We are on the cusp of a minor revolution at Volvo. A set of new Drive-E powertrains, updated models and all-new offerings are almost here. Despite the new technology, increased efficiency and updated styling, one key pillar of Volvo will remain: safety.
SEE ALSO: 2013 Volvo S60 T6 R-Design Review – Video
And we don’t just mean from a crash-safety standpoint either. Volvos are designed to help the driver avoid an accident as much as survive one. So it should come as no surprise that a manufacturer hailing from a Scandinavian country would know a thing or two about winter safety. More than that, Volvos seem to just laugh off treacherous, miserable winter conditions in a way many other vehicles cannot. Here are five reasons why.
The cornerstone of the 2014 Volvo S60 T6 AWD is the ‘Instant Traction’ Haldex all-wheel drive system. In dry conditions the system sends the majority of the 3.0 liter turbocharged inline-six’s 300 hp and 325 lb-ft of torque to the front wheels. However, the instant wheel slip is detected up front, power is sent to the rear wheels to maintain traction and stability.
Combined with Volvo’s standard stability control and traction control, it is hard to get the S60 upset when driving in sloppy weather. As long as speeds are kept in check, the car will negotiate even the slipperiest of corners without much drama. As hard as we tried to unsettle the S60, the Volvo would quickly counter our efforts and maintain safe forward progress.
Part of the problem when the weather turns foul is visibility. And this doesn’t just mean the driver’s visibility, but also ensuring other motorists can see the car as well. The first part of this is covered in spades by the Volvo S60 T6 thanks to the optional active dual xenon headlights with active high beam. On roads where high snowbanks blocked visibility around corners, having the headlights bend around the corner really helps with outward visibility at night.
To ensure our white test vehicle didn’t blend in with these snowbanks to other driver’s eyes, full LED marker lights can be found around the entire car. By making all of the lights LEDs, there is less of a chance of one of these lights burning out and making that portion of the car invisible when the weather gets nasty. Speaking of which, being a European vehicle, our S60 also came equipped with a bright rear fog light to help other drivers see the Volvo more easily during a storm.
Even with the temperatures dipping below -4 Fahrenheit some mornings, our S60 would start up without issue on first crank. Simply hit the start button and the car roars to life. Better yet, unlike a lot of vehicles, neither the engine nor transmission suffered from any unusual sounds, quirks or performance issues when operating at these temperatures. From cold start to reaching the proper operating range, the S60 was flawless.
The heated windshield included in the technology package also ensures the windshield wiper would unfreeze, making it fully operational when called into duty to remove the wintery muck splattering on the windshield. This is a great feature for the highway portion of our daily drive.
Ok, so the car is fine in stupid-cold weather, but the occupants are not. Good news, the cabin doesn’t stay that cold for long. Unlike some vehicles that hail from countries unaccustomed to frigid conditions, the Swedes know what real cold is like and have developed a climate control system that makes short work of it.
Within minutes, the S60 would begin blowing warm air into the cabin and full heat was reached shortly there afterwards. Some test vehicles we have sampled this unusually cold winter have took upwards of 15-20 minutes to heat up inside. We were turning the S60’s climate control down by that time.
Taking the quick acting climate control’s comfort to another level, our S60 featured the climate package that adds four seat heaters that not only warm up quickly, but feel like they could fry an egg if left on too long. Our frozen rears appreciated this fast-acting seat heater, but not as much as our hands loved the heated steering wheel. Quickly becoming one of our favorite features on a vehicle, the heating steering wheel makes gripping frozen leather to control a cars direction a thing of the past.
With an as tested price of $49,215, the S60 T6 AWD Platinum isn’t exactly cheap. But it is an all-year around car that is packed with the latest technology, looks gorgeous thanks to the 2014 refresh and of course is safe. Plus, an AWD model starts at just $40,165 after destination charges if one is a little more restrained in the option department. However, we would suggest splurging the $1,550 for the climate package if this car is intended to be a winter warrior – your fingers and buttocks will thank you.
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