SA Road Tests

Welcome

This is the home of automobile road tests in South Africa. We drive South African cars, SUVs and LCVs under South African conditions. It also just happens that most of the vehicles we drive are world cars as well, so what you read here possibly applies to the models you get at home.

Unlike most car reports, what you read in these pages will not be a faithful reproduction, albeit slightly reworded, of what appeared in the manufacturer's press release. We look for background material, user experience and whatever else we can find that's beyond the obvious. Our guiding rule is that you will be able to tell that the car was actually driven.

*To read one of our archived road tests, just select from the alphabetical menu of manufacturers' names on the left. Hover your cursor over the manufacturer's name, then choose from the drop-down menu that appears.

*Pre-owned: Our tests go back quite a few years, so if you are looking for something pre-owned, you might well find a report on it in here.

*Please remember too, that prices quoted are those ruling at the time the reports were written.


We discover what’s new in the 2015 Volvo S60 D4 R-Design

New engines, new features,  new future

Posted: 1 November 2014

Where do we begin? We drove the 2014 version of this car, but without the R-Design package, just over a month ago. Apart from evidently ‘enjoying’ this car more because the editorial right boot weighed more heavily, you might as well read all about this one in that review. Then average the fuel consumption numbers and leave it at that.

No? Then environmentally conscious taxpayers will appreciate that this car, with its D4 Drive-E motor (read our engine launch report here), officially averages 4.2 litres per hundred kilometres, while producing only 109 grams per kilometre of carbon dioxide. That renders it safe from pollution tax so you can happily thumb your teeth at Nhlanhla Nene who increased all your other fiscal burdens in his interim budget.

The R-Design package gives it a unique face with a dynamic, expressive nose. Its frameless Tech Matte Black grille has high-gloss black stripes, a silky metal diagonal and a refined R-Design emblem. Daytime running lights in the outer corners emphasise the car’s low, road-hugging stance while at the rear, special round tailpipes flank an R-Design diffuser with aero fins.

Eighteen-inch Ixion alloy wheels are standard, as is the Sport chassis that’s 10 mm lower than the Dynamic version on regular SA models. Springs and shock absorbers are set firmer while the McPherson struts have thicker piston rods, enabling the structure to better absorb lateral loads. At the rear, monotube dampers feature compression and return damping via the same valve. This gives shorter, faster, fluid flow which in turn means they respond more quickly. Finally, thicker anti-roll bars help to keep things even more level. These add up to a sporty drive that’s moderately firm without endangering your fillings.

Inside, there are luxurious sport seats providing added support; in either black Nubuck textile with perforated leather, or full perforated leather. By blending mock-perforated inlays, black leather and contrasting stitching, Volvo designers created a harmonious R-design interior crowned with black headlining. Stainless steel tread plates with bright blue ‘R' in the R-Design emblem, digital crystal driver’s display, aluminium sports pedals, sports gear knob and mats, and a leather sport steering wheel with aluminium inlays and logo, complete the look.

Sensus Connect is now standard on all Elite and R-Design derivatives and optional on most other models. So are the automatically dimming, frameless rear view mirror, free map updates on Sensus Navigation until 2025, extended service intervals, laminated safety glass across the range, the My Volvo website that’s tailored to each car, and Tracker Connect. A 5x130-Watt Harman Kardon sound system with 12 speakers is optional.

This connected infotainment system’s display echoes the theme colours, selected by the driver, appearing in the digital display and fits in seamlessly with the car’s interior design. It features an updated user interface with a number of innovative functions.

Its cloud-based services allow drivers a variety of conveniences such as finding new restaurants or seamlessly streaming favourite music. The driver can also choose to have text messages read out loud without taking his or her hands off the wheel. Available overseas and due here shortly, Connected Service Booking will help make life easier for Volvo drivers in the following ways:

When a service or some form of repair becomes due the car will alert you and request permission to book itself in. It is then up to the owner to let it proceed or to do it him- or herself; from the car or via the website. When the time comes to keep the appointment the car reminds you and offers route guidance should you need any.

And so you don’t have to try and describe to the service advisor how the car makes a sort of growly, mechanical, wheezing sound; but only on Tuesdays if it’s hot and then only in second gear, the car ‘telegraphs’ the correct diagnosis to the workshop ahead of the visit. So everyone saves time, you understand.

From MY15 all new South African Volvos are fitted with a Tracker SkyTrax unit as standard while owners of earlier cars can have it retrofitted. It includes a dedicated emergency number for urgent medical assistance or help with flat tyres, fuel, batteries, recovery- or accident towing, overnight accommodation, emergency transportation, repatriation or ‘Stand by You’ roadside security.

The unit features smartphone application, mileage monitoring, connected roadside assistance, impact detection and a Volvo Care Assist button. Entirely at no cost to the customer, it’s transferrable to subsequent owners if the vehicle is sold, because the cover is specific to each VIN. A plus is that customers can take advantage of the SkyTrax unit’s free fitting by choosing to increase service levels to include Stolen Vehicle Recovery at a reduced rate of R199 per month - with no minimum contract term.

Now for a couple of updates to our report on the S60 Elite, but equally relevant here: We figured out that the new eight-speed automatic is an Aisin-Warner AWF8F35 twin-clutch unit as fitted to Lexus and other makes. Compact, it fits into the same space occupied by the old six-speed unit. The extra gears enable a better spread of ratios to improve fuel efficiency and engine performance.

The second relates to our observation on the Catch-22 cycle of low local sales volumes leading to depressed resale value and resulting reluctant uptake. A recent Volvo bulletin announced 12.9-percent sales growth in Europe, 36.9-percent in China and six-percent in South Africa; despite depressed overall sales in this region. Much of the brand’s success, here and overseas, was attributed to S60 models and the cleaner, more efficient Drive-E engines. Perhaps, one day, Volvos will take their rightful place alongside the Big Three after all?

Test car from Volvo Cars SA press fleet

The numbers
Price: R463 700
Engine: 1969 cc, 16-valve, four cylinder turbodiesel
Power: 133 kW at 4250 rpm
Torque: 400 Nm between 1750 and 2500 rpm
Zero to 100 km/h: 7.4 seconds
Maximum speed: 230 km/h
Real life fuel consumption (see text): About 7.3 l/100 km
Tank: 68 litres
Boot: 302 litres with spacesaver spare wheel
Warranty and maintenance: 5 years/100 000 km; with roadside assistance
Servicing at 20 000 km intervals on all models
 

What We Do

This is a one-man show, which means that every car reviewed is given my personal evaluation and receives my own seat of the pants judgement - no second hand input here.
Every test car goes through real world driving; on city streets littered with potholes, speed bumps and rumble strips, on freeways and if its profile demands, dirt roads as well.

I do my best to include relevant information like real life fuel economy or a close mathematical calculation, boot size or luggage space, whether the space is both usable and accessible, whether life-sized people can use the back seat (where that applies), basic specs of the vehicle and performance figures if they are published. In the case of clearly identified launch reports, fuel figures are of necessity the laboratory numbers provided with the release material. If I ever place an article that doesn't cover most things, it's probably because I have dealt with that vehicle at least once already, so you will be able to find what you want in another report under the same manufacturer's heading in the menu on the left.

Hope you like what you see, because there are no commercial interests at work here. As quite a few readers have found, I answer every serious enquiry from my home email address, with my phone numbers attached, so they can see I do actually exist.

Comments?
Want to ask a question, comment or just tell me you thoroughly disagree with what I say? That's your privilege, because if everybody agreed on everything, the world would be a boring place. All I ask is that you remain calm, so please blow off a little steam before venting too vigorously.