Consumer Road Test: Spending a Week Driving the 2011 Volvo S60

They call this the world's first "naughty" Volvo but is that really an apt moniker for the all-new for 2011 Volvo S60 T6 AWD? Well I have to admit that when I first gazed upon the 2011 S60 sedan at an Auto Show Press Day, the pure design bravura of the exterior and interior titillated me like no Volvo before it. Let's just say it made me blush and leave it at that.

The 2011 Volvo S60's exterior silhouette stands out among other more plebian luxury sedans in its price range by focusing on a fluid sensuality rather than just trying to be the automotive equivalent of a Brooks Brothers blue blazer. The S60's headlight/fog-lamp/chrome surround design trifecta is a geometrical shape that fascinated me yet reminded me of why I failed Geometry in High School.

I just adore the boomerang mounted tail-lamp assemblies that cover the rather pert and tight rear end overhang of the decidedly midsize S60. This Swedish automotive sex symbol is hard to categorize from a size perspective as it fall in between the usual BMW 3-Series/5-Series or Mercedes C-Class/E-Class size designations. Horror! You might have to drive something that's unusual!

The S60 that I tested for a week even managed to pull off a borderline orange looking exterior color (aptly known as "Vibrant Copper Metallic") that was extroverted to say the least. If it were my money, however, I would go with a less flashy color but that isn't to say that possibly the S60's most flattering hue is actually bright red (sorry, "Flamenco Red Metallic").

My issue with the Vibrant Copper Metallic exterior came when it mixed with the Beechwood Brown leather interior treatment that I think is the essential choice for any new 2011 S60. The exterior color was just too in your face and loud to properly accentuate the subtly elegant and simple yet exotically Swedish feel of this car's interior.

The 2011 Volvo S60 may not have the biggest interior in whatever class it is supposed to compete but the S60 definitely wins the award for having the most supportive, comfortable and deliciously tactile leather seats. As you would expect from a Volvo, all of the seats protect you from whiplash and the center console features the same flowing waterfall design that has featured in the brand's products for quite a while now.

Safety features, as you might imagine, are a big part of the experience in any Volvo and the 2011 S60 is no different. My tester was equipped with Volvo's cutting edge Pedestrian Detection System which can detect if a pedestrian steps in front of the car and will automatically hit the brakes until you come to a complete stop. This same full braking function is also used if the vehicle detects you are about to have a collision with the car in front of you. Keep in mind that at no time during any of these emergencies does the driver have to hit the brake pedal.

To keep track of your distance from the car ahead of you, Volvo uses lights on top of the dash that flash in varying strengths of red depending on how close you are getting to the car in front of you. There are also headlamps that swivel as you turn the wheel for better visibility (towards where you are actually going!) and a lane departure warning system that essentially forces you to do the unthinkable (use your turn signal) when changing lanes or face a very loud beep.

If all of this Nanny State business annoys you, do realize most functions can be adjusted or turned off and some are part of an extra cost Technology Package. So you can either turn off the safety systems you don't want to use or can order your S60 without them and just enjoy the styling and in the case of my T6 AWD example-the brutishly muscular yet silky smooth 3.0 liter inline turbocharged 6-cylinder good for 300 horsepower and a BMW 335i beating 325 lb. feet of torque.

Under full throttle acceleration you are shoved back into your seat yet the steering and body remain totally composed thanks to the all-wheel drive and precise calibration of the suspension. Usually when one accelerates as quickly as the 2011 Volvo S60 T6 AWD is capable, you naturally experience a subtle tinge of fear. Not so in the always perfectly composed 2011 Volvo S60 T6 AWD.

In this lies the rub with a 2011 Volvo S60's driving and ownership experience. Are you okay with possessing tremendous capabilities that would shame vehicles costing twice as much in exchange for a bit more unmitigated fear? I don't know about you but I think I trust the S60's capabilities during spirited driving and in emergency situations more than I do my own.

At the very least you have to admit this is one hell of a sexy Volvo.

Vehicle Tested: 2011 Volvo S60 T6 AWD Sedan

Base Price: $37,700

Price as Tested: $46,200

Options on Tester: Premium/Technology/Climate Package: $4,400-(power glass moonroof, power passenger seat, Xenon headlamps with beam bending technology, adaptive cruise control, collision warning with full auto brake, pedestrian detection with full auto brake, lane departure warning, distant alert control, driver alertness function, heated front seats, headlamp washers, IAQS-Interior Air Quality System, automatic windshield wipers, Volvo 650-watt 12 speaker premium Dolby MultEQ XT audio system, Back-up camera assist, navigation system with two complementary upgrades.)

Engine: 3.0 liter turbocharged 6-cylinder

Power: 300 horsepower/325 lb. feet of torque

Transmission: 6-speed automatic

0-60: 6.2 seconds

EPA Fuel Economy: 18 city/26 highway

Economy as Tested: 21.6 miles per gallon

Gas Tank Size: 17.8 gallons

Trunk Size: 12 cubic feet
Curb Weight: 3,307 pounds

Turning Radius: 39 feet

Crash Test Ratings (IIHS): "Top Safety Pick"

(NHTSA): Five Stars (All Around)

Warranty: 5 years/Unlimited Mileage bumper to bumper

5 years/Unlimited Mileage free maintenance

5 years/Unlimited Mileage on all wear Items.

Source: Volvousa.com