What is it?
In America, apparently they don’t put labels in boxes of assorted chocolates, telling you how each different delightful sugary nugget is flavoured. So, as Forrest Gump’s mum said, life is like a box of chocolates, in that you never know what you’re going to get.
We British, meanwhile, being more reserved, prefer to know exactly what kind of chocolate we’re getting so insist captioned pictures are enclosed within every box. A box of chocolates here, then, is very much unlike life.
Which brings me, convolutedly, to the new Volvo S60, which is the first Volvo to be built in the US, where it will be nothing like a box of chocolates.
Here, it will be precisely like one. This is a Volvo that gives you – as you’ll guess if you’ve been paying attention to the brand’s recent rapid model roll-out – precisely what you expect, because all new Volvos follow largely the same formula.
To date, it’s a successful one. On the outside, it means you get one of the best-looking cars in its class, if you ask me, which I’m prepared to argue you sort of did. Standard Autocar-design-award-winning Volvo: the new S60 has a strong family resemblance, fine proportions, even some discreet aggression, with just about enough differentiation from other Volvos to currently avoid accusations of Russian Dollness, although I suspect that’s only a matter of time. That they’re better-looking than today’s BMWs probably helps.
Each car has hints of suitability for its segment, at least. The S60’s is the segment of ordinary/nice/4.7m-long saloons, so it’s a rival for anything from a Ford Mondeo to a BMW 3 Series, and Volvo will probably argue at some length that it’s at the more premium end of the market, given the difficulty you’d have spending this S60’s £38,000 on a Mondeo. But with the Ford being much rarer than the BMW these days, if you value exclusivity, a Mondeo, or indeed an S60, which hasn’t set UK sales alight for quite some time, is among your go-to options.
Volvo is, effectively, and by accident rather than design, an SUV company today, given how many off-roaders it sells. And the S60 might remain a niche in its line-up, given family saloons are a declining sector. Especially given it’s launching in only one specification, too – a four-cylinder 2.0-litre in R-Design trim – although more options will come. Nothing bigger than a four-cylinder 2.0-litre, though, and nothing diesel.
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Why no manual transmission?
Volvo have nailed the exterior and interior design. This S60 seems neater design and better resolved rear end than S90 to my eyes.
Still, a BMW 3-series is still the go to choice for the enthusiastic driver with Mercedes-Benz C-Class and Jaguar XE not far behind. Volvo will remain a left field choice but more popular than the pretty but rather rare Alfa Romeo Giulia.
In my opinion the BMW 3-series GranSport hatchback offers better family practicality along with the Audi A5 Sportback over their saloon brethren. Seems perverse considering the non-premium Ford Mondeo, Vauxhall Insignia and I believe Peugeot 508 are all hatchback designs. Mondeo Vignale is 'trying' to be premium but...no thanks.
I currently have a Volvo S80 saloon and although boot is a good size the small bootlid makes loading a chore and you simply can't utilise all the space. All because the rear window is fixed and won't lift up.
I think my next car will be BMW 320i GranSport hatchback or Audi A5 Sportback with petrol engine and manual transmission. I love Audi A7 which is also a hatchback but it's expensive and automatic gearbox only.
I don't know about the market for this car
The S90 in the US sits on Dealership lots for months. The sedan market is kaput! The U.S. factory may be better off cranking out XC-40s they are in very high demand.
US XC40 high demand?
Not sure about the XC40 being in high demand, 3,500 sales in 3 months isn't rocking the States. XC60 on the other hand is doing alot better, selling twice as many in fact. 'Small' SUV's do better in Europe.
Try getting one from a dealership
The XC-40 cannot be built fast enough for orders. Prospective customers have been waiting or shopping for something else. Don't even attempt to use Care by Volvo to get one. There are not enough for the foreseeable future.
Must be a lot of talented
Writers and reviewer's out there, all of it wasted writing writing comments, whilst full of confidence they could do infinitely better. The comment section turning into another wart of our time.