Road Test; 2012 Volvo S60 T6 R-Design

For the past few decades, Volvo seemed content is identified as a risk-adverse suburban mobile - more concerned with how safe the cars to shuttle children to school rather than how it stifles neutral from the top. But that has changed recently, and the boxy 240 and 760 tanks in the past have been replaced by swoopish saloons. And with the S60 T6 R-Design, the company will focus on entry-level luxury sedans like the Audi A4, BMW 3-Series and Lexus IS.

Visually, no offensive detail, inside or outside. A subtle character line extends over the side profile of the car, and the lower rocker panel crease (a design feature so common that borders on cliché) helps the S60 look trim and athletic. The luxurious interior is appropriate for its segment, with tasteful accents and matte aluminum finished plastics. The leather seats pamper the occupants with a balance of comfort and support. And it's a dream cruise - the cabin remains quiet, even at the approach of triple-digit speeds, undisturbed by kinks and bends in the road. But although in line with the Bavarian competition in refinement, interior still seems a bit too cold, it's typically Scandinavian, and those used to the seductive lines of the Audi A4 can find the S60 also industrial.

Whether you're a fan of the quirky or aesthetics, ergonomics probably a disappointment. Most of the climate control, audio and navigation controls are clustered in an intuitive keyboard layout, and it is a driving distraction if you can not figure out which function is true, a colleague did not even know the car had a navigation system to I pointed it out. Even if you have the nav system detects, the performance paragraph. A smart phone is a better route map, and the controls are needlessly worried. Also describes the main features buried - after much digging, I discovered that it is possible to turn off the stability control system, or at least set to sport mode.

Fortunately, the driving dynamics fare better. While it’s no 3-Series killer on the turns, the S60’s chassis feels composed, and the tail faithfully rotates around corners even with traction control on, thanks to the responsive AWD. When pushed, however, there’s enough body roll to discourage at-the-limit driving. But it’s not a car meant to be flogged in turns — and to be fair, most would never push a Infiniti G37 or a BMW 335i that hard, either.

Power delivery is a mixed bag. With 354 ft-lbs of torque, the 3.0-liter V-6 has enough pull to quash any notions of Volvos being stodgy; turbo lag, if any, is imperceptible, and revs climb vigorously right to redline. Spirited acceleration, however, is soured by finicky throttle mapping. Lightly press the gas and it crawls off the line like a skittish mom in a Volvo 850 wagon. Add a touch more gas it lurches forward like a teenager on a learning permit. And woe to your neck if you put it in the 6-speed Geartronic automatic’s sport mode — mini-bouts of whiplash are inevitable on tip-in.

Although it may be underwhelming to hardcore sports sedan aficionados, that’s not to say the S60 T6 R-Design is a bad car. For the most part, it’s an enjoyable cruiser, one that’s content to stay under the radar. But at this price point, it’s the little things that make the difference. And at a tested price of $46,875, there are too many foibles to make this a stand-out over the already-crowded sports luxury sedan field.