2006 Volvo S60 Review

Specifications

Safety + Traction + Sex Appeal = S60 AWD SE

I find this car strangely sexy. No, its not downright voluptuous, and theres no visceral reaction to the engine note, and I cant objectively claim it makes a sensuous connection to the road, but there is something so smart, so reserved and so hair-up-in-a-bun that just makes me think… I cant tell you exactly what it makes me think, but theyre all nice thoughts. In fact, Im smiling right now.

I hope that you take the time to view the photographs in the gallery for this one, as I roped in a photographer friend of mine to take the photos and do this all-black S60 (can you seriously tell me that all black isnt sexy?) in front of a similarly alluring example of modern architecture. Everybody take the time to appreciate.

Long, sleek, chiseled shoulders and lines flowing gracefully into a hard-cut trunk make me say mmhmm. I dont think theres anything I can say that wouldnt have the pictures shame my retreating words into a dyslexic pile of debris at the side of the page, but I would ask you to direct your attention to the rims: sweet! Slightly industrial, yet elegant and so smooth, they take this car up one sizeable notch, beyond simple professorial desirability to something like a Robert Langdon of cars.

Are you back from the photo gallery yet? Wasnt that nice? Beyond looking good, this Volvo also displayed its charms out on the open road, particularly on the highway, where the only risk is feeling too secure or too comfortable. I almost wouldnt recommend it for long, solo trips because I couldnt imagine a more comfortable place in which to curl up for a nap. The big, black leather seats are wide and soft, with just a touch of side bolstering to wrap you up and keep you firmly in place. Wow, Im getting a little sleepy and lazy just thinking about slouching back in one of those seats with their perfect balance between support and cushiness.

The rest of the interior is, you guessed it, black. Some people mentioned that it was a touch austere, or perhaps the term was Germanic, but this is one sedan interior that passed the “I wanna rub every surface with my cheeks” test that I developed after long research in The Bays scarf department. Dash is soft-touch plastic, buttons are secure and purposeful and where there isnt leather, there is something that feels nice.

One of the things that kept running through my head all week was: “This car definitely feels like it is worth fifty thousand dollars,” something that a surprising number of competitors fall short of.

Though I hate to disparage a car I felt so comfortable in, it had its soft spots in certain places that a bit of toned muscle would have done better. Its hard to say that a car with over 200 horsepower (208 to be exact) felt lacking, especially when you consider its 236 lb-ft of torque, but with all that leather, its crumple zones and reinforced steel, plus all-wheel drive, it felt a little sluggish, even at everyday cruising speeds. It had the advantage of a manual mode (Geartronic) with its 5-speed automatic, for which I was grateful as it took the guesswork out of tentative passing maneuvers on the highway, and made up for the difficulty it encountered when trying to put on speed quickly.

On the other hand, stoplight starts were gazelle-like, with all four wheels putting power to the ground and leaping gracefully away from traffic. Similarly, I found its cornering ability level and assuring, although the car was so soothing that I generally found myself taking it easy at times when I would normally be pushing a car to its limits–was it that good, or was it just that relaxing? You be the judge.

One thing I was able to judge for and on behalf of any who are considering a Volvo, is that this car needs a driveway. Namely, its turning radius made parking a terror, especially after having the nimble Toyota 4Runner the week prior. That SUV turned on a dime, and it took me half a week to realize that it wasnt my driving skills that had deteriorated drastically but rather that the S60 had to be considered carefully for both its length and its wide turning radius.

Despite my parking difficulties, this car was such a pleasure to get into every morning. The feelings of solidity and security are backed up by one of the best safety records in the industry; this model specifically coming with Volvos Whiplash Protection System (WHIPS), driver and front passenger airbags, side impact and curtain airbags, seat belt pretensioners and a high strength safety cage for last resort protection in an accident. Helping to avoid the accident are the four disc brakes, which felt supremely reassuring, assisted by a four-channel antilock braking system, electronic brake distribution and emergency brake assist. With all those systems available Im happy to report that I didnt get into any accidents, so I guess that means they work really well. Or maybe I just had an unadventurous week.

Mind you, Volvos reputation for safety has recently been eclipsed by some of their competitors, particularly Audi, which recently managed to get three silver medals in the IIHS Top Safety Picks for 2006, while Volvo didnt receive any, so do your homework. Or, you can let me do it for you. Normally, I would shirk the homework and just move on to the beer, but Im feeling motivated today, and I think the S60 deserves a little love, just because its so sexy. The NHTSA gives the S60, with side airbags, four stars in frontal impact for both passenger and driver positions, five stars for both front and rear occupants in side impact tests and in the IIHS frontal offset test, the 2005 S60 received the top good rating for Overall, Structure/Safety Cage, Head/Neck, Chest Restraints/Dummy Kinematics and acceptable for Leg/Foot (right and left). Additionally, the European NCAP program, known to be significantly more stringent, awards the current generation S60 (tested in 2001) four stars out of five and an 82 percent rating for overall crash safety, a very respectable score although with room for improvement, which we will no doubt see when the next S60 debuts in a couple of years. All this helps to show that its not all doom and gloom for Volvos safety department, nor can it be slotted in with the Hyundai Excels and Ladas of the world.

Of course, all you have to do is look at it to see that its not a Lada, and credit to Hyundai for coming such a long way, but I would still not dare to be seen in an Accent in my neighborhood (okay, I live on the edge of it, but Forest Hill is still Premium and Luxury for the masses, although I have seen the odd Sonata popping up here and there to show how far they have truly come). S60s are not a strange sight, and now I can understand why.

Despite the logical arguments of safety and solid performance, linked by Volvos AWD, which aids both, and the S60 is a true all-season car for someone who can afford it. Pop for a few extras, such as power adjustable seats plus piles of leather everywhere, an auto dimming mirror (once you get used to one, its hard to ever go back) and Dynamic Stability and Traction Control (DSTC). Dress it up in gloss metallic black paint and those SENTINAL rims and you have yourself a Volvo that will draw nods from other drivers at stoplights and even teenagers with “Was that a Volvo?” looks as you roll by. And while safety is always a beautiful thing, never has a Volvo been so sexy.