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That’s the S60 sedan, the all new all-wheel-drive offering for ’02 that joins the front-wheel-drive S60, which bowed for ’01.

For decades Volvos were butt-ugly boxes on wheels purchased by folks whose primary reason for slipping inside was to protect themselves from the dangers of having to motor alongside other people on the highway.

Volvo was the choice of the safety-conscious motorist. Looked awful, acted like a slug, but if you didn’t have the dough to purchase a tank from the local army surplus, a Volvo, any Volvo, would do.

Grab the steering column with both hands, turn off the radio to ensure no distractions, park yourself in the middle lane on the expressway, put the gear selector in slumber and aim toward your location knowing that if anything else should make contact, you were safe because the advertising said so.

Because Volvo couldn’t sell styling and couldn’t even hint at performance, the only charm was safety. So that’s what it promoted.

Heard of soccer moms? They were predated by Volvo matrons who wouldn’t take the grandkids as far as the mailbox, forget the soccer field, unless fastened and secured in a Volvo.

Gradually, thanks in part to Volvo’s purchase by Ford and an infusion of funds and tips from engineers and designers on how to escape the 18th Century, the Swedish automaker has gotten with the program.

The compact AWD S60 is rock-solid evidence that you can still wrap yourself in a Volvo to feel safe and secure, but now you also can be fashionable.

Classy? The $34,000 sedan with a sloping coupe-like roofline certainly is. Top-rate amenities and high-tech engineering aimed at “relatively successful 30- to 44-year-olds with median family incomes exceeding $100,000,” Volvo says.

Sassy? Absolutely. The 2.4-liter, 197-horsepower, turbocharged 5-cylinder engine likes to flex its muscle and sprint off the line. No stammer or stutter while waiting for others to go. And no turbo lag. It’s teamed with a 5-speed automatic that helps it achieve a 19 m.p.g. city/26 m.p.g. highway mileage rating. Does your four-wheel-drive sport-utility vehicle or pickup do that well?

But the primary appeal comes from the electronic AWD system, which means anywhere, any time driving. Under normal circumstances the S60 is front-wheel-drive. When the system detects loss of traction and the potential for slipping or sliding, AWD is engaged.

An all-season and all-reason performer.

Even more important, it’s a sedan. When roads are covered with gunk, the 4WD or AWD sport-ute or pickup earns its keep, even if it consumes a healthy dose of fuel in doing so.

When the roads are free of gunk, the 4WD or AWD sport-ute simply gobbles fuel. With the roads clear, you notice the truck-like ride and handling that you put up with over the winter to get to work and back with little risk.

The ’02 S60 AWD we tested arrived about the same time as the rains. An ample dose of fallen leaves clung to the pavement, just enough cover to make for tricky footing. The AWD S60 grabbed the asphalt and wouldn’t let go. It moved from the light without slipping. Corners, turns and the merger ramp were simple chores and rather fun on dry roads, when you kicked the pedal to build momentum for coming out of the corner or off the merger ramp.

It helps, of course, that the AWD S60 has standard stability and traction control as well as four-wheel anti-lock brakes with emergency brake assist, which automatically activates ABS in an emergency situation if the driver fails to push the pedal with enough force to do so.

The stability/traction system mainly prevents straight-line slips and slides when moving from the light. A more advanced optional stability/traction control system will be offered early next year that adds sensors for yaw control by preventing slips and slides into and out of sharp corners.

Standard safety features, other than those noted, include dual-stage front ags whose deployment speed is based on force of impact, as well as side-impact air-bag curtains for front- and rear-seat occupants. There’s also whiplash protection seats to cushion the head in a rear-end collision.

At a time when construction barricades are being removed to clear the path for the plows, the AWD S60 is a worthy alternative to truck-like machines. And no need for a running board to get in or out of a low-slung sedan.

Any drawbacks? Sure. The SUV or truck may need that running board for entry/exit, but once in, you sit higher for a more panoramic view.

Any concerns? Sure. The AWD S60 is a sedan alternative to a 4WD SUV or truck, provided you are looking for a $34,000 alternative rather than one that costs $25,000 or less.

The standard power memory seats couldn’t be made to forget that the last driver must have been 4-feet 6-inches.

And a note that while two adults can fit fairly comfortably in back, the reason is a styling gimmick–front seat backs have indents so rear-seat occupants can stretch their legs.

Base price: $33,375. No need to pile on options. Standard are 16-inch, all-season tires on alloy wheels; power sunroof; power driver’s seat; dual-zone climate control; tilt/telescoping steering column; 60/40 split/folding rear seats; remote keyless entry with panic alarm; power windows; cabin pollen/dust filters; chemically coated radiator to treat ozone before entering the cabin; power folding rear headrests (to keep the rearview clear when no occupants are aboard); and AM/FM stereo with cassette.

Volvo says the AWD system in the S60 is expected to be offered in other models as well, perhaps even in the Volvo sport-ute coming out in about a year.