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2005 Volvo S60 R review. Image by James Jenkins.

2005 Volvo S60 R review
This new flagship, the S60R is the fastest Volvo yet made, with 300bhp initially conjuring up images of gargantuan torque steer. These fears were allayed a little further down the spec sheet with the acronym AWD meaning Volvo has fitted the car with four-wheel drive as standard.

   



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Previous sporty Volvos, such as the V50 T5, have left us pleasantly impressed with the brand's new found dynamic prowess. The only grievance we'd had was with deploying all those turbocharged horses onto the tarmac in a fuss free manner. This new flagship, the S60R is the fastest Volvo yet made, with 300bhp initially conjuring up images of gargantuan torque steer. These fears were allayed a little further down the spec sheet with the acronym AWD meaning Volvo has fitted the car with four-wheel drive as standard.

Externally the hints to the R's potency are few and far between. Our test car's 'Sonic Blue' paintwork stood out, but not in a garish way. Those superb five-spoke alloys contrasted perfectly but only the subtle bodywork changes, restrained 'R' badges and chromed twin exhaust mark this out as the range topper. It's a real Q-car and is subtle, cool and sober in the way a range topping Volvo should be.

Inside, the subtlety continues with only some trim, a small 'R' badge on the wheel and blue dials and gauges giving the game away. The top of the dash panel is dominated by the satnav screen (which stows away neatly when not in use) and a speaker for the usual stonking stereo. Many of the most useful controls such as satnav, stereo, cruise control and phone can be quickly and easily operated via the multi-function steering wheel. As usual for a Volvo, the switchgear is well laid out and nice to use, although the trip computer screen and minor control stalks are beginning to look and feel a little dated.

The interior is trimmed in quality leather with the customary wonderfully comfortable armchairs for seats with the driver's being fully electrically adjustable. Whilst this is a worthwhile luxury I do find that the additional height of the seat mountings, needed to clear the motors etc, is a little annoying. It means you sit on the car rather than in it and it makes it feel a little detached from the driver. I soon discovered that this feeling continues throughout the driving experience.

The steering is well weighted and direct but ultimately lacks feel and whilst there is no doubting the outright pace on tap, nor the ultimate grip levels available it all feels strangely distant and doesn't make hairs stand up on your neck as it should. The four-wheel drive chassis works well as you can feel the power being apportioned in cornering, allowing high speeds to be maintained. The level of grip, particularly in the wet, is also deeply impressive.

The chassis has electronically controlled dampers, the settings of which are configurable by the driver via buttons on the dash. I found the Comfort setting to be the most useful on our undulating and bumpy B-roads whereas the Sport setting offered more resistance to roll and came into its own on sweeping A-roads. The Advanced setting was overly stiff for most scenarios, but on the rare smooth strips of tarmac we enjoy on our roads it hinted at some genuine capability. It would be ideal for track use, but S60R owners are unlikely to bring their pride and joy to a track day in my opinion.

The latest incarnation of Volvo's 2.5-litre 5-pot packs a not inconsiderable 300bhp, backed up by 295lb.ft of torque and it's the torque that dominates proceedings. That peak torque figure is available from 1,950 to 5,250rpm and endows the S60R with some devastating mid-range urge. That's not to say that it doesn't like to rev, as it really does, but you find yourself changing up slightly earlier to surf that lovely wave of torque.

The gearshift is one of Volvo's best efforts with the six ratios tightly packed, if long. The length of the gearing makes the bare performance figures deceptive: 0-60mph in 5.7 seconds and a 155mph-limited maximum are impressive, but only tell half the story. This Volvo is very quick and only up towards the legal limit and above does its true pace clearly manifest itself. Needless to say it is an effortless and quiet cruiser with the engine well silenced at low revs or part-load conditions but emitting that wonderful 5-cylinder growl and then howl when unleashed.

Ultimately the Volvo does deliver as a sporting saloon but falls short of the involving driving experience enthusiasts would find in the likes of a BMW M3. It's very much like a current Audi S-saloon in that it offers great performance and handling but feels somewhat sterile and distant and doesn't envelop the driver in the experience, as it perhaps should.

That criticism apart, existing Volvo customers will love the harder edged personality of the S60R and it possesses plenty of talent to give similar priced rivals a real run for their money and steal new buyers from them. Indeed the German establishment can't offer anything that matches the R's blend of performance, space and quality at the same price. It isn't as great a driver's car as it could have been but it is still very good and bodes well for the future of the marque's sporting lines.

Dave Jenkins - 5 Oct 2005



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2005 Volvo S60 specifications:
Price: £34,568 on-the-road (test car cost £38,577.13 thanks to the addition of Communications Pack, metallic paint, water repellent laminated side windows, rear parking sensors, rear cup holder, passenger airbag switch, warning triangle and first aid kit).
0-62mph: 5.7 seconds
Top speed: 155mph
Combined economy: 26.9mpg
Emissions: 252g/km
Kerb weight: 1653kg

2005 Volvo S60 R. Image by James Jenkins.2005 Volvo S60 R. Image by James Jenkins.2005 Volvo S60 R. Image by James Jenkins.2005 Volvo S60 R. Image by James Jenkins.2005 Volvo S60 R. Image by James Jenkins.

2005 Volvo S60 R. Image by James Jenkins.2005 Volvo S60 R. Image by James Jenkins.2005 Volvo S60 R. Image by James Jenkins.2005 Volvo S60 R. Image by James Jenkins.2005 Volvo S60 R. Image by James Jenkins.



2005 Volvo S60 R. Image by James Jenkins.
 

2005 Volvo S60 R. Image by James Jenkins.
 

2005 Volvo S60 R. Image by James Jenkins.
 

2005 Volvo S60 R. Image by James Jenkins.
 

2005 Volvo S60 R. Image by James Jenkins.
 

2005 Volvo S60 R. Image by James Jenkins.
 






 

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