2015 Volvo S60 T6 Test Drive Score Sheet

The Volvo S60 is truly a great package. It looks fantastic, with its simple and crisp design cues that are typically Scandinavian. Our T6 test car looked especially good in this Polestar blue. On the inside, well, what can you say about Volvo cabins other than the fact that they have the most comfortable seats this side of a Rolls-Royce.

The highlight of the car we have here, though, is its 2.0-litre, four cylinder, direct injection turbocharged and supercharged petrol engine that is a magnificent motor in its own right. It’s just so quiet and completely befitting of the character of a luxury automobile. The best part, though, is the absolutely instant power delivery – there’s simply no lag or delay to speak of.

Peak torque of 400Nm comes in at a handy 2,100rpm, and the surge of power is a seamless one with the maximum power output of 306bhp being delivered at 5,700 rpm. And it’s not only about the engine here either, as the eight-speed automatic gearbox is equally responsible for the smooth and linear power delivery of the S60 T6.

But the overriding attribute of this powertrain is that of refinement – as it’s smooth and racy at the same time. The S60 features McPherson struts in front, while at the rear there’s an independent setup. The ride is very comfortable – again, being a Volvo, this is a given. Of course, on the track the S60 reveals that it’s more of a spirited cruiser rather than a sports sedan – despite the best efforts of the digital instrument cluster to have you believe otherwise.

But, really, the only area in which the S60 leaves you wanting more is within the cabin. While the seats are incredible, and the cabin quality is top class, it’s just not a very exciting place to be. Let’s put it this way, it doesn’t feel like the XC90 and the S60 are related in any way. The S60 simply feels a generation behind its rivals when it comes to cabin tech, and a couple of generations behind its bigger sibling.

On the whole, though, the incredibly smooth and free-revving petrol engine in the S60 simply won us over. Plus, in this colour, it looks stunning and is a great alternative to the much more predictable German luxury brigade.

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