| 2011 Volvo S60 vs 2011 BMW 3 Series | August 24, 2010 | AUTORIVALS.NET |
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| It's too early to tell how Volvo's
new owner (Geely) will impact their vehicles but the new S60
makes its way onto the showroom after being in development under
the previous owner (Ford). The S60 has managed to come out close
to the concept car's design shown in 2009 with a modern, fresh
look that is the new face of Volvo. It'll have a hard time
winning the hearts of buyers though as the main competitor is
the BMW 3 Series which has long been considered the finest
automobile in its class. Volvo is determined though packing the
S60 with a punch including a 300-horsepower, turbocharged
inline-six and AWD that matches or betters the 3 Series
depending on what trim you're looking at. The one thing Volvo still has going for it is safety. Volvo's new Pedestrian Detection debuts on the S60 which theoretically can stop the car automatically without driver input in case the driver isn't paying attention. I say theoretically because demonstrations have proved to be unassuring (see notes below) but hopefully the kinks have been worked out. It works by using a radar located in the grille and a camera located in the rearview mirror that detect objects in the car's path and stops the car from up to 21 mph. At speeds higher than 21 mph, the car reduces speed automatically but not completely. The 3 Series underwent a modest makeover in 2009 that brought new head and taillights, hood and trunk, and front and rear fascias. There's nothing new since then but BMW may be focusing on the upcoming 2012 redesign instead. |
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| 2011 Volvo S60 | vs | 2011 BMW 3 Series |
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| Volvo has transformed the S60 into
a modern, stylish sedan. There's a mixture of curvature and
indentations that you wouldn't typically find on a Volvo.
There's a pair of separate turn signals
similar to the Volvo XC60 but they seem like an unnecessary detail. It's almost as if Volvo is
trying too hard to look too modern. The wide grille up front
gives the S60 a wide, low stance for a sportier look, unlike
Volvos of the past. They may have woken up to the fact that
style sells more now than safety. The 3 Series has had no problems with style (unlike the previous generation 5 and 7 Series). It was designed under the Bangle era (BMW's former design chief) where 'flame surfacing' was the design theme. It's most evident in the hood and front fascia and after five years, the 3 Series still looks handsome today. The 3 Series managed to remain unscathed by any controversial bits like a 'Bangle butt' or wing-tipped headlights. It just remained a chic, attractive sedan. |
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| The S60 wins in profile design
adopting the coupe-like silhouette that's rapidly gaining
popularity. And although the 3 Series was designed before the
sedan-coupe fusion craze, there's no sign that the next 3 Series
will implement it either. It should remain a traditional sedan
like this generation which might please traditional BMW
enthusiasts. For others that care more about style than
tradition, the Volvo S60 has its strengths. Along with the
rakish roofline, there's wide shoulders that gives it a sense of
athleticism and muscularity. The S60's proportions are balanced with similarly-sized front and rear overhangs compared to the forward stance of the 3 Series. The S60 is 3-inches longer than the 3 Series but doesn't seem to make good use of the added length. Inside, the Bimmer manages slightly better head and leg room for front and rear passengers and trunk space is equal. |
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| The appeal of incorporating coupe
profiles into a sedan is ever apparent in the S60. The roofline
leads straight in the rear with elegant curvature. It's a wonder
why it took so long for automakers to incorporate this design
but I guess
we can all thank Mercedes for it. There's something unusual
though when you get past the roofline. When looking at the S60's rear, the
Honda Civic is the first thing that comes to mind. Granted it's
not exactly the same but there are some striking similarities.
In any case, it looks rather good and matches the rest of the
S60's modern design. The rear end makeover the 3 Series received in 2009 was a welcomed change. The previous egg-shaped taillights have been replaced with a better-looking design similar to the new 5 and 7 Series. Not much else was changed but there's still some nice touches such as the integrated tailpipes and sculpted trunklid. |
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| Looking at the S60's interior, you get the sense that the interior designers didn't plan ahead. The center HVAC vents are just randomly placed wherever there was space available. Volvo has also seemed to copy the Hyundai Sonata's HVAC button styled as a person. The gauges however, are handsomely designed featuring digital readouts inside. In the center console lies a navigation screen available in 5- or 7-inch sizes. It also displays audio and cell phone hookup and is controlled via buttons below the screen, on the steering wheel, or even a remote control. One more thing the screen can show is a 180-degree visual from a camera located in the front grille for blind corners or rear camera for parking. There's no iDrive or equivalent system like on the BMW but that may be blessing depending on how techno-savvy you are or aren't. There's still a few options though such as parking sensors and adaptive cruise control that sets a predetermined gap and can bring the car to a complete stop (hopefully) which would be perfect for traffic situations. | ||
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PROS +Modern design +Smooth silhouette +Broad shoulders CONS -Misplaced front turn signals -Random dashboard design |
PROS +Traditional styling with a dash of curves +'Flame surfacing' hood CONS -Perhaps a little too traditional that could use some flair |
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| Video Source: KBB.com via YouTube | Video Source: Car and Driver via YouTube |
| Volvo's Pedestrian Detection Demonstration | |
| There's a number of things wrong with this demonstration. First and foremost, the car crashes obviously. Never a good sign. But secondly, the air bags didn't deploy. Air bags usually deploy at speeds anywhere above 10 to 16 mph. Although we can't be sure at what speed the S60 in the demonstration was going, it seemed fast enough and damaging enough that air bags would be needed. Third, there's smoke or more likely, steam from the radiator coming out after impact. Doesn't say a whole lot about build quality. And last but not least, the wipers turn on after impact. Because if you do get an accident, it's good to make sure your windshield is clear. | |
| Video Source: wired.co.uk via YouTube | |
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