Volvo

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Get that Mitsubishi ‘orf my land!

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Beautiful, sunny Saturday in the Cotswolds. The farm is buzzing with activity and the rumble of a Land Rover is never far away. Not for much longer though – the Defender is no more.

So what will replace it? Well, nothing can really but for the ‘Glossy possy’ in Gloucestershire have transferred their affections to Mitsubishi instead.

This has been aided by the fact that the UK arm of the company is based in Cirencester. Waitrose is packed with Shoguns and Outlanders.

And because the L200 has huge, go-anywhere capability, as well as old school 4×4 charm, it’s perfect for towing their horse boxes and shooting gear.

However, I fear the Barbarian we have on test this week is just a little too bling for Pippa and her pony. The mood lighting and leather won’t last long on a ‘shire’ hunting trip.

So, with that in mind, if you are in the market for a serious off-roader, save yourself some money and go for the basic, entry-level L200. It will do everything you need on the farm…

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The Volvo S60 is that little bit different – unless you want to be in the BMW club of course

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We test around 50 cars a year and occasionally there are surprises – the Volvo S60 is one of them.

It may not have the cache of a BMW 3 Series, or an Audi A4 but the S60 is a fine car that deserves to be considered.

The overall driving experience falls slightly short of its German rivals but the Volvo more than makes up for that with excellent build quality, a raft of safety equipment and a brilliant cabin.

Seat comfort is exceptional, the latest D4 engine munches up miles using the minimum of diesel, and it’s probably the most dynamic Volvo you can buy – bar the very expensive Polestar versions.

So, our advice is go drive one. You’ll be pleasantly surprised – and have the joy of owning something that little bit different…

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Volvo S60’s crash detection system is driving me round the bend..

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It’s blowing a gale here in the Cotswolds – oddly there isn’t an alarm in the S60 for high winds and debris on the road because it seems to have a warning system for everything else!

And the alarm I like least is the ‘collision warning system’ that flashes a line of red lights along the bottom of the windscreen when an impending ‘head-on’ looms.

This is obviously a sound idea – in most situations. However, if you are passing around a sweeping bend in the Volvo and a parked vehicle is detected by the roadside, the alarm goes off.

This is quite disturbing, annoying and extremely distracting. I’m not sure how Volvo can solve the problem but it’s happened three times this week already….

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Like Sepp Blatter, the Volvo S60 is a tough one to catch…

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Our S60 D4 has been loaded with so many extras it almost tops out at more than the S60 R-Design Polestar – the rather swift petrol version.

However, I would suggest the D4 will be more than enough for most people – especially as it’s not only rapid but frugal, returning 46mpg despite a heavy right foot.

I can’t say it out BMWs a 3 Series but this is a pretty decent effort from the Swedes. And it’s every inch as easy on the eye as the benchmark German saloon.

There’s not enough feel from the steering, or driver-focussed appeal but like Sepp Blatter, it’s a tough one to catch…

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Volvo is safety first, second and third…

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Which manufacturer makes the safest cars in the world? Well, we all know that Volvo is among the best.

When Car Couture was invited to the company’s crash test facility in Sweden recently, we were told that by 2020, Volvo cars wouldn’t be the cause of any accident fatalities.

That’s a tough one to follow through on but judging by the amount of standard safety equipment in the S60, it may well be the case.

It has a full package of airbags, side impact protection and anti-whiplash headrests. Oh and a low speed, anti-collision system for city driving.

The driver alert warning system can be annoying at time, as can lane departure warning system, but the blind spot warning lights by the door mirrors should be compulsory on all cars…

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A Volvp to rival the BMW 3 Series? You better believe it…

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Well, I never expected that. A Volvo to take on the over-inflated ego of the BMW 3 Series – you’d better believe it.

Within moments of climbing inside our 181bhp D4 test car, I knew this was a sleeping giant of a compact saloon that could rival the best of Germany.

Now, I wouldn’t say the S60 has the looks and chic of the BMW but it does boast an understated elegance – especially in white with some rather nifty, 18-inch alloys.

No, it’s not as cute but get behind the wheel and the D4 absolutely flies. It’s a revelation, a genuine contender is this sector and I’m looking forward to the next seven days a lot more than a few hours ago when I checked my diary to see what car was due this week…

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I don’t have a family, so I can admire the XC60 from afar and buy an inappropriate Maserati instead…

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For once I seem to be in the right test car for the weather conditions. Usually I have a rear-wheel drive BMW for ice (appalling), an MX-5 two-seater to go on holiday with a passenger AND dog (tight), or a bog standard saloon on a hot day when a convertible would be perfect (boring).

The point is that even with the keys to a candy shop of cars, it’s difficult to plan ahead and choose the right one. In Britain, spring can be a snow-fest, or a mini scorcher. It’s the only good reason to live by the Med, where the weather is always the same.

Which is probably why in 2015, car buyers seem to want multi-purpose vehicles that do everything. A one-size-fits-all, off the peg motor that takes every day in its stride, and whatever you throw at it.

While the XC60 is never going to set your pulse racing, it’s a brilliant family SUV. Fortunately, I don’t have a family to ship around, so I can admire it from afar, tell my friends it’s perfect for their kids – then go and buy an inappropriate Maserati instead….

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If George Osbourne Brings In A Tax On Heated Steering Wheels Then I’m In Trouble

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If George Osbourne ever decides to bring in a draconian tax on heated steering wheels then I’m in big trouble. I’ve been driving around all week with the thing on – it could spell the end of string-backed driving gloves for good.

And I know Volvo wasn’t the first because Lexus and Range Rover have had them for years – although Lexus messed it up in some of their models by making part of their steering wheel from wood, which actually doesn’t heat up . What were they thinking?

Perhaps like most of you, I thought a heated steering wheel was just a gimmick at first but after a couple of days, you just can’t live without one – especially in the UK cold snap we’re experiencing at present.

So here are my other favourite cold weather features on cars. The Air Scarf in Mercedes SLK that blows warm air onto the back of your neck (brilliant!) and the heater that turns itself on in a Volvo so that the vehicle is warm before you get to it (fantastic).

Any other ideas?

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Slip Sliding Away In A Volvo – But All You Need To Know Is That The XC60 Has A Heated Steering Wheel!…

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Yes, as you can see, the trip down the village lane took on an extra dimension this morning. All I can say is thank God I wasn’t in a rear-wheel drive BMW (why are they so bad in the snow?).

The hill is far steeper than it looks but it’s the kind of morning when smug people in SUVs just love to rub road salt into your two-wheel drive only wounds.

Of course, not all the school run mums have worked out that four-wheel drive can still come unstuck on ice. You could have six-wheel drive and still slide off the road by travelling too fast. I’ve never seen a Ford Kuga on its roof before. Still no improvement on the styling…

So today I was one of the smug few. Even on standard road tyres the XC60 has more than enough traction and ground clearance to do the job.

Oh and it also has the ultimate cold weather solution – a heated steering wheel. Bliss….

 

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Volvo XC60 – Now You Can Stay On High Beam ALL The Time And Not Bling Oncoming Drivers…

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Weird as it might sound, Volvo has developed a headlight system that allows you to drive on full beam all the time – even when there is another car approaching.

Active High Beam isn’t a pipe dream – it’s already fitted to various Volvos, including the XC60 we’re driving this week.

How does it work? Well, the headlights stay on high beam even when another car is approaching but the system prevents dazzle by only shading out as much of your beam as necessary.

It also recognises pedestrians and cyclists, so they aren’t blinded either (although it doesn’t always work for those on foot, or cyclists without lights in our experience!).

The system takes a little getting used to because you instantly want to dip when another vehicle approaches and you can still see ‘high beam’ all around their car. However, I soon got used to it.

The perfect lighting solution? Hmm, the only bugger is that you can’t easily flash oncoming drivers who haven’t dipped their headlights and blind you. Solve that one Volvo!