One of the things I admire about Volvo is the focus shown by its designers and engineers. They are the snipers of the car industry, lying in wait while the enemy blunders aimlessly about with cars that all follow similar styling and similar gadgetry to one another and then, boom, they deliver a killer shot that never misses.
Don’t these German car manufacturers realise that it’s much more fun to pick and mix opinions rather than buying a sort of compilation album of a car. It’s why I’m so supportive of the Swedish. Because they do the last thing anyone would expect.
And it’s also why I have such a downer on Audi’s. Sure they’re great cars but they’re like magnolia paint. It’s warm and practical and goes with anything but what it says most of all is I Have No Imagination.
The Volvo V60, is a little bit different. So whenever I see someone in a 2011 Volvo I’m overcome with a wave of respect, because here is someone who has paid a respectable amount of money to stand out in a crowd. I like that, and as a result I was desperately looking forward to my first go in the new model.
It has a 1.6 litre turbo charged engine that kicks out 110kw. It’ll do 0-60 in 5.5sec and could easily hit 200km.
Anyway, off I drove, my destination, Hermanus. The Volvo gearbox’s shifts sharp and smooth, with a gentle whistle of the turbo as a sort of background symphony to the orchestra that was this vehicles presence, sharp demeanor and cock pit like feel. Pretty soon, the road opened up, Far East Movement came on the radio, and with a determined shove I put my foot down.
And pushed a knob on the steering wheel that I assumed controlled the volume. It didn’t. It changed the station, so now instead of Good Hope FM I had some local group babble warbling on 5fm. Damn. So after chuckling to myself at the absolute trash coming through the cars crisp sound system and fiddling with some settings the car presents me with a million local alternatives that nobody who has R 350 000 to spend on a car would ever listen to. I just want one button for Good Hope and one for my CD’s. And that’s it.
Eventually I relocated Far East Movement but unfortunately, they had been replaced with a miserable sounding group called Die Antwoord.
Now, the problem with making a family hatch butch is that it becomes bigger and therefore harder to park. And heavier, too, which means less oomph and more frequent trips to the pumps. The downsides seem big on paper but in reality all is surprisingly good.
The Volvo V60 rides smoothly, thanks to a sports suspension, and if a sensor detects that you may be to close to a pedestrian, it will automatically brake for you. Engine-wise, I have tried both the 2.0 petrol, which delivers a cheeky 149kw, and this 1.6 petrol, which was perfectly all right.
To drive, then, it’s good. And it’s a nice place to be as well. You easily get three adults on the back seat and the finishes are terrific, an eclectic mix of supple leather, chrome and big sumptuous dashboard. I like the new styling of the buttons and the boot literally will swallow whatever you throw into it. In my opinion, Volvo’s new range of cheeky cars – despite appearances – is up against the best of the best and holds it’s own in mixed company, think : BMW 5 series Audi A6, Mercedes C class.
The Volvo, of course, is nicer to drive – with a lower centre of gravity it has to be, and it’s easier to park as well. And cheaper. And more roomy in the back. And therfore as you could guess, is the one I’d buy.
The Volvo gives you a sense of wellbeing, a sense that while you may live in a normal house with two normal children, at least the car you use makes you look a little bit interesting.
And besides, why should I have to live in some German geek’s wet dream? I have discovered that deep beneath the layers of utter and complete electronic bliss, and the rather gorgeous exterior, there’s one truly amazing car. A Volvo V60.
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