Sweet Swede

Singapore — The S60 sedan helped cement Volvo’s new reputation as a maker of really safe cars that no longer reflect excess stodginess, be it in looks or behaviour.

As one of the company’s own executives once summed up, even in its home country, Volvos were bought by “old men who wore hats everywhere”. Nowadays, that hat could be a Rastafarian beanie as much as a felt trilby.

The sedan gets its scheduled mid-life facelift here, with a number of minor tweaks and improvements on board. As expected, there’s minor alterations to the car’s appearance, such as an aero “moustache” on the front, and re-designed LED running lights.

This particular model also has Volvo’s optional styling pack, which features wheels and a body kit in a contrasting colour.

Even before this facelift, the S60 was already quite modern under the skin, replacing its older, larger engines with a 180bhp, 1.6-litre turbocharged unit and six-speed dual-clutch gearbox.

Despite the generous power output, it doesn’t feel like the quickest car around but that’s also because the gearbox is tuned for smoothness rather than speed. In any case, there’s plenty of bottom-end for quick overtakes and sprightly performance in town, while the drivetrain combo also pays dividends in terms of efficiency.

The cabin pays tribute to Scandinavian simplicity, since it’s very easy to figure out, while touches include an active driver’s instrument display (it’s an 8.0-inch TFT-screen) and new sports seats.

As with any Volvo, it comes with an impressive array of guardians, including the collision avoidance City Safety system as standard. You can also opt for Pedestrian/Cyclist Detection and an in-bonnet Pedestrian Airbag.

But the 1.6-litre turbocharged engine means this Volvo will traverse into Cat B next year. Like so many other European turbos, it’s a huge pity since the S60’s engine makes so much out of so little.

So while its current price of S$200,000 with COE seems somewhat steep, come February 2014, it may even be a bargain in hindsight.

Volvo S60 T4

Engine: 1,596cc turbocharged in-line 4, 180hp & 240Nm

Performance: 220kmh, 0-100kmh 9.0 seconds, 6.8L/100km, 159g/km CO2

Price: S$200,000 with COE

+: Handles well, looks uniquely handsome, very very safe

- : A little on the expensive side, but what isn’t nowadays?

Also Consider: Audi A4 1.8, BMW 316i, Mercedes-Benz C 180 K