2002 Volvo S60 Reviews

"LESS is more." So we're assured by those who have too much and are not terribly keen on sharing it.Increasingly, though, having less - at least in terms of engine capacity - means having more than enough, especially when it translates to paying less money. Doubly so when that asking price is a segment-busting sum.The T4, Volvo's new S60 variant, has the smallest engine in a modern full-size Volvo sedan - an effervescent 1.6-litre direct injection turbo petrol four. With that comes a historic low pricepoint.VALUEA list price of $49,950 drive-away is way south of the least expensive Audi, Lexus and BMW (make no mistake, the S60 is a worthy rival). The T4 is priced barely above the top spec of the much smaller, seven-year-old S40 four-door.That's $2K (plus charges) under what we've previously regarded as the best S60, the T5 with its four-cylinder (no, not five) DI turbo of 2.0 litres, and more than $20K under the top spec twin-turbo six. The V60 wagon is $52,950 drive-away.Standard stuff on both the T4 and coming D3 diesel includes power pew for the driver, parking sensors, 17-inch alloys, Bluetooth audio streaming and seven-inch media screen. The $4000 Teknik pack adds headlight cleaner, satnav, blind spot warning and active headlights. Resale is lousy but this will surely improve as the S60 cements its status as a prestige player.Sedan and wagon get segment-beating five year/100,000km scheduled servicing, five years warranty and five years roadside assistance.TECHNOLOGYIf as further notice is needed that naturally aspirated engines are as relevant as last weekend's newspapers, this 132kW/240Nm blown 1.6-litre four chucks another bundle of 'em in the recycling.That output approaches the 2.5 V6 of the IS 250. It helps that the lean and mean mill has only the front wheels to drive, so mass slips to an acceptably middleweight 1495kg, which is still hefty but about 50 kegs under the T5 and almost 200 under the all-paw T6.The sole transmission is the "Powershift" six-speed twin-clutch auto that was co-developed with Ford.DESIGNFamiliar about the place for the better part of a year now, the S60 is the item that - even more than the novel glass-backed C30 - sees off the yawnsome Volvo cardy cliches. It's a sleek, sharp-lined sedan in which four can be seated comfortably. The bling bits stuck on our version for  photography are pretty much extraneous.SAFETYCity Safety, the system that chucks out the anchors at low speed on recognising wandering pedestrians and other objects, caps a peerless active and safety package. Passively, as ever with Volvo, the T4 feels able to withstand a rocket propelled grenade.There is, however, no spare. Not even a skinny. I don't think this is good enough but no-one else seems to care.DRIVINGIs this a sober four-door or a hot hatch in disguise? The T4 might lack for 400cc next to the T5 but you'll seldom feel the want of them. Its note is rorty, its response snappy enough to chirrup the front tyres.You're never in doubt that the front wheels are doing the driving and the steering - sudden acceleration brings a modicum of torquey tugging though the fat steering wheel - but this still no boy's toy. The optional 18-inchers, as arch-filling and eye-pleasing as they are, don't reckon well with the sensible damping and skitter frenetically when the road goes rough. Stick with the standard 17s.This is obviously a bespoke version of the Powershift, responding much more readily in automatic and manual mode than in Ford's Mondeo, though it's so adroit in Drive that shifting for yourself is largely redundant. It also allows left-foot braking. Would that all DSG-type set-ups were so good.VERDICTLess isn't more, but it's near enough. If you fancy an S60 - or just about any prestige car actually - try this first.VOLVO S60 T4Price: $49,950 driveawayWarranty: 5 years/100,000kmResale: 40 per centSafety equipment: ABS, DTSC, BA, City SafeCrash rating: 5 starsEngine: 1.6-litre turbo petrol 4-cyl; 132kW/240NmBody: four doors, five seatsDimensions: 2,776mm (wb); 4,628 (L); 1,865(w); 1,484 (h)Weight: 1495kgTransmission: 6-speed dual-clutch autoEconomy: 7.4L/100km; 173g/km"A toey but completely effective drivetrain makes you wonder why you'd spend more"

Volvo’s new S60 sedan is one very stylish machine and shows yet again just how far the Swedish marque has moved away from the once dowdy (though very practical) cars it used to produce.

It's "naughty". Apparently. Volvo’s new S60, that is. Well, that’s what they say.S'pose it’s all relative. The look and dynamics of this fairly sleek sedan are unremarkable next to the (mainly German) rivals Volvo pitches it against, but by its own relentlessly stolid standards, the S60 may indeed seem just a touch roguish – like wearing a yellow cardigan instead of beige.VALUELooks good initially. Not so good the longer you look.The range starts at $51,950 for the T5, $57,950 for the D5 diesel topped off by the T6 at $64,950. The first is front-wheel driven; the others get all-paw traction. Irritatingly the T5 (in fact, a direct injection turbo charged four with a twin clutch auto – not a five pot as the name suggests), isn’t due until early in the New Year.Those prices put the S60 right in among the 3 Series, C-Class and A4. Volvo reckon they hold the whip hand in terms of power for the price, but are prestige punters going to be swayed by kilowatts?   The options are many and varied. Tick a few and the driveaway price goes north fast. TECHNOLOGYThe S60 is bursting with tech, most of it safety related, almost all of it optional.Not all the wizardry revolves around stopping the car, however. Drive-enhancing devices attached to the Dynamic Stability and Traction Control variously vector torque in the ever alert all-wheel-drive system and even permit some loosening of the restraints, though the electronic chaperones are never entirely absent.On the whole, it’s a sound set up DESIGNHere’s a Volvo that invites you to look again. While the C30 is funky only from the C-pillar back, the S60 has flowing lines that, if hardly revolutionary, are something of a revelation for Volvo.It’s even better within; thrones made for grand touring comfort ahead of pews with more leg and head room than the pert rear third suggests from outside. The now familiar floating centre console is shrouded with too many buttons and dials for the sake of elegance, though materials and finish rival the Audi benchmark.SAFETYFor all the preening on its admittedly impressive (though costly optional), active and passive safety measures, there is no spare tyre. None. Not even a well in which one can be accommodated.Nor, as is the case with BMW, are the standard tyres of the run flat variety. These provide at least the possibility of lasting until civilisation is reached. The S60’s are conventional 17 or 18-inch Continental or Pirelli rubber.Your solution in the event of a flat or puncture? A can of sealant, a call to roadside assist and an indeterminate wait for a suitable replacement.No fog lights either, for any money. The electro hydraulic steering unit apparently takes up too much space.Against that, the standard fitting of City Safety, which automatically brakes the car to a halt if the driver fails to react to an imminent low speed bingle, is outstanding.Adaptive cruise control, pedestrian detection system, blind spot information system and lane departure warning can be had in an optional $5000 package.DRIVINGDynamically are also an obvious step forward for the brand.You gotta have faith in your car to showcase it on Tasmania’s Targa roads. The S60 goes some way to rewarding it with AWD that sends all the torque either forward or aft, a quick-witted system that imbues you with confidence and permits rapid cornering with complete surety. The T6 makes by far the best of it, with almost instant response as it launches onto the straights.Even on its 18s, ride is exceptionally composed while delivering ample feedback through a fist-filling steering wheel that weights up meaningfully with speed. But the Geartronic automatic just isn’t with the program, reacting especially slowly with the diesel, hunting for gears in drive and not entirely satisfactory even when held in sport mode and prodded manually.Again you’re left wondering how the twin-clutch version would go.VERDICTA leap forward for Volvo that doesn’t advance the game.VOLVO S60Price: $57,950 (D5); $64,950 (T6)Engine: 2.4-litre 5-cylinder turbo diesel (151kW/420Nm); 3.0-litre 6-cylinder turbo petrol (224kW/440Nm)Transmission: 6-speed automaticThirst: 7.1L/100km (diesel); 10.2L/100km (T6)

The revolution at Volvo has stepped up a gear with the arrival of its new S60.

True, there are still numerous examples from the brand's "square-brick" era roaming around, seemingly indestructible.But so many Volvos giving so little trouble up to 20 years after their build date should be a big plus and not major handicap.Volvo is acknowledged as one of the world's safest brands. The US authorities used Volvo as its safety benchmark two decades ago.And remember, Volvo enjoyed its share of victories winning touring car championships in Australia and Europe – often embarrassing the competition by campaigning a wagon.The latest hero model in the Swedish range is the S60 R – a 240kW R-rated performance machine which is spectacularly quick and a thrill to drive.While other models in the stable may be proving hard to shift, the S60 R sedans and V70 R wagons are flying out of showrooms.The initial batch of 30 has been claimed and another 70 examples are expected to sell just as speedily before the end of the year.And why not? Both the car and wagon are genuine street machines with a 0-100km/h blast in 5.7 seconds in six-speed manual guise and 7.5 seconds with five-speed auto and sequential gear selection.Thrust comes from a high-output 2.5-litre in-line, five-cylinder engine fed by high-boost turbocharger with dual air-to-air intercoolers. The double overhead cam, four-valves-per-cylinder engine features continuously variable valve timing. The motor is mounted in the engine bay in an east-west configuration with power fed to all four wheels.Design director Peter Horbury – the British stylist who led the renaissance from straight lines and sharp edges to flowing, alluring curves – has resisted all temptation to overstate what the R represents.The high-performance models do feature subtle change, but only functional modifications, mainly to improve aerodynamics for greater stability at high speeds and to beef up air flow over the radiator and intercoolers.The nose is extended forward 30mm to accommodate the cooling plumbing and the trailing edge of the boot gets a spoiler. The result is a 25 per cent reduction in front lift and 20 per cent more downforce at the rear.Visually, the R models are distinguished by a smaller grille with matte silver surround, bi-xenon headlights and bright blue instruments plus aluminium door and glove box inlays.The R models get sports seats which are electronically-adjustable with manual lumbar fine tuning.The steering wheel is grip-mounded and leather bound. So is the gear stick spat.So much for the looks. Now for the mechanical makeup of the R-line and the driving characteristics.Power is only part of the S60 R's glory. It is the package of stability and traction control, three-mode active suspension, speed-related power steering, and Brembo brakes as well as advanced all-wheel-drive.Many car makers make extravagant claims about so-called advancements. With the R-line, Volvo delivers ride, handling and stability which is difficult to fault.Any car has limits, of course. But it would take a really fast wheelman working the most demanding roads to find flaws in the Volvo.When driven in conservative manner, the car is as user-friendly as any other luxury models with the Swedish badge. You want slow and comfortable, the S60 R can deliver. You want a speed machine with race-car-like qualities, then get stuck into the R and feel it respond.Yet all the time, the amazing array of equipment is working continuously to compensate for overload, whether it be speed or G-forces, or any number of other conditions which impact on smooth progress.The one exception to driver awareness is Volvo's active suspension which offers "comfort", "sport" and "advanced" settings. Many systems over have boasted an ability to offer drivers the facility to dial-up differing spring settings – mostly without delivering a discernible difference.Not so the Volvo chassis. Comfort maximises ride comfort, sport stiffens shock absorbers to reduce body movement under extreme cornering, albeit at a cost of a degree of ride comfort. Advanced sets up the chassis for maximum road grip and safe, performance driving. Ride quality is clearly sacrificed in the "hot" mode in favour of optimum road holding and because of this Advance is recommended by Volvo only on very smooth roads. Those looking to be convinced that the three settings offer differentiation need only drive over the same roads in the same manner in all three modes. One soon recognises the mode which is most appropriate for conditions and driving style.An extended period driving around a favourite loop through the Adelaide Hills provided proof everything in the S60 R works according to the script.As well, the car proved itself as an agile performance car which goes where one points, turns in to bends with amazing accuracy and tracks consistently without attempting to over or understeer even when the car is driven a tad over enthusiastically.At a glanceVolvo first introduced unfiltered performance in 1994 in the form of the 177kW 850 T5-R.The V70R of 1999 lifted the bar to 195kW and now the S60 R brings it on with 220kW, with all the electronic finery the brand can muster.True, the average driver who wants to keep a licence will rarely push the car anywhere close to its limits.But performance motoring can be enjoyed (although not exploited) without breaking the law. And remember, to drive well within known tolerances is to drive safely.IN SUM: A bloody good car.

When someone sits down to write the history of Volvo, they won't have to worry about the star.  Top billing has just been filled by the all-new S60, the true sea change car for the Swedish company.It is genuinely good looking, terrifically luxurious, relaxing and economical.  It proves, once and for all, that Volvo has changed. And changed to become much, much better.The boring boxes have been in the bin for a long time, but it has taken a while for Volvo to settle into its new life - and its role as part of the Ford-owned Premier Automotive Group.  The car that took it down the new path, the flagship S80, introduced a new styling theme for Volvo and showed that the carmaker knew how to build a big and well-equipped luxury flagship.The S60 has condensed and simplified the same basic ingredients into a car, priced between $56,950 and $84,950, that really can survive a head-to-head comparison with anything from Benz's brilliant C-Class to the latest Audi A4 and Volkswagen Passat.Volvo has done the job by taking the basics from the S80 and shrinking them a little, without carving the heart out of the car. The change to S60, from S70 on the superseded model, also shows the new thinking.  There is no V60 wagon yet, but that will come and, for a company that has always done brilliant business with its wagons, it will cement the position of the new mid-sized car.The latest S60 arrived in January and has led a series of upgrades across most of the Volvo family, including the V70 wagon, C70 coupe and even the new S80. It's a sign of the improvements coming from Volvo, but also the tougher opposition it faces in Australia.  The S60 is all new and that means it has the smoother, heavy-hipped new look. But the heavy flanks flow easily into a smooth, attractive wedge-edged profile. The new body is wrapped around a roomy five-seat cabin and a big boot, and dropped over a front-wheel-drive mechanical package with a choice of three engines: a basic 2.4-litre in-line five and a pair of turbo motors peaking in the T5 with 184kW of power and 330Nm of torque.  The cars are available with either five-speed manual or five-speed automatic gearboxes, but most people are choosing the self-shifter with tiptronic manual control.The S60's equipment varies with the model and price, which means a lot of variation to match a $30,000 price spread, but the basics include electric assists, CD sound system and air-conditioning.  The T5 gets all the gear, including electrically adjusted sports leather seats, satellite navigation and a premium sound system.It's a Volvo, which means the safety gear runs to anti-skid brakes, electronic-stability control, and a padded cabin filled with front, side and head airbags.DrivingThe S60 tester is the best Volvo I've driven. Simple as that. And I've been testing them since the late seventies.  It is comfortable, quick, well built and refined. There is some front-end judder in corners, like a lot of other heavy front-drive cars, but that was about my only real complaint.I drove more than 750km in just three days with the S60, and it came through brilliantly. I've rarely struck a more enjoyable highway car, at any price, and it also hussled over some twisty country backroads.  The fuel economy was terrific at just 11.1 litres/100km and it had huge reserves of overtaking power.The high-boost turbo T5 wouldn't have been my first choice -- I prefer the lower-boost, cheaper and more relaxing 2.4T - but it proved the point. It's an engine with real fire, though it needs at least 4500 revs to give its best and, in some ways, that makes it respond more like a naturally aspirated motor.The T5 has bigger power and torque than most people need, which means even the basic five-cylinder motor should make S60 motoring pretty enjoyable.The automatic gearbox shifted easily and smoothly, but the tiptronic manual change had a slight delay -- almost a lag -- that made downchanges for corners too jerky and unpredictable for real enjoyment.But at least it held on to a gear, instead of reverting to auto control at the redline or on sharp descents.  The engine note from the five-cylinder is unusual and surprisingly enjoyable, especially with the T5 on full boost for an overtaking run.The ride is classy, with a fluid and well-damped feel, but handling can get just a little nose-heavy at times. It usually grips well with neutral balance, but that judder -- which transmits a sharp thud up the steering column -- is a flaw that needs fixing.The S60 is easy to park, helped by light power steering, has a huge usable boot and classy headlights. The sound system is one of the best around and the location of the Satnat screen, which rises out of the top of the dash, is a clever piece of design.The S60 isn't perfect, and it would need to be to topple the C-Class Benz, but it is an impressive piece of work that stands comparison with plenty of other mid-sized prestige cars.Volvo S60 T5 Price: $84,950 as testedEngine: 2.4-litre in-line turbo-charged five-cylinder transverse with double overhead camshaftPower: 184kW at 5200 revsTorque: 330Nm at 2400 revsTransmission: Five-speed auto, front-wheel-driveBody: Four-door sedanDimensions: Length: 4576mm, width: 1804mm, height: 1428mm, wheelbase: 2715mm tracks: 1563mm/1560mm front/rearWeight: 1622 kgFuel tank: 70 litresFuel consumption: Average on test 11.1 litres/100kmSteering: Power-assisted rack-and-pinionBrakes: Four-wheel anti-skid discsWheels: 7.5x17 alloyTyres: 225/45 R16Warranty: Two years/unlimited kilometresRivalsAudi A4****(from $47,400)VW Passat***(from $45,900)BMW 3-series***(from $48,970)Mercedes C-class*****(from $51,800)The bottom line4/5 Classy design; top quality.  The best yet from Volvo and a mighty fine car.

Any lingering thoughts that Volvos are designed exclusively for aging motorists have been comprehensively dispatched by the brilliant new S60 series.