The S60R has a clever party trick up its otherwise predictable performance saloon sleeve that even Citroen would be jealous of. On the dash there are three switches that read Comfort, Sport and Advanced. These are suspension settings that give the driver a choice, a choice to make his or her passenger feel ‘comfortable’, ‘a bit car sick’ or ‘violently ill’.
Seriously, though, the high performance Volvo can be set up to meet the needs of the most accomplished driver. Comfort allows the car’s suspension soak up all the bumps while Sport mode stiffens the whole car up a bit making the S60 feel like a Gti.
The six-speed gearbox is gorgeous to look at but the clutch remains heavy (it has to, I suppose, with 300 bhp to deal with). The engine is a 2.5 litre five cylinder turbo-charged unit that delivers serious pulling power through a Haldex all wheel drive system. Sixty comes up in just 5.5 seconds.
Leather seats and the usual Volvo bits and pieces make the interior a pleasant place to be, and when that little bit of grunt is needed to safely overtake, the power is there is spadefuls. My test car was a highly visible light turquoise and not a colour I would recommend.
The huge alloys look the part but be wary of high kerbs when parking. ‘R’ Volvos are great and loved by petrol-heads everywhere as they combine safety and power in a socially acceptable package. The four-wheel drive set up is subtle and very competent.
Having driven the ‘R’s cousin on ice inside the Arctic Circle in 2002 (surviving to tell the tale), I have to admit a soft spot for the S60. Top speed is limited to 155 mph. Volvo S60 ‘R’ sells at €57,886
-Michael Sheridan
RTÉ Guide
