PIC : RACHNA TYAGI

MUMBAI :

A sedan is a sedan is a sedan is a sedan. SUVs, compact SUVs, hatches and hot hatches can jostle with each other, and vie for your attention, but deep down even you know the spell a beautiful sedan casts every time it glides by, instantly catching your eye and capturing your imagination. There is a timeless elegance about sedans that has come to define motoring in the mind’s eye. From the manner in which you slide in and out of a sedan to how you’re seated inside, neither too close nor too high above from the tarmac, to its sheer silhouette, everything bears testimony to how a sedan is indeed grace personified. Little wonder then that world over, it is the preferred choice of royalty, heads of state, and glamorous dames alike. 

We drove the latest offering from Swedish manufacturer, Volvo, and it was evident how they had gone to great lengths to beautifully incorporate the finest elements of Scandinavian design and Swedish craftsmanship to create the all-new S60. To say that we were completely bowled over, would be putting it mildly, because this sedan is one of those that scores highly not just in the looks and the performance departments but also in terms of safety. 

The all-new Volvo S60 boasts an outstanding design. In fact, as it turned out, our press unit proved to be quite the head turner even in the pearl white colour, inviting lots of approving looks from fellow drivers on the road. With a large chrome grille that houses the vertical slats, to the fog lamp casings, everything on the S60 has been finished in chrome. The LED headlamps (quintessentially Volvo) and powerful taillamps, form an integral part of the beautiful S60’s design and have been beautifully executed at the front and the at the rear.

The 10-spoke, diamond cut alloys, that are seen on the 18-inch tyres that the car comes shod with, further add to the S60’s appeal. 

Volvo uses the words “Intelligent luxury” to describe the S60 and once you have experienced the sedan's cabin, you’ll know exactly why. The cabin’s charcoal black leather and light colored, driftwood interiors, feel extremely sophisticated.

As do all the little touches such as the switches of cabin lights and the door handles. Afterall, it's a Volvo and so, don't expect to see any compromise on quality.

The leather on the seats is spectacularly well-crafted and though not very supple yet, it should weather with time and develop a beautiful patina over the years. The important thing to note about the front seats though is that they have been engineered to offer not just various seating adjustments, but to also aid in absorbing a vertical impact so that your spine remains protected in the unfortunate event of an accident especially if your carskids off the road and lands badly.

A tinted panoramic sunroof ensures there is ample sunlight filtering through the cabin while a four-zone climate control, for both, front and rear seats, means that both the driver and the occupants can choose their favourite temperature settings respectively. 

What is a luxurious sedan without some great in-car entertainment? Well, the S60 gets a state-of-the-art Harmon Kardon music system, complete with a 600W digital amplifier, 14 hi-fi speakers for surround sound, including an air-ventilated subwoofer and a unique sound processing software by audio specialists Dirac Research that further enhances the acoustics ensures that every single drive of yours is nothing short of a private concert. 

The 9-inch centre display, the party piece in terms of the interiors of the sedan, comes with an anti-reflective coating to reduce glare. It’s crisp touch screen display is easily one of the best user interfaces that we have seen so far with great response time. Needless to say, Apple CarPlay and Android Auto have also made their way on to the sedan. Whether it is the large icons or the color separation, every little aspect has been well thought out on this sedan, and neither do you see gaudy colours on the display, nor do you hear loud sounds within the cabin. In fact, we really liked the enchanting and classy bells and chimes inside the cabin, and there are a plethora of options to choose from too, each more melodious than the previous one.

There is also the 12-inch digital driver display in the instrument panel which is also a high-resolution screen that automatically adjusts its brightness according to the light conditions. This shows vital car and driving-related information that aids drivers in understanding how the car has been behaving. Everything having been ergonomically built, makes it a real joy to use. Not to mention the clean air that you breathe whilst seated inside, thanks to Volvo’s CleanZone technology that filters out dust, pollen and other particulates in the cabin.

So, what is the S60 like to drive? If I had to use one word to describe it, I’d say it’s a blast! A phenomenal driver’s car that listens to driver inputs, and does exactly what is demanded of it. But most importantly, what this sedan really does is make you feel alive every time you get behind the wheel. Oh! And that jewel-like knob to turn on the ignition is just gorgeous! We just couldn't have enough of it.

We drove the 4-cylinder (in-line), 2.0-liter (1969cc) T4 (petrol) engine, with its 8-speed Geartronic automatic gearbox which puts out around 190hp and 390 Nm of torque and concluded that not only is it a really fast car but also a very engaging one with super smooth gearshifts. Switch to a different driving mode and you’ll immediately notice the difference in the way the engine sounds and also in the steering responses. At 1700 kg it is an athletic and agile car, and super fun to chuck into corners and do some crazy speeds with. The best part is that it also offers an extremely pliant ride quality and a super-relaxed driving experience that won't tire you even after a really long drive.

With Volvo having done groundbreaking work in the field of safety and having pioneered and developed several safety concepts that have now become standard equipment in most cars worldwide, they have also integrated some of the latest technology inside the S60 which blends in seamlessly with the car. The S60, also comes loaded with a host of safety features and it also gets new technology such as Pilot Assist, that lets you adjust speed and distance vis-à-vis the vehicle in front of you via a camera and a radar that has been integrated into the sedan’s windscreen. There’s also City Safety that identifies pedestrians, pets, and cyclists ahead of you, and which alerts you and applies brakes for you to keep you safe. And finally, there is Volvo’s Advanced Oncoming Mitigaton by braking technology which in fact recognizes an oncoming vehicle and which applies brakes automatically in order to diminish the impact. Also, if at the time, you’re driving in between speeds of 50-100 kmph and are trying to steer away from the oncoming vehicle, the intelligent S60, will do it for you. A very useful piece of technology to have on your sedan and it is indeed another feather in the cap for Volvo, but one has to be extremely careful while driving with this technology on our Indian roads.

We loved the S60 so much that we just wanted to hop right in, top up its 60 liter fuel tank, and drive straight to the farthest corner of the country in it. With its high levels of comfort and safety, don’t have the slightest doubt about its capabilities, and we assure you that you will not miss your SUV even for a second. In fact, do it in the S60 and it will turn out to be a memorable one.

Finally, should you buy the Volvo S60? Absolutely. In fact, without batting an eyelid, we say. Especially if you’re looking for an agile sedan, both in terms of performance and looks and also for something that is really big on safety in the INR 45-55 Lakh price bracket that is light, won’t break the bank, and is a breeze to park. In fact, in the coming months you will see that this is the sedan many will turn to when they tire of their big, bulky and difficult to park SUVs. But then, you won't be one of them, you’re a trendsetter, who having had a glimpse into the future of what’s coming, would have already chosen wisely by then.