and Mercedes C-Class. If design was a measure on how cars rank, then the S60 has managed to play catch-up in the market. Volvo has not been known for their design ability, but clearly that notion is set to change thanks to the striking S60.

Stepping inside the Volvo S60 is a pleasant experience. A plush interior with great fit and finish is what greets you and immediately you feel the amount of effort that has gone in to make this car stand up against the rest. The top spec models get neat leather just about everywhere and the neatness of how every item is fitted does stand out. I highly doubt that anyone will complain about the interiors or features of the S60. Adding to this is the amount of space. The S60 distinctly pipes the competition on interior space, which is a good thing considering how many Indian owners prefer to travel in the back seat of their luxury cars, be it an entry level luxury sedan. Though India, might not have governed this aspect, Volvo still comes out on top for having nurtured this thought from the design stages itself.