Articles by Matt Campbell

What a shame the deal fell through...

Volvo could be first brand in Australia with a manufacturer-backed subscription service.

Polestar 1 won't come, but Polestar 2 is a lock for 2020 in Australia.

The Volvo range will see the addition of its first fully-electric model - the XC40 EV - in 2020. And it's coming to Australia!

The Volvo range is now more affordable to own, with slashed pricing for service plans.

The all-new Volvo S60 is a gorgeous sedan - but there's more to it than just good looks. This new mid-size model follows a successful path from the Swedish brand in recent years, and as a result, it could well have Audi, BMW and Mercedes covered in this part of the market.

The entry point to the Volvo S60 2020 model range is the Momentum variant.This entry-level model is priced at $54,990 plus on-road costs, undercutting rival luxury models by thousands of dollars. It has 17-inch alloy wheels, LED headlights and tail-lights, a 9.0-inch multimedia touchscreen supporting Apple CarPlay and Android Auto as well as DAB+ digital radio, keyless entry, auto dimming rear vision mirror, auto dimming and auto folding wing-mirrors, dual-zone climate control and real leather trim on the seats and steering wheel.Safety equipment for all S60 models includes standard auto emergency braking (AEB) with pedestrian and cyclist detection, rear AEB, lane keeping assist with lane departure warning, blind spot monitoring with steering assist, rear cross-traffic alert, adaptive cruise control, and a reversing camera with front and rear parking sensors. The Momentum is available only with the T5 powertrain - a 2.0-litre four-cylinder turbocharged four-cylinder petrol engine with an eight-speed automatic with permanent all-wheel drive (AWD). The engine produces 187kW of power (at 5500pm) and 350Nm of torque (1800-4800rpm), and offers a claimed 0-100km/h sprint time of 6.4 seconds. Fuel use is claimed at 7.3 litres per 100 kilometres.

The most luxury-focused model in the Volvo S60 2020 model range is the Inscription variant, which has a list price of $60,990 plus on-road costs.It builds upon the extensive equipment offered in the Momentum grade with 19-inch alloy wheels, directional LED headlights with LED daytime running lights, four-zone climate control, wood interior highlights, ambient lighting, heated front seats with cushion extensions, and a 230-volt power outlet in the rear console.That’s on top of the standard LED tail-lights, a 9.0-inch multimedia touchscreen supporting Apple CarPlay and Android Auto as well as DAB+ digital radio, keyless entry, auto dimming rear vision mirror, auto dimming and auto folding wing-mirrors, dual-zone climate control and leather trim on the seats and steering wheel.Safety gear is extensive, too, with auto emergency braking (AEB) with pedestrian and cyclist detection, rear AEB, lane keeping assist with lane departure warning, blind spot monitoring with steering assist, rear cross-traffic alert, adaptive cruise control, and a reversing camera with front and rear parking sensors. The Inscription also has a head-up display, a 360-degree parking camera and auto-parking assist.The Inscription is available only with the T5 powertrain - a 2.0-litre four-cylinder turbocharged four-cylinder petrol engine with an eight-speed automatic with permanent all-wheel drive (AWD). The engine produces 187kW of power (at 5500pm) and 350Nm of torque (1800-4800rpm), and offers a claimed 0-100km/h sprint time of 6.4 seconds. Fuel use is claimed at 7.3 litres per 100 kilometres.

There are effectively two range-topping models in the Volvo S60 2020 range - and they both wear the R-Design badge.The more affordable is the T5 R-Design, which has a list price of $64,990 plus on-road costs. The more expensive (for a reason) is the T8 plug-in hybrid, which lists at $85,990 plus on-roads.The T5 represents a 2.0-litre turbocharged petrol four-cylinder engine with 192kW of power (at 5700rpm) and 400Nm of torque (1800-4800rpm) - that’s 5kW/50Nm more than the other T5 models. It uses an eight-speed auto, and has permanent AWD. Its 0-100km/h time is claimed at 6.3 seconds. Fuel consumption is claimed at 7.3L/100km.The T8 is a more tech-heavy powertrain. It also uses a 2.0-litre four-cylinder turbo engine (with 246kW of power and 430Nm of torque) that is paired it to an electric motor producing 65kW/240Nm. The combined outputs for this hybrid drivetrain equate to a phenomenal 311kW and 680Nm. The 0-100km/h time for this version of S60 R-Design is just 4.3sec! And because it has electric power that can run the car for 50 kilometres, fuel consumption is claimed at just 2.0L/100km.As for equipment, the T5 and T8 R-Design models are almost identical - though the T5 version gets Volvo’s Four-C adaptive chassis setup, which isn’t available on the T8.Otherwise, R-Design variants have ‘Polestar optimisation’ (a bespoke suspension tune from Volvo’s performance division), 19-inch alloys with a unique look, a sporty exterior and interior design pack with R-Design sports leather seats, paddle-shifters on the steering wheel, and mesh metal interior finishes.That’s on top of standard LED headlights, daytime running lights and tail-lights, a 9.0-inch multimedia touchscreen supporting Apple CarPlay and Android Auto as well as DAB+ digital radio, keyless entry, auto dimming rear vision mirror, auto dimming and auto folding wing-mirrors, dual-zone climate control and leather trim on the seats and steering wheel.Safety gear is extensive, too, with auto emergency braking (AEB) with pedestrian and cyclist detection, rear AEB, lane keeping assist with lane departure warning, blind spot monitoring with steering assist, rear cross-traffic alert, adaptive cruise control, and a reversing camera with front and rear parking sensors. The R-Design also has a head-up display, a 360-degree parking camera and auto-parking assist.

A smudge on our reputation?