Volvo S60 D2 Review: Not dirty but sexy

What we like:

Extremely long range with a theoretical range over 1

500 kilometres

What we dislike:

Senseless diesel road tax that is 80% higher than the petrol 1.6-litre S60 T4.

In the bends, the steering is accurate but lacks feel. However the turning is helped by the car’s torque vectoring system that brakes the inner wheel when cornering.

Sound insulation is quite commendable here as the S60 D2 keeps most of the diesel clatter insulated from the passenger cell. Road noise is also minimal even when cruising at highway speeds.

The S60 D2 gets a $15,000 CEVS rebate thanks to its extremely low carbon emissions at just 115g/km compared to its petrol sibling’s $5,000 rebate. This translates to a list price of $194,000 for the D2, as opposed to the $214,000 for the T4 1.6-litre.

However the CEVS are neutralized by the higher taxation LTA places on diesel cars. Road tax is still quite significant at $1,344/year for the D2 while its petrol driven sibling enjoys a much more reasonable figure at $742/year.

However, the S60 D2 will make sense if you’re a regular mile muncher with regular driving trips up North. And with a theoretical range of 1,566 kilometres, you could drive up to Penang (700km away) and back without breaking a sweat.

Credits: Story and Photos by Benjamin G. Kline