Volvo S60 2.0T
Volvos Entry-Level S60 Offers More Power For A Lot Less Money Than Its Rivals. Jonathan Crouch Reports
Buying an entry-level version of one of those prestigious compact executive saloons can be a disappointing experience. On the way to the showroom, the picture you have in your mind is likely to be of one of the top six cylinder versions. So its a bit of a shock to get behind the wheel of the model you can actually afford and discover four cylinder power and a rather spartan feel to the interior.
If proof were needed that the market leaders,
BMW and Mercedes, can no longer afford to treat entry-level buyers in this way, Volvos most affordable £19,995 S60 2.0T provides it. With five cylinders and a turbocharger, the power output is a useful 180bhp, a decidedly impressive figure when you look at what else you can get for that money. Audis A4 2.
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0 SE manages 130bhp and Mercedes pricey C180 Classic has 143bhp. Before we go any further, time for a quick recap on the state of play. The S60 was launched late in 2000 by
Volvo as the companys first really competitive offering in the lucrative compact executive saloon sector. Since launch, the critics have more or less unanimously agreed that the handling dynamics arent quite a match for the class leaders but that they get close enough for the needs of most.
Ride and refinement, on the other hand, are as good as youll find anywhere. Volvo is learning fast and they recently demonstrated this by bringing a package of revisions to bear on the S60 range.
"If proof were needed that the market leaders can no longer afford to treat entry-level buyers to poorly performing models, the S60 2.0T provides it...
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Unless youre a handling purist, the S60s vast reserves of extra power will more than make up for its ultimate lack of total finesse. Sixty from rest is dispatched in jusr 8.8s on the way to 140mph: not bad for an entry-level model. Particularly when you compare figures from the
BMW and the Mercedes. Only the Volvos rather cumbersome gearchange and slightly inert steering detract from the fun. Colleagues owning one of the rivals weve mentioned may well try to criticise the Volvos use of a turbocharged powerplant, talking of turbo lag and power that arrives all in a rush.
Dont listen theyre living in the past. This is one of the new generation of light pressure turbocharged engines with a 20-valve head. Pretty much all its urge is on offer from as low as 2,400rpm right up to 5,200rpm. Which means that you dont have to keep swapping down the gearbox in town, nor is it always necessary to change down a cog to overtake on the open road.
Even the fuel economys acceptable: you should average around 30mpg. All in all, a pretty impressive first stab at the compact executive market from Gothenburg. So how has Volvo done it? Well handling has much to do with body stiffness as anyone who tried to make an S70 change direction at speed will testify. Without it, you can make the springs as stiff as you like: it wont make much difference. Hence the need in the S60 for a completely new approach, aided by the use of the impressive new platform already developed for the larger S80 saloon and the latest V70 estate. In the case of the S60, this has allowed for a 70% improvement in torsional rigidity. The provision of such a strong foundation has enabled much else to be achieved.
Take the suspension, now tuned to deliver progressive movement, rather than lurching forward or back during heavy acceleration or braking. Over and above this, two ride set-ups are available, tuned for either comfort or handling response. The wheel-at-each-corner design also helps with reduced overhangs that lower the polar movement of inertia, enabling sharper steering responses and a crisper turn-in. Plus there are the usual electronic aids.
Like all S60 models, this 2.0T gets Volvos STC Stability and Traction Control system, plus theres the (sadly optional) DSTC active anti-skid programme: enter a corner too fast and it automatically cuts in, reducing the throttle and selectively applying the brakes. Of course, as youd expect, this car is as safe and solid as ever - though the associated weight has not, for once, compromised its sporting pretensions. And dont bother asking about an estate: there wont be one. The key modifications most will notice on the latest S60 include a more streamlined bumper and grille set with clear rear lights being fitted to all models. The old wiper system for the front lights has been replaced by a high pressure jetwash instead and the light lenses themselves are a lightweight plastic that offers better resistance to stone chipping. Volvos second-generation Four-C system is available for the first time as an option on the S60.
This system enables drivers to choose from Comfort and Sport settings with resultant changes to the suspension and steering feel. Given that the S40 and V50 models have raised the bar regarding Volvo interior design, the S60 has had to up its game. A passenger airbag cut-off switch has been fitted in response to customers looking to carry child seats up front and theres another Volvo safety innovation that will doubtless find its way into many other rival cars. Blind Spot Information System (BLIS) acts much like an extra set of eyes and utilizes digital camera technology mounted in the door mirrors to monitor the areas 3m to each side and up to 9.
5m behind the driver. If a vehicle enters this area, a symbol appears on the windscreen pillar near the rear view mirror to indicate that somethings there when you take a quick look towards the mirror. Active at speeds above 10km/h, this system isnt the only safety benefit buyers of the latest S60 enjoy. Special water repellent glass is fitted to the mirrors and side windows.
Water beads up on the glass and the airstream quickly clears it, leaving unimpeded visibility. This S60 has a lot going for it. Power, equipment, relative exclusivity. With even sharper dynamics, it would be irresistable.
As it is, the S60 2.0T represents a challenge the executive establishment cant afford to ignore.
FACTS AT A GLANCE
CAR: Volvo S60 2.0T
PRICES: £19,995-£22,495 - on the road
INSURANCE GROUP: 14
CO2 EMISSIONS: 220g/km
PERFORMANCE: 0-60mph 8.8s / Max Speed 140mph
FUEL CONSUMPTION: (urban) 22.1mpg / (extra urban) 39.8mpg / 30.7mpg(combined) mpg
STANDARD SAFETY FEATURES: Driver and passenger front and side airbags, inflatable curtain, ABS, STC
WILL IT FIT IN YOUR GARAGE?: (length/width/height) 4576/1804/1428mm
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