2011 Volvo S60

There's no doubt that the Volvo has bent over backwards to entice coustomers with its new saloon

Published on May 04, 2011 07:00:00 AM

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Sweden is famous for its classy and minimalist interior design, and the S60 reflects its heritage. For Indian tastes, the straight lines and simple form of the cabin maybe a bit too boring but there’s an appealing blend of high quality and robustness that makes it special. Swathes of brushed metal, especially on the doorpads and steering wheel, look really good and the ‘floating’ central console – a Volvo signature – stands out. The Cyclops’ eye vent at the top of the central console is also unique. What also add to the funky appeal of the cabin are the two-tone seats, with their tall anti-whiplash headrests.

As on all Volvos, the seats are among the best around, and thigh support and bolstering are very good. The seats, again feel a half- size larger than competitors and we found the front seats to be extremely comfortable even after a long day spent behind the wheel. Rear seat comfort is also very impressive. You sit slightly lower than say in a Mercedes C-class,but legroom, thigh support and especially lower back support are better. And the central transmission tunnel isn’t as obtrusive as on other rear-wheel-drive competitors; better for the fifth passenger.

The quality of the leather, plastics and metal bits is also very impressive, and we were hardpressed to find even a few cheap-looking bits on this car. However, some ergonomic oddities do exist. You can’t point the air-con vents as effectively as you’d imagine, the mass of buttons on the central console can be confusing, and the cream-coloured leather on the steering wheel is certainly a big mistake in India. It will get soiled in weeks. You do get a pair of large- size cupholders in the elbow box and the S60 has a front parking camera as well, which is unique. This video screen-based parking system also has a fantastic graphic overlay that tells you exactly how close you can park; a really nice feature for our congested cities.

The safety systems do their job but also feel like an overkill. While the BLIS (Blind Spot Information System) works well, flashing away to warn you about bikers darting down the left, the Lane Departure Warning is largely useless (as lane markings are far and few between!) and the Collision Warning is a bit too trigger-happy and beeps at the slightest provocation.