SAFETY FIRST!

As much as Volvo have been lauded for industry-leading safety standards over the years, their capabilities in making cars that excite the enthusiast are grossly underrated. This is, after all, a company that raced a wagon in BTCC, and won.

So, contrary to popular belief, sportiness and dynamics are hardly alien to Volvo. Indeed, with the current generation S60, those have become integral qualities of a car that also exudes no shortage of style and sophistication whilst resolutely steadfast to the brand’s core tenet of safety.

Thanks to Intellisafe, the S60 is able to recognize a variety of obstacles and able to autonomously stop or steer its way around hazards.

The car that keeps you in line. Not only can the S60 keep you within your lane, it actually has Road Edge Detection to keep you from driving off the road.

The S60 watches your back. If an impending rear collision is detected, the brake lights immediately flash to warn the approaching driver. Bracing for impact, the seat belts tighten and brakes activate to minimize further impact.

SOLID FUNDAMENTALS

As with other models of the 60 and 90 series range, the S60 is underpinned by Volvo’s Scalable Product Architecture.

The platform was designed with a future of electrification in mind, and it thus seamlessly accommodates the S60 T8’s highly-sophisticated plug-in hybrid drivetrain.

Centre-mounted hybrid battery

DYNAMICS

balanced weight distribution, lower CG

Front double wishbone suspension for best balance of ride comfort and sharp handling.

“It’s a fantastically agile car, and the ride is positively sublime. It’s so supple, it rides beautifully over most surfaces. It is a fantastic day-to-day car, one which you can use over a variety of road surfaces, and yet in the weekends you can still take this on your mountain runs, and still enjoy yourself.”

- Kon

ELECTRIC PERFORMANCE

In Malaysia, the S60 is exclusively powered by Volvo’s powerful and sophisticated T8 Twin Engine plug-in hybrid system. The drivetrain is developed fully in-house by Volvo, ensuring more reliable integration between the system’s various parts.

2.0-litre turbo + supercharged petrol engine, 320hp

407hp net system output, Electronic AWD

80hp electric motor

0 – 100km/h

4.4 seconds

FUEL CONSUMPTION

2.0 litres/100km

CARBON DIOXIDE EMISSION46g/km

SPORTINESS EMBODIED by R-DESIGN

The S60 comes exclusively fitted in R-Design trim for the Malaysian market, further enhancing the base car’s already aggressive stance.

“They are different from every other car maker out there. They set out to create their own solution to the infotainment system, and I think they’ve done a very good job.”

- Bobby

AGAINST THE COMPETITION?

Such is the S60’s breadth of talents relative to its price positioning that defining who its closest rivals are is a tricky effort.

0-100km/h

Porsche 911 Carrera

~RM 1 mil

Toyota GR Supra A90

RM590K

4.3 seconds

Volvo S60 T8

RM282K

4.4 seconds

BMW M340i

RM402K

4.4 seconds

Mercedes-AMG C 43

RM401K

4.7 seconds

OUTPUTS

Volvo S60 T8

Mercedes-AMG C 43

390hp

Toyota GR Supra A90

388hp

BMW M340i

387hp

Porsche 911 Carrera

385hp

407hp

OUR VERDICT

“In entirety, the S60 is not only the best value for money in this segment. It is simply the best buy in the segment.”

- Kon

“I’m very happy with the direction they are taking, because of the way they design their interior, the way they setup their handling, the way they setup the behaviour of the car, their engine strategy, their infotainment system, their build quality, the way their cars handle. I just like every single thing they are doing now, because they are doing it right.”

- Bobby

“The name of the game for Volvo now is to provide impeccable value for the car.”

- Chu Yang

“It’s a fast car, but at the same time it’s a very nice cruising car. It’s super comfortable.”

- Beng

Auto braking may have become commonplace, but Volvo has further developed its system to recognize pedestrians, cyclists, even large animals. Oncoming cars too!

“Cars are driven by people. The guiding principle behind everything we make at Volvo, therefore, is and must remain, safety.”

- Assar Gabrielsson and Gustaf Larson, founders of Volvo, 1927

At Volvo, safety is more than just a slogan. It is a dedication, may be even an obsession. To Volvo, building safe cars goes far beyond just scoring five stars in NCAP tests.

4.2 seconds

“I’m not so stressed. I’m not as worried, because I know someone is keeping an eye on things for me, while I just put my hands on the steering wheel, just in case something happens. I get to enjoy my driving more.”

- Bobby

PACKAGING

minimal intrusion into passenger or boot space

SAFETY

best protection from crash damage

UNIQUE

configuration used by no other car maker

Integral link rear suspension with composite transverse leaf spring. Transverse leaf spring is a lighter, more space-efficient replacement of the coil spring that also conveniently doubles up as the anti-roll bar.

"You can put your foot down flat and let the steering wheel go, and the car will just track in a straight line. That's how well this car puts its power down!"

- Chris Wee