Road Test: 2012 Volvo S60 T6 R-Design

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For the past couple decades, Volvo seemed content being known as a risk-adverse suburban mobile – more concerned with how safely its cars can shuttle kids to school rather than how neutral it throttles out of the apex. But that’s changed recently, and the boxy 240 or 760 tanks of the past have been replaced with swoopish saloons. And with the Volvo S60 T6 R-Design, the company takes aim at entry-level luxury sedans such as the Audi A4, BMW 3 Series, and Lexus IS.

Visually there’s no objectionable detail, inside or out. A subtle character line stretches across the side profile of the car, and the lower rocker panel crease (a design trait so commonplace it borders on cliché) helps make the S60 appear trim and athletic. Its interior is fittingly luxurious for its segment, with tasteful aluminum accents and matte-finished plastics. The leather seats coddle occupants with a balance of comfort and support. And it’s a dream to cruise in — the cabin remains hushed even when approaching triple-digit speeds, undisturbed by kinks and bends in the road. But although on par with the Bavarian competition in refinement, the interior design still seems a bit too cold; it’s quintessentially Scandinavian, and those who are used to the alluring lines of the Audi A4 may find the S60 too industrial.

Whether you’re a fan of the quirky aesthetics or not, the ergonomics will likely be a letdown. The bulk of the climate control, audio and navigation buttons are clustered in an unintuitive keypad layout, and it’s a driving distraction when you can’t figure out which function is where; one colleague didn’t even realize the car had a navigation system until I pointed it out. Even when you’ve discovered the nav system, its performance is subpar. A smart phone could map a better route, and the controls are needlessly fussy. Also, key features are buried — after lots of digging, I discovered that it’s possible to turn off the stability control system, or at least set it to sport mode.

Fortunately, the driving dynamics fare better. While it’s no 3-Series killer on the turns, the S60’s chassis feels composed, and the tail faithfully rotates around corners even with traction control on, thanks to the responsive AWD. When pushed, however, there’s enough body roll to discourage at-the-limit driving. But it’s not a car meant to be flogged in turns — and to be fair, most would never push a Infiniti G37 or a BMW 335i that hard, either.

Power delivery is a mixed bag. With 354 ft-lbs of torque, the 3.0-liter V-6 has enough pull to quash any notions of Volvos being stodgy; turbo lag, if any, is imperceptible, and revs climb vigorously right to redline. Spirited acceleration, however, is soured by finicky throttle mapping. Lightly press the gas and it crawls off the line like a skittish mom in a Volvo 850wagon. Add a touch more gas it lurches forward like a teenager on a learning permit. And woe to your neck if you put it in the 6-speed Geartronic automatic’s sport mode — mini-bouts of whiplash are inevitable on tip-in.

Although it may be underwhelming to hardcore sports sedan aficionados, that’s not to say the S60 T6 R-Design is a bad car. For the most part, it’s an enjoyable cruiser, one that’s content to stay under the radar. But at this price point, it’s the little things that make the difference. And at a tested price of $46,875, there are too many foibles to make this a stand-out over the already-crowded sports luxury sedan field.