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The C30 feels busy over small bumps, and the big tyres on those handsome 18in rims feed a surprising level of noise into the cockpit on anything less than very smooth asphalt, which is a shame. I’d happily trade a little of the handling’s edge for smoother progress, especially as the soft throttle action and long gearing (over 100mph in third) give the C30 a leisurely gait. A car that looks so different – inside and out – to the fast-hatch herd should have the confidence to follow its own dynamic agenda too. – evo

Rumour has it Volvo will unveil its XC 60 crossover at the detroit show in Jan. I expect it will be based on the same major components as Land Rover’s new Freelander replacement (a derivation of the platform that underpins the new S80).

Once on the move, the turbo wakes up and delivers blister-ing pace right up to the 6,800rpm red line. The sensation of limitless acceleration is outstanding – you feel as if you are only keeping pace with the car is by retaining a tight grip on the bulky steering wheel! The only trouble is getting traction. With all that torque on offer, the front wheels are prone to spinning, even in second gear if you’re too heavy-footed. As a result, the ESP stability control has to work overtime – AutoExpress

Volvo will release its heavily revised S60 this July, and claims the car will better to drive than ever. The manufacturer says virtually the entire suspension system of the car has been upgraded in a bid to stop the steering being tugged to and fro under hard acceleration. Revised settings for Sport models also mean a more nimble driving experience, Volvo says. – What Car?

New front and rear shock absorbers, springs, anti-roll bars and bushes all aim to provide a sportier drive, something that has alluded even the S60 R until now.Those shock absorbers are 24 per cent stiffer and are said by Volvo to increase the S60’s torsional rigidity {I believe they mean roll stiffness?] by 25 per cent. Solid steering bushes are to reduce torque steer and improve steering feel.Volvo claims that the S60’s ride quality has been maintained. – Autocar

I’ve always been more critical of steering than of any other control because you’re using it every moment the car’s in motion, but it wasn’t until I injured my back a few years back that I became more sensitive to seat support and ingress/egress.

It astounds me that given how integral the comfort of the driving position is to the connectedness and relaxation you feel behind the wheel that its so rarely mentioned in the media. Perhaps that’s why so many of today’s cars have inexcusably poor seats, visibility or ways of entry and exit.

Last month I spent time behind the wheel of three cars on extended road trips – the $16K Suzuki SX4, a $30K Pontiac Grand Prix and a $20K Hyundai Sonata and of all the things that made an impression it was the seat comfort. Read the rest of this entry »

Carmakers love to talk big about their products, and occasionally their PR or marketing arms do a great job of convincing the public that they can have their cake and eat it too.

Claims about normally conflicting qualities such as ride and handling, performance and efficiency and build quality and price are often made but the only way to provide the customer with both is to spend money on R&D and let the engineers rather than the accountants steer the company. You the consumer can’t get something for nothing unless the manufacturer’s footing the bill…

In an age when companies are spending more on marketing than engineering, I found it noteworthy that Volvo has decided to spend $1.3 billion on developing technologies to increase fuel economy.

...’Four-C’ adaptive dampers with comfort, sport or ‘advanced’ settings [are available] but the differences aren’t huge. You can also have power steering adjustable to three levels of assistance, but the feel is artificial in all of them… In some ways the new in-line six, matched to front-wheel drive, is more pleasing… Furnishings? The matt wood looks either Scandi-cool or plastic according to your viewpoint… The rear doors shut with a surprising clang, the column stalks feel hollow, the climate control makes the cabin too stuffy. It’s a well-made car, and that ‘floating’ centre console adds to the internal airiness, but compared with German rivals the quality is skin-deep. – evo

Commentary: Traditionally when GM buys a brand, it invariably forces engineers to use existing parts and runs the company into the ground. In contrast Ford tends to supply companies it takes over with the money needed for R&D required to improve product dynamics and quality.

The S80’s platform will serve as the basis of a number of new models in Ford’s global line-up… I can’t help but wonder if this car’s lack of attention to detail, like that in the Fustion and the Miata, are a harbinger of the kind of products we’ll be seeing from Ford and its sub-brands until the corporation is less preoccupied with its shaky financial footing…

The steering doesn’t like you mixing acceleration with cornering – if you do, the self-centring goes all wobbly and it hunts cambers. To be fair, though, it’s night-and-day better than the appallingly mannered, old C70. ...it’s too stand-offish for any intimate bond to form. Besides the jellification of the ride caused by the shimmies of the bodywork – something that every saloon-based cabrio suffers and this one suffers less than most – the C70’s suspension has the rubbery feeling that characterises every Volvo. It’s not hard, the ride, but it never settles. Turbulent might be the best word. Volvo engineers must like it this way, because they’re sharing the same fundamental hardware as several Fords, cars with superbly judged suspensions. Well, the Swedish engineers might like it, and for all I know their customers might like it too, but I don’t. It’s not just a comfort thing, it’s that the car never feels entirely precise. It’s blurred, out of sync with itself. – Top Gear’s Paul Horrell

Along with large wheels, front wheel drive, small windows, vague steering, seating placed in crumple zones and unidirectional tires we’ve always hoped the SUV was a trend that would someday go the way of the dodo.

While we don’t agree with their choice of contenders, we think this list of rankings from a recent Motor Trend comparison points to a trend in comparison tests performed over the years between wagons and SUVs: wagons are more pleasurable to drive. That this test ranks a wagon based on the dynamically mediocre Volvo S60 ahead of SUVs based on the nimble and connected Legacy and CTS says a lot, as does the fact that the test didn’t include any of the more trucky body on frame designs that litter our roads.

And until the laws of physics come crashing down or Ferrari or Maclaren make an SUV, we’d bet that will continue to be the case…