Volvo S60 T6 Summum - Design Review

Sweden is famous for its Ikea furniture; furniture, which is solid, functional and minimalistic. Swedish car maker Volvo has also been rolling out cars just like that. The cars were very dependable and loaded with safety features but translated to just one word in the real world – boring. Well times are changing and Ikea furniture has evolved to suit designer homes and so has Volvo. Just one glance at the new Volvo S60 and it looks so desirable that you want to buy it

When Volvo entered India a few years ago, our fraternity expected it to give a good fight to the Germans owing to its premium positioning, and of course the high price tags. In spite of being solidly built, the S80 sedan and the XC90 SUV failed to excite Indian buyers, who tend to prefer flash over function when it comes to putting down big money.  And as I mentioned earlier, the technology and safety aspect found a few takers but not enough for Volvo to establish itself in the country. Volvo needed a rethink and lull period lasted too long, but the brand’s resurrection drive finally began with the XC60 Crossover last year. It was nothing you’d expect out of a traditional Volvo and had me hooked to its good looks and technology. As promised, the S60 sedan follows soon after and, by the looks of it, breaks every mould Volvos have so far been cast in.

The Volvo S60 is a sheer example of Scandinavian design flair. It is hard not to be smitten by its subtle lines and graceful curves, especially in this shade of copper. Unlike an athletic BMW 3-series that immediately gets you in the mood to grab the steering wheel or the hugely imposing fascia of an Audi A4, the S60 wants you to catch a few breaths and just admire the car.

The S60 is a phenomenally good looking car and stands out wherever you park it. When you compare it to its German counterparts, it’s in a class of its own. There is no aggression on S60’s face but the low nose and the chiseled bumper with tasteful plastic and chrome inserts make it no less sporty. I like the headlamps and the adjoining running lamps flanking the hexagonal grille. The side profile of the car is equally enticing. The low nose-high boot form gives it a very arrow-like stance.

What lends the S60 sportiness and grace is its coupe like roofline that flows right till the tail. We’ve seen something like this on cars like the BMW X6 and 5 series GT. A typical Volvo feature, the pronounced waistline (as on the S80, XC90 and XC60) is somewhat lost in this new styling. The tail lamps look like n eagle’s head complete with a beak. The twin exhausts coming out of the black diffuser in the rear bumper signal the performance intent of this sedan. The S60 garners a lot of attention everywhere and I lost count of people who would turn back to admire it. May be it’s about the unusual shade or the fact that it is a new car and the Volvo iron badge isn’t much noticed in the country but the S60 is easily the best looking car in its segment.