2011 Volvo S60 T6 AWD Review

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Considering a new S60 as an addition to your driveway or parking space? You’ll want to have an answer to that question ready—as you’ll be asked it a lot.

The new-for-2011 S60 has officially done away with the Lego-inspired styling that characterized the Swedish brand for generations, and many folks curiously comment about the elegant, swoopy and understated look of Volvo’s latest work.


The most dynamic Volvo ever
The new S60 is intended to be the most dynamic Volvo product ever. It’s a whole new ballgame for the Swedish manufacturer that’s intended to steal some thunder away from sport sedan heavy-hitters like the Audi A4, Mercedes-Benz C-Class and BMW 3-Series.

A new marketing slogan even nicknames this machine the ‘naughty’ Volvo. Among other things, the S60 earns this title with an almost un-Volvo-like 300 horsepower. Sensible safety-rocket, anyone?

A cabin full of win!
Designed in the same country that invented Ikea furniture, it’s no wonder things on board look so elegant, tasteful, upscale and modern. Unique shapes, colours and textures generate a distinctive persona and atmosphere. This cabin packs more character, feel and personality than almost anything in its price range, and is home to about the best seats in the industry. This was validated both by your correspondent’s highly-calibrated buttocks and continual comments from passengers in both front and rear.

The unique ‘waterfall’ centre console is tilted slightly towards the driver for a cockpit-like effect, while metallic and wood accents dress things up. The chunky leather steering wheel, premium trim, and dense, deliberate switches made me happy to have fingertips.

In all, the cabin is a real treat.

So is what’s under the hood.

Volvo engineers specified a three-litre straight-six turbo engine to deliver 300 horsepower to all four wheels. Driven gently, the standard 6-speed automatic shifts almost invisibly, takes off in second, and uses the generous low-end torque to pull things along with minimal effort.


Opened up, a mellow, low-end hum escalates into an anxious high-revving yelp. Gears shift cleanly and smoothly near redline, and the S60 rips along with serious, grin-eliciting urgency. It all seems delightfully inappropriate in a car stuffed so heavily with airbags, crash structures and accident-avoidance radar gizmos.

The S60’s new ‘T6’ mill also feels naturally athletic and exhibits virtually no boost lag. The electronic throttle tuning, turbocharger system and gear ratios seem matched nicely to one another, their efforts combining to deliver a completely linear and natural sensation of endless full-throttle thrust.

Additionally, the powerplant fires up eagerly even in extreme cold, heats up in a jiff, and runs liquid-smooth, even from its first frigid breaths at 25 below.

One couldn’t ask for much more from the S60’s powertrain—except, maybe, for a manual transmission. Subaru and BMW will still take your cash if you’re after a turbocharged AWD sport sedan with a stick. Just sayin.

Winter-ready, and then some
The stability control system is appropriately lenient, and happy to let drivers have a little fun with some tail-sliding shenanigans until things start to get hairy.

All-weather visibility is handled by steerable xenon headlights with a washer system. The projectors dart about to keep illumination where it’s needed on dark, winding roads—and they dispense clean, white light that helps keep the retinas fresh for longer into late-night road trips. Big, LED-equipped taillamps and a rear fog-light keep other motorists abreast of your existence in snowstorms, too.

Safety first, second and third
Safety first, after all. The S60 has too many advanced and exclusive safety gadgets to list here, but an array of cameras, lasers and radar lets it ‘see’ its surroundings to alert drivers if they’re leaving their lane, about to rear-end someone, or about to run somebody over. At lower speeds, S60 can even stop itself automatically to prevent certain types of accidents.

Sleeper handling
Drivers can toggle the S60’s chassis between three modes, including ‘Comfort’ for touring, ‘Sport’ for the twisties, and ‘Advanced’ for the track.

The track? In a Volvo?


Oh yea. It’s no BMW M3-- but the S60 is remarkably stable, forgiving and locked down when driven hard on an empty, winding road or closed course. The optional adaptive chassis system effectively provides push-button access to three distinctive driving characters ranging from comfort-oriented cruiser to stiff and sticky track-day wannabe.

Gripes?
If your trusty reviewer sounds impressed with the S60 thus far, that’s because he is. This is one of the most pleasantly surprising cars I’ve come across this year.

But it’s not perfect.

Some menu navigation in the infotainment system is frustratingly illogical, and the T6 engine thoroughly enjoys fuel when driven hard. Thanks to the addicting performance, I’m not sure what sort of mileage it gets when driven gently.

End of the day, the S60 is a very unique, potent, dynamic and extremely comfortable machine that’s happy touring the highway, the racetrack or any road or weather condition in between.

Fully loaded like the tester, it will relieve shoppers of about sixty grand.