Volvo S60 T4 2011 review

We still can't get over the fact that the medium size Volvo S60 T4 luxury sedan has a 1.6-litre engine. Albeit it's turbocharged, but it sure doesn't feel like a little 1.6. Except when your visits to the servo are once in a blue moon.

Volvo is party to the worldwide trend towards smaller capacity, high-tech, force-fed petrol engines to replace larger gas guzzlers. If this is the way of the future, then bring it on.

The direct injection engine, a blood brother to the 2.0-litre in T5 Volvos, sees duty in other cars with and without turbocharging and is a crackerjack good for 132kW/240Nm output. Fuel consumption is a handy 7.2-litres/100km and has been hovering around that mark for the past six weeks of our "ownership." Better still is the price which Volvo pitches at $51,990.

KIT

This money gets you plenty of kit including luxury, safety and performance equipment. You can specify what type of dynamics you prefer - Touring or Dynamic and the electronic safety stuff such as stability control has sports modes. Ours has the Touring suspension which adds extra comfort.

COMFORTS

We have grown to appreciate the leather seats electrically adjustable for the driver, and pollen filtration system that knocks out diesel smoke from the ventilation system. The audio system is impressive and we can't see why you'd spend the extra on an upgrade. You only have two ears after all.

SAFETY

Safety equipment is manifold and includes City Safety that helps prevent rear enders in traffic. The car gets a five star crash rating and has dynamics capable of avoiding a collision in the first place. Though the "base model" the T4 has stylish 17-inch alloys and a quality "European" look to its flanks. The boot is large and there's plenty of room inside.

VERDICT

What's not to like?