ROAD TEST - VOLVO V60 T5 MANUAL:
Estate cars are synonymous with Volvo - a big, boxy, boring wagon with an oversized Labrador in the back is an image that's practically infused with old-school Volvo stereotypes.
Of course, Volvo has metamorphosed considerably in the last decade or so, the more rounded designs that replaced the squareness of the previous century's offerings eventually giving way to sporty and even slightly quirky concoctions like the new V60.
Needless to say, the V60 is not a traditional estate car by any stretch of the imagination and this S60-based wagon even rebels against expectations of practicality. In fact, it offers less load space than even the V50, its boot swallowing just 430 litres - around 50 litres less than the Audi A4 and Merc C-Class wagons.
Even passenger room is not anything special - at best it matches the biggest C-segment cars on the block. Less practical and more emotional is the keyword here.
Just like the exterior of the new V60 might not be to everyone's taste even if it has clearly broken free from the mould of boredom, the interior design is refreshingly distinctive and the materials impart an upmarket aura.
Sadly the front seats are nowhere near as comfortable as I remember them being in the previous S60 model - they were easily among the best in the business. Sure, the V60's seats are not uncomfortable by any stretch of the imagination - they've just lost that armchair-like comfort.
Thankfully the age-old safety aspect synonymous with Volvo doesn't appear to have been tampered with and here there's a greater focus on active safety with pedestrian detection and auto-braking functions that can automatically brake the car at speeds of below 35km/h when it detects a collision with a person or car and can reduce the speed by up to 25km/h at higher speeds. That said, it's still the driver that needs to make all the difference in the potentially deadly collisions.
Our test unit was a T5, which is powered by a 2-litre turbocharged petrol engine good for 177kW at 5500rpm and 320Nm. At R390 300 for the manual (a dual-clutch Powershift auto is available at R406 300) it does offer more power for less money than the 155kW A4 2.0 TSI (R416 000) and 170kW C300 (R475 900).
The T5 is a strong performer in every respect but I did miss the characteristic off-beat growl of the five-cylinder engine in previous T5 Volvos. The smaller engine might offer better performance and lower consumption, but the character just isn't there anymore.
In line with the engine's more mature nature, power is delivered smoothly and torque steer wasn't the problem it was in previous cars with this much power being channelled exclusively to the front wheels.
With South African V60 models getting the 'dynamic' chassis set-up (firmer and lower), road holding is practically up there with the best front-drivers on the block and I was also impressed by the level of feedback provided by the well-weighted steering. The ride quality, while a little firm, was certainly not uncomfortable.
What I did find annoying was slogging through bumper-to-bumper traffic up a hill. The V60 has an electronic parking brake that wasn't taught to perform hill starts and there's no hill holder. Less experienced drivers should ensure they're well insured.
VERDICT:
Volvo has stepped quite boldly out of its comfort zone with this car, and its S60 sibling - sacrificing some of the brand's previous strengths like comfort and practicality in the hope of creating a sporty premium car.
In the end, I don't think that this car is as desirable as the mainstream German choices but given its price advantage, decent refinement and its distinctive image, this car could be a serious option for someone wishing to break free from the mould.