Acceleration

2.4T	T5, man.	Class Average
5	6	6.1

All S60s hesitate off the line but pick up speed impressively enough, especially the turbos. Manual-transmission T5 clocked 0-60 mph in 7.3 sec. But manual-shift action feels crude, turbo engines' throttle lag leaves you short of power sometimes, and mild "torque steer" wander occurs in hard takeoffs.

Fuel Economy

2.4T	T5, man.	Class Average
5	4	4.7

Test 2.4T averaged 21.7 mpg. Manual-transmission T5s averaged 22 mpg in a city/highway mix, and 17.9 with performance tests. Volvo recommends premium fuel for the turbo engines.

Ride Quality

2.4T	T5, man.	Class Average
4	3	6.4

Structure is satisfyingly solid, but suspensions allow minor road imperfections to be felt more than in most class rivals, especially in the T5 with its extra-firm damping and thumpy low-profile performance tires.

Steering/Handling/Braking

2.4T	T5, man.	Class Average
7	7	6.3

Confident in all models, with sharp steering, modest body lean, and grippy tires. Strong brakes with firm pedal action make short work of stops.

Quietness

2.4T	T5, man.	Class Average
5	5	6.7

Much tire thump on sharp bumps and expansion joints. Engines are muted at modest rpm but these inline-5s are never as smooth as rivals' V6s, and T5 becomes a throaty Hoover at full throttle. Wind noise also high for the class.

Controls

2.4T	T5, man.	Class Average
7	7	6.1

Well-marked, logical, nicely lit. The radio's 20 station presets are accessed by scrolling with a single rotary dial rather than by individual buttons, a feature not all our testers like. Interior decor is stylish and modern, but materials fall short of Audi/Lexus quality.

Room/Comfort/Driver Seating (front)

2.4T	T5, man.	Class Average
7	7	7

Comfortable, supportive seats are wider and softer than the European norm. Outstanding leg and head room. Visibility restricted aft by high parcel shelf, bulky headrests, sloped roofline.

Room/Comfort (rear)

2.4T	T5, man.	Class Average
3	3	5.1

Nicely shaped, and comfortable for two medium-sized adults, but leg room very tight if front seats are set more than halfway back.

Cargo Room

2.4T	T5, man.	Class Average
3	3	4

Compromised by narrow trunk with smallish opening. Interior storage adequate.

Value within Class

2.4T	T5, man.	Class Average
4	4	4.7

Arguably the most stylish Volvo ever, and the best-handling Volvo sedan yet. But compromises in rear seat room, ride quality, and powertrain smoothness are hard to overlook in the hotly contested near-luxury class, especially at the $36,000 sticker price of our 2.4T and T5 test cars. Acura TL and Lexus ES 300 are better values.

Total Score

2.4T	T5, man.	Class Average
50	49	57.1

Scores for all Premium Midsize Cars

Low Score		48
Average Score		57
High Score		70