Volvo S60

Our nightmare started since we bought this car in early 2012. We owned a few new cars before, they were all serving us well, I never have to send my car for repair for any original defects for the first three years of driving. However, below is my Volvo S60 T4 records, is amazing:

1. Feb-12(Brand new): Bad smell from air-con specially in the morning. Wearnes initially insisted that is due to fresheners I used even I explained that I used fresheners bcoz of the bad smell. After several complaints, they final admitted that is due to the type of filter used.

2. Feb-12(Brand new) : Air-con only blow hot air

3. 7/2/2013 (14,664km): Belt Latch RR replace as is too high can tear someone dress.

4. 21/11/2013(29,085km):Coolant Return Hose replace due to pipe badly corroded causing coolant leak, causing engine overheat

5. 24/12/2013 (29,997km): Coolant Reservoir repair due to coolant leak, causing engine overheat. When I request Wearnes to let me know what happen, answer given to me "nothing wrong". But the fact is that the problem go away after car left the workshop

6. 2013: Vehicle IU faulty

7. 24/1/2014(30,886km): Complete gearbox replace due to faulty gearbox

8. 1/8/2014: 12V power supply faulty

9. 3/10/2014 (~39,000km): Clutch greasing due to leak causing knocking sound when driving at low speed. 12V power supply faulty

10. 4/10/2014(~40,000km): Coolant Reservoir repair due to coolant leak, causing engine overheat. When I request Wearnes to let me to do a thorough check to ensure no 4th time repeat of problem, answer given by staff was "I donot have the crystal ball to know when it will happen again".

11. Oct 2014(~40,000km): Loud noise coming from undercarriage of car when drive thru road hump even at about 10-20km/hr. Wearnes insisted that is due to a damaged plastic cover at the undercarriage. However, noise disappeared after car came out from workshop without replacing the plastic cover, till today, Wearnes still insisted that is due to damaged plastic cover (that I have not replace)

On the under carriage noise, one of the owner seem to have similar problem as mine.

Yes, please feel sorry for me, I need a lot of sympathies.

I used to drive a Nissan Latio and a Mazda 323 before that so the S60 is the first premium car I own. I have been driving the S60 for about 6 mouths now and I must say I am very satisfied overall with both the comfort and performance of the car. The leather seats are very comfortable and the interior nicely laid out. The power is there when you need it, the 6 speed gearbox is responsive and lively. Average FC is currently at 9.7km/L for mainly city driving, the best reading taken was 14.9km/L on the NS highway.

Been driving this machine - face-lifted version T4, for 30 days - been happy with it so far. Friends commented that the dirve is smooth, quiet, and with good pick up. It is a heavy car compared to other cars of similar category, but responsiveness is not compromised. I thought the noise level can be improved though.

Interior is excellent! Find the interiror furnishing much better than some of the more expensive German cars. Seats are comfortable but due to it being sports seats, bigger frame passenger might find the seats too tight. Even better if both driver and passenger seats are power seats!

Was initially uncomfortable with the leather smell, but all turns out fine after placing pandan leaves at the back of the car. Love the nice fragrance in the car! Exterior design is subtle, hence not suited for attention seekers.

Fuel consumption is currently 8km per litre due to my ultra city driving routes; hope this will improve to at least 10.5km after 6 months. Collision warning with full auto brake and pedestrian detection, blink spot infromation system, Park assist, GPS, rear camera all costs extra. Hence the lower rating for Features and Value for money.

And one point - can Volvo include Date/Day in the display for the new system upgrade?

There are lots of excitement on this car, the interior and exterior finishing are good with high quality and probably the best 1.6L car in the market with powerful engine and comfort ride. The car handling is great when travelling high speed and especially recent wet weather, it let you feel safe while travelling in such fierce weather.

However, after driven for more than 7 months and sent my car for first service it was with great disappointment of the after sales service workmanship.

In fact, this was not the first time I sent in for service, the undercarriage noise of the car when going over hump was a repeated problem. This was the 2nd time I sent for such problem before I clocked the 15,000 KM mileage. There is knocking sound from the undercarriage whenever I went over a hump, the mechanic tried to convince me the problem was due to the way I driven the car and this is totally nuisance. I have driven for more than 20 years with both Japanese and Continental cars and they didn’t post such problem. The joke was they advice me to change my driving style to suite the characteristics of the car. My question was how can such reputable car like Volvo selling millions of cars worldwide expecting driver to adapt to the car? This must be a joke.

I hope they could improve and take the after sales service seriously in today’s competitive market.

Just a few comments:

1. a driver's car, without compromising on passengers

2. plenty of standard features on board

3. car is stable, more so than the S80 2.5T

4. very much "younger looking" Volvo

5. nice lights! - the led lights both front and back

Like to give a quick review after driving the car for 1 week. Just finished the 1st full tank with SPC 98 pterol.

Review from friends: All gave very +ve review on the exterior and interior design and they are equally impressed with the comfort level after the ride although the suspension a bit stiff.

Review from family: They love it as the seat is very comfortable. Noise level at 110km/hr is acceptable.

Overall, I have no regret to select S60 over C180/BMW318/VW Passat/Skoda Super/C5/508, etc as it is value for money and not so common on the road.

Having previously owned an S60 2.0T, I was eager to try out the new S60 which has taken a dynamic design theme on the exterior. However, once inside the cockpit, I was all too familiar with the usual switches and layout tilted towards the driver. The DNA from S80 was very prominently present. Apart from the small screen for controls and GPS, as well as the lack of a child lock button switch usually found on the driver's door, the interior remain as first class Swedish treat especially the anti whip-lash front seats.

Stepping on the accelerator, the torque from the engine is immediately felt and only a feather light touch is required to keep the car happily humming along. Prodding the right foot half way brings immediate downshift making overtaking a breeze.

Fortunately the S60 did not suffer from the low rev hesitation present in the new Jetta TSi, making it a joy to drive both in bumper to bumper traffic and cut-and-thrust traffic situation.

Unfortunately, my test route did not include the highway to test the high end torque and horsepower. But I would expect this gentlemen's luxury sedan would not disappoint.

I am fortunate to have to chance to take a look at the car before its official launch sometime back and I must say that it completely removed the pre-notion of Volvo being a safe but yet boring car in terms of design and comfort.

From the promo pics you see online, one will not be able to guage the actual size of the car (probably the color of the car being used). In reality, this car (in the flesh) has a significant presence compared to cars of similar class. The sharp and muscular lines give the driver an impression of a well built and solid car (without the boring, squarish Volvo DNA). Gone also are the coffin tail lights which was a signature trademark of the previous S60.

On the inside, it is extremely comfortable. For cars of similar classes, I initially placed the seats of the Lexus IS250 to be one of the most comfortable and hugging. However, I am very impressed by the plush seats of the new S60 as well as the ergonomic designs of the car. Controls are within reach and the drivers view is excellent.

There are many notable functions of this car but some of the ones which stands out is this thingy which will auto break the car for you when it senses something in front of the car. That's provided if you are is of a certain speed. For the rest of the features, I suggest that you take a look at the dedicated S60 website which is rather cool and also, you will find that their branding and DNA is strating to change to attract the sporty and stylish. The rock music for the ad is 'Last Look at Eden' from the bang Europe, just in case you guys are wondering.

Cheers!

Being a owner of a 2.5T S80, i was interested in trying out the all new S60. First and foremost, they threw the front of the XC60 onto the S60, and it looks really good. Styling wise is typical of volvo: sensible, yet nothing to shout about. there are two varients of the S60, the 2.0T and the T6 version which has a 3L engine and AWD.

the interior is basically typical volvo stuff once again, with the centre console this time tilted towards the driver. the beige seats might be hard to maintain, but are pleasing to the eye. back leg room is decent, for a 1.7m tall person like myself. however for larger people they might find it a little cramp. no complaints here though as it is sufficient, and the seats are comfortable as usual.

volvo claims that the S60 is their sportiest sedan yet, while i have to agree, they should do something about the steering qualities. while it's good in a luxury sedan like the S80, driving a sporty car you would want to feel more feedback and unfortunately the S60 doesnt provide that thrill.

the engine has good pick up speeds and is still silky smooth as ever. sound insulation is top notch in the S60, and the stereo speakers are absolutely superb.

safety wise is top notch. you get a whole range of preventive measures along with the car. although i still believe in the driver himself keeping in control of the car, there are times where human reaction is just not enough to prevent an accident. that's where the computers and come in. i like the adaptive breaking in particular. and while other cars might have this system too, im very sure no car in the S60's price range comes with it.

Overall the S60 is a good inclusion to the volvo family. It attracts many glances on the road too. Pity the volvo market is not very big in Singapore and resale value might not be there. however if you like car that is not the usual audi or bmws you see on the road, with the comfort and drive experience of traditional continental standards, the S60 is definitely one to consider.