| Week at the Wheel | Volvo S60 |

Inside & Out:

Volvo has worked hard to shrug off the memories of boxy saloons and return to designing interesting and eye-catching cars and the S60 marks the next step in the journey. It's unmistakably a Volvo, but the new front end in particular is a welcome diversion from the somewhat anonymous styling of many rivals.

The S60's interior is an unconditional success. Buyers are well used to safe and roomy Volvos and the S60 delivers as usual. Less in line with stereotypes is the fact that the S60's cabin is a benchmark for ergonomics, clarity, style and comfort and it pushes Audi very hard indeed for class honours.

An annoyance (driver dependant) is the lack of a footrest in the driver's footwell. Indeed, there isn't any space to rest your clutch foot, other than on the floor under the clutch pedal, which is far from ideal. Obviously, by definition, this issue only affects the manual car, but it's something to bear in mind if you are considering the car. It's very hard to find fault with the rest of the interior. Personal feeling towards the texture of the leather was the only topic for debate.

Engine & Transmission:

The five-pot engine has all of the Volvo signature features we've come to expect, namely effortless, linear power delivery transmitted via long-legged gear ratios and accompanied by the characteristic five-cylinder growl and warble. This particular diesel isn't class leading in terms of economy, performance or manners but it is a decent all-rounder - though it is a little more vocal than one may expect, particularly from a cold start in what was mild weather.

On the road it has plenty of punch, effortlessly accelerating up to cruising speed and with more than enough performance to entertain on back roads and a stress free gait on the motorway. Keen drivers will find the manual gearbox wanting in terms of accuracy but the six-speed 'box is light and smooth in its operation. Many drivers will specify the automatic; given the shortcomings of the manual option that could be a sensible choice.

Ride & Handling:

Volvo's claims that the S60 is a sporting drive have to be taken with a pinch of salt. It's a sporting Volvo, but in comparison to the BMW 3 Series and Mercedes-Benz C-Class it's much more of a softy. However, this isn't necessarily a negative thing, as the softer set-up of the chassis is a very sensible compromise for everyday roads. The steering isn't the most confidence inspiring due to odd weighting and lack of feel, but the S60 does go where you point it and turns in with enthusiasm.

Once settled into the corner the S60 grips well and resolutely refuses to be thrown off-line by mid-corner lumps and bumps - a direct result of that additional compliance in the suspension. On a track, the Germans would vanish in to the distance rapidly, but on normal roads the S60 gives them a run for their money and keeps its occupants much more comfortable courtesy of a superior ride quality.

Equipment, Economy & Value for Money:

Volvo's pricing of the S60 puts it directly up against the equivalent Mercedes and BMW models - a move that signifies the company's confidence in its product and the belief in its ability to stand up to those comparisons. In practice, specifying the Germans to the same equipment levels as the Volvo would make them more expensive due to the S60's more generous specification. The Volvo also has some safety devices that the rivals don't even offer as options. As a day-to-day ownership proposition the S60's overall economy of 40mpg gives it a continent crushing range and a reasonable taxation levy. Service intervals and costs will be equivalent to rivals'.

Overall:

Put to one side the emphasis on dynamism that Volvo has labelled the S60 with and come to it with no preconceptions and you cannot fail to be impressed by the overall package. Contemporary exterior styling, wrapped around a cabin that contends for class honours and a chassis that builds on its Ford Mondeo roots capably arm the S60 with the arsenal required to do battle with the German establishment. It's the best Volvo for a long time and is good enough to draw buyers away from the default German options.