2001 Volvo S60: Overview

Vehicle Highlights

S60 replaces the boxy S70 as Volvo's midrange sedan. It shares a basic structure and many features with Volvo's V70 wagons, but doesn't offer all-wheel drive. A longer wheelbase and wider stance give the S60 slightly more interior room than the S70, but the new car is 6-inches shorter overall. All S60s have an inline 5-cyl engine; they come as the base 2.4-liter model, the more-powerful turbo 2.4T, and the sporty turbo 2.3-liter T5. Base and T5 use manual transmission or optional 5-speed automatic. The 2.4T comes only with automatic and includes a manual shift feature. Front side airbags, side curtain side airbags, and Volvo's antiwhiplash front seatbacks are standard. So are antilock 4-wheel disc brakes. The 2.4 model has 15-inch wheels and offers optional 16s. The 2.4T has 16s and offers optional 17s. The T5 has 17s. On T5, traction control is standard and an antiskid system is optional; both features are 2.4T options. T5 also can be ordered with a navigation system with popup dashboard screen.

COMPETITION

This hotly contested segment has a clear benchmark; it is the Acura TL (and its 2-door cousin Acura CL). The TL succeeds in blending comfort, style, luxury, and sport into an efficient package at an affordable price. If you are leaning more toward the luxury scale, the Lexus ES 300 might be a more practical purchase.

We also recommend the sporty and Euro-flavored Audi A6, the comfortable Buick Park Avenue, the affordable and fast Infiniti I30.