Every time I get into a new Volvo, I’m impressed by the interesting and desirable automobiles now produced by the once-staid Swede. Each one seems better than the last, and now the new S60 T5 takes its place as one of my sporty favorites.
Usually, you can’t read a review of any new Volvo without encountering mean words about its past: boxy, boring, ugly, funky cars that favored safety over pizzazz.
Phooey.
The fact is, I’m among the rare breed of car enthusiasts who actually like Volvos, from the turtle-back 444s of the ’50s, through the solid 122s, and into the 140 and 240 series. The Ford representative in Phoenix used to mock me for favoring Volvos, that is until Ford bought Volvo a few years back. Shut him up quick.
Volvo’s transition from boxy to sexy has been gradual. The S60 is the newest member of Volvo’s clan, a compact sedan built on a smaller version of the S80 platform and carrying over the corporate styling, including the uniquely shouldered tail end. The T5 version is the hot one, with a high-pressure turbo that boosts its 2.3-liter, five-cylinder engine to a muscular 247 horsepower.
No doubt, T5 is a top-drawer sports sedan that performs brilliantly on the open highway, on winding two-lane blacktops and in city traffic. Fast and sure-footed, the T5 was a fine conveyance for a trip north through Flagstaff, Page and the North Rim of the Grand Canyon.
Accompanied by the musical tone of the turbo five under acceleration, the S60 coddled passengers as the miles rushed under the wheels. The steering is tight and responsive, if somewhat light to the touch. The pliant suspension allows flat cornering while soaking up rough surfaces. As in most Volvos, braking is excellent.
The T5 comes standard with a five-speed stickshift, though the test car came with a smooth-shifting automatic that also allows the driver to change gears manually.
The phrase “beautiful Volvo” might still sound strange, but the S60 enhanced with T5 design cues provoked many admiring looks that turned to surprise as people discovered that the gorgeous sedan that just whooshed past is indeed a Volvo.
The interior is pleasant and fairly roomy, all upgraded with fragrant leather and power features in this high-end version. Legroom is good up front but a bit tight in the rear.
Inside this otherwise pleasant cabin is where you find the major flaw in the S60: an ugly and confusing console that’s surprisingly hard to master. The surface is flat plastic, and the dials look bulbous. Really, I haven’t liked any of the center console layouts in recent Volvos, especially considering that this automaker prides itself on brilliant ergonomics. The radio dials are a particular mess, with presets that are hard to program and difficult to use without looking away from the road. The sound system was also problematic, with the back seat getting only a portion of the stereo through the rear speakers.
The basic S60 starts at $26,550 with a 2.4-liter, 168-horsepower engine. The next model, the S60 T, is powered by a light-pressure turbocharged version for the same engine, which delivers 197 horsepower and starts at just under $30,000. The T5 starts at $31,800, and the fully loaded test S60 came perilously close to $40,000. That wide price range is packed with fine machines, including Mercedes-Benz C-Class, BMW 330i, Audi A4, Lexus ES 300, Saab 9-5 and Lincoln LS, plus the new Jaguar X-Type and Cadillac CTS.
Being a Volvo, the S60 boasts advanced safety features including progressive front airbags; side-impact airbags and curtains, front and rear; three-point seatbelts with pyrotechnic pre-tensioners; whiplash-protection; and Volvo’s advanced crush-zone protection.
Beauty, brawn and a social consciousness, the S60 T5 should continue Volvo’s rising fortune, as well as attracting image-conscious vers.
