If you are looking for a new company car or a fleet of them, you might be tempted by the number of small capacity diesel hatchbacks on the market. These promise low emissions and low company car tax, but they hardly command prestige among business peers. In business, appearances mean a lot, which is one of the reasons that executive saloons still command the most space on motorways in the morning.
The Volvo S60 is one such saloon. This premium business saloon is a direct competitor to the Audi A4 and BMW 3-Series. It is powered by a powerful 2.0-litre turbo diesel engine that is available with a six-speed manual or eight-speed automatic. The six-speed manual is slick to use and has a huge benefit over the automatic – it allows the car to dip under 100 g/km, which means free annual road tax.
The engine produces a healthy 178 bhp and a thumping 295 lb /ft of torque. It accelerates the S60 from 0 – 62 mph in just 6.9 seconds and on to a top speed of 143 mph. It is a very powerful engine, and it pulls well in any gear, cruising comfortably in fifth at 30 mph.
Vertu Cars love the way the S60 drives “The S60 is exceptionally comfy on the move and it’s also very practical. It is also a match for the 3-Series and A4 in terms of quality.”
Speaking of practicability, the S60 a spacious 339-litre boot that can be extended to over 1000-litres by folding down the rear seats.
When it comes to cost, the 2014 Volvo S60 D4 really starts to make sense. For private buyers, the 99 g/km CO2 output means free annual road tax and the claimed 74.3 miles per gallon economy figure beats out any similarly powered competitor. For company car drivers, the tax payable at 20% is £934 whilst at 40% it’s just £1,867. That’s the lowest cost of any saloon with this much power.
Overall, the 2014 Volvo S60 D4 is a tempting proposition. I recommend Business Edition S/S trim which costs £23,195. For drivers who don’t need the extra power, the D3 Business Edition S/S costs from £21,945 on-the-road. Once you look past the Business Editions, the cheapest D4 is £28,145.
Volvo has really taken the fight to its German competitors this year. Company drivers can do far worse than the S60.
