Volvo S60 T6 Review: Swede Boost

What we like:

Strong mid-range performance

handsome looks inside and out

safety features

What we dislike:

Not as dynamic as a BMW 335i and not as quick as an Audi S4

Under the stylish sheet metal is an all new cabin that offers better quality materials, significantly more rear legroom than before and a new design evolution of previous Volvo cabins.

Volvo's signature floating centre console is ever present but the big LCD screen that sits in between the centre air-con vents is a new feature for the S60. The screen displays settings for audio, climate control as well as settings for the car. Without a touchpad or a big rotary knob, the menus are not so intuitive to access at first but the user should be able to get use to the operating system over time, making it a cinch to select the right menu and function with just the push or a button or two followed by turning one of the knobs.

Like its predecessor, the S60's front seats offer both support and comfort for all body shapes, even on long drives. Whilst the outgoing S60's interior offered just average quality and perceived luxury due to the use of some cheap feeling hard plastics and shiny surfaces, the new car's cabin is lined with soft touch materials that feel and speak of quality and class.

A new and innovative safety feature in the S60 T6 is Pedestrian Detection with full auto brake. The system comes with the adaptive cruise control package that is available as an option on the 2.0T and standard on T6 variants and has the ability to detect pedestrians in the path of the car with the help of both a radar and camera. An audible tone and flashing red lights on top of the dashboard warns the driver of the danger ahead. If the driver doesn't react to slow the car down to avoid the pedestrian then the system will activate full braking force automatically. The intelligent system works at up to speeds of 80km/h and will be great news by safety obsessed Volvo buyers. In addition, the T6's adaptive cruise control will be a boon when cruising on the expressway as the system can slow down or speed up according to the traffic ahead with the driver setting the speed and distance to the car ahead.

Other safety features on the T6 include the XC60's City Safety, a plethora of airbags as well as traditional Volvo safety features like WHIPS and SIPS. As expected, the T6 offers significantly more standard kit than the entry-level 2.0T. these include 18-inch wheels, electric sunroof, the abovementioned adaptive cruise control with Pedestrian Detection, an upgraded stereo and so on.

The S60 T6 certainly doesn't have the character of its flawed 850 T5R spiritual forebear but what it offers is a capable sports saloon that offers unparalleled safety for its occupants.

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