The steering wheel is thick and sporty, the 'waterfall' console is twisted towards the driver for a cockpit feel, and there's enough room for four adults to travel comfortably. In typical Volvo fashion, all controls, buttons and switchgear feel substantial and robust.
Balance with a capital 'B'
Drive the S60, a beautiful sense of dynamic balance proudly shows itself before long.
Handling is locked down, the steering weight and ratio feel expertly metered against the car's size and mass, and there's plenty of entertaining and inspiring grip to play with.
Thing is, there's also plenty of comfort, too.
Despite S60's eagerness to please in fast corners, it rides with a firm, heavy smoothness that exudes confidence and encourages relaxation. It loses little if anything between corner-carving and cruising in comfort.
The new Volvo turbo-six
There's more balance under the hood. The three-litre engine glides things along in peaceful quiet from low revs when drivers are gentle, though pushed, it strains necks and presses torsos into seatbacks on command. Further, the mill only becomes notably audible towards redline, and never intrusively so.
Turbo lag is basically nil, and the engine sings with a clean, smooth wail that never sounds overworked or burdened. Like the ride and handling, the S60's engine is entertaining and potent, but also relaxing and refined.
Track trip
All that buttery-smooth performance makes it easy to accidentally speed, excessively. This was confirmed to your writer by an Oregon County sheriff during the vehicle's international media launch near Portland. After a stern and lucky warning, the trip's remaining high-velocity stuff would be reserved solely for some laps around the new Portland Raceway Park facility.
Balance with a capital 'B'
Drive the S60, a beautiful sense of dynamic balance proudly shows itself before long.
 |
| In typical Volvo fashion, all controls, buttons and switchgear feel substantial and robust. (Photo: Justin Pritchard/Auto123.com) |
Handling is locked down, the steering weight and ratio feel expertly metered against the car's size and mass, and there's plenty of entertaining and inspiring grip to play with.
Thing is, there's also plenty of comfort, too.
Despite S60's eagerness to please in fast corners, it rides with a firm, heavy smoothness that exudes confidence and encourages relaxation. It loses little if anything between corner-carving and cruising in comfort.
The new Volvo turbo-six
There's more balance under the hood. The three-litre engine glides things along in peaceful quiet from low revs when drivers are gentle, though pushed, it strains necks and presses torsos into seatbacks on command. Further, the mill only becomes notably audible towards redline, and never intrusively so.
Turbo lag is basically nil, and the engine sings with a clean, smooth wail that never sounds overworked or burdened. Like the ride and handling, the S60's engine is entertaining and potent, but also relaxing and refined.
Track trip
All that buttery-smooth performance makes it easy to accidentally speed, excessively. This was confirmed to your writer by an Oregon County sheriff during the vehicle's international media launch near Portland. After a stern and lucky warning, the trip's remaining high-velocity stuff would be reserved solely for some laps around the new Portland Raceway Park facility.
 |
| Like the ride and handling, the S60's engine is entertaining and potent, but also relaxing and refined. (Photo: Justin Pritchard/Auto123.com) |