Road Test : Volvo S60 T4

Review by Tristan Tancredi - 25 January 2012

The Volvo S60 T4 is designed to be an eco-friendly, safe, agile vehicle for under $50,000.

Powered by a Four Cylinder 1.6 Direct Injection Turbo Petrol Engine, the drive is surpisingly quick and as expected from a Volvo, smooth as silk.

Leather, spacious seats fill the interior of this classy ride which is complimented by an interactive multimedia screen sitting on the centre stack, giving access to Navigation, Bluetooth and Ipod functions.

A bundle of extras are available at a cost, which will bring the total well over $50,000, but the base model T4 is a solid addition to the Volvo S60 range and has most features already installed.

A modern, comfortable, reliable Volvo with a 5 star safety rating for under $50,000, surely there has to be catch? Doesn't there? Let's find out.

Drive: 4.5/5

What a pleasure this car is to traverse the tarmac of the Victorian roads. This car drives like it would be priced in the $60,000+ range, yet it comes into the market a touch under $50,000.

The handling and grip of this Volvo is exceptional. Sweeping your way through winding roads, the S60 T4 copes well and offers ultimate on-road comfort due to its low engine weight and a well designed chassis.

A slightly firm suspension does little to dampen the smoothness of highway driving. Simply whack on the user friendly cruise control and glide to your destination.

The T4 passed the brake tests with flying colours. The driver remains in complete control during hard braking utilising the ABS.

Volvo’s brake kinetic energy regeneration helps to reduce fuel consumption when braking. Also, when you accelerate, the alternator decouples to free the engine for maximum performance when you need it.

Engine: 4/5

First things first, don't underestimate the Four Cylinder 1.6 Direct Injection Turbo Petrol Engine. I had to pop the bonnet just to double check that it was a small 1.6 litre delivering such a powerful drive.

The turbo charged engine delivers 132 kw of power at 5700 rpm and 240 Nm Torque and is no slouch.

Volvos aim in designing this engine was to "minimise CO2 emissions without compromising on agility". The T4's Petrol engine technology with high-precision direct injection and turbo charging ensure powerful engine response at all revs.

Yes, a 2.0 litre engine would improve the ride further, but the 1.6 litre carries the larger sedan with sufficient power.

A downside is that the smaller engine must work overtime, therefore increasing fuel consumption. Volvo claims fuel economy to be 7.4L/100km, however we clocked it at over 8.4L/100km.

Exterior: 4/5

The S60 measures in at 4628mm long, 1484 mm high and 2097mm wide.

17 or 18" alloys are available for the S60 in a variety of styles and compliment the classiness of the Volvo.

The front of the car is typical of the Volvo style and is an acquired taste. Some hate it, others love it. Personally, it's a refined, classy, modern design.

Admiring this car from a distance, the car looks more expensive then it is, which is a credit to the folk at Volvo.

Safety: 4/5

The Volvo S60 has a 5 star ANCAP safety rating.

Fitted with a host of standard safety features including Driver and Passenger Front, Front and Rear side curtain airbags.

An important safety addition to note is the Dynamic Stability and Traction Control. DSTC is able to detect a potential skid and help counteract one by reducing the engine’s power output or braking on one or more wheels. It also prevents locking wheels caused by engine brake.

City Safety collision avoidance technology detects and acts accordingly to any on-road incidents whereby an altercation looms.

Other saftey features include restraint technologies, energy absorbant frontal structure, safety belt pretensioners, anti-submarining protection and a host of other features can be added as extras.

A dissapointing feature lacking is a spare wheel. Puncture replacement materials are provided instead. One word.. Why?

Interior: 4.5/5

A multimedia screen sits on the centre stack, coupled with neatly designed dashboard plastics and trim, form a classy and modern interior.

Ipod connectivity, Bluetooth technology and Sat Nav are accessed through the multimedia screen with the use of effective turning knobs and buttons.

The basic sound system provides high quality noise throughout the entire cabin, yet a premium sound multi media system is available to quench those higher auditory needs. (TVs are available extras to keep the kids amused in the back seat).

The display instruments are clear, easy to access and simple to use. Easy to access information on fuel consumption, average speed times and other facts are displayed and accessed through the multi functioned steering wheel.

Leather seats are well postioned, comfortable and offer terrific body support. Both front and rear passengers have sufficient leg room. Boot space with a capacity of 380l suffers a little bit and is surprisingly compact.

Coming with Start/Stop technology and a "push button" handbrake which takes some getting used to. (The handbrake hasn't won over this car enthusiast.. Yet).

Overall: 4.5 / 5

For a stylish Volvo that performs as well as it does, the $49,950 price tag seems like a bargain.

The competitors of the S60 T4 come in around $10,000 more with pretty much the same features (BMW 320i, Mercedes-Benz C200 CGI), allowing for the S60 T4 to be truly good value for money.

The car drives and handles with gentle, smooth power and the small 1.6 litre engine performs exceptionally well. So if your limit is $50,000, you can't look past the Volvo S60 T4.

* Prices are manufacturer list prices only, for the drive away price please contact your local authorised Volvo dealer.