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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Power is nothing without control. Volvo seems to know this better than most and as a result has done a stellar job of harnessing and channeling powerful motors in the S60 effectively. The stiffened chassis of the car is more than up to the task, the torque vectoring on the four-wheel-drive system works like a charm and both the suspension and the steering are well resolved too. As a result the T6 feels well balanced when you corner it hard in ‘Sport’ mode, and the car points into corners very nicely, even holding onto the line on application of the throttle. There is no front engine, front-wheel-drive nose heaviness or understeer and this is most evident when powering out of a corner.

The S60’s electro-hydraulic steering lacks the fluid feel of the C-class or the pin-sharp accuracy of a hydraulically powered 3-series rack but with only 2.6 turns lock-to-lock it’s pretty quick. The high-geared steering gives the baby Volvo amazing agility and you can string it through a series of corners with ease.

The T6 also comes with different suspension settings. In Comfort mode, it feels particularly supple and is ideal for normal driving. In Sport mode, the S60 hunkers down with little suspension movement and feels glued to the road, but it feels a little jiggly on an uneven surface and doesn’t have the flat poise of a C-class. Also, at lower speeds, the S60’s suspension can be quite jarring and sharp ruts and expansion joints can jolt the passengers. The lack of sufficient rebound damping and the 215/50 low profile tyres are the most likely culprits.

Also unimpressive were the brakes, especially at higher speeds. They do a fair job but feel a bit soggy and lack bite. Without the adjustable damping and the four-wheel-drive system, the D5 diesel feels like a different animal. The suspension is quite pliant and it cushions passengers well but if you jump into the D5 after the T6, you’re in for a huge disappointment. The ride quality is nowhere as well resolved and the D5 feels lumpy on bad roads. The steering feels lethargic, which accentuates the nose-heavy handling. Unlike its rear-wheel-drive competition, the front-wheel-drive S60 diesel doesn’t feel as well balanced and there’s a fair amount of torque steer too.