2002 Volvo S60 - Consumer Guide Automotive

Category	2.4T Rating (See All Ratings)	Premium Midsize Car Average Rating

Acceleration	5	6.2

Fuel Economy	5	4.6

Ride Quality	7	7.2

Steering/Handling/Braking	6	6.7

Quietness	5	6.8

Controls	7	6.3

Room/Comfort/Driver Seating (front)	7	7

Room/Comfort (rear)	4	5.4

Cargo Room	3	4.2

Value within Class	4	5.1

Total Score:	53	59.5

Ratings: Maximum 10 points per category

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2002 Volvo S60 Review

Volvo's near-luxury sedan is available with all-wheel drive for 2002. The S60 is essentially the sedan version of Volvo's better-selling V70 station wagon, and both share a basic structure and some features with Volvo's S80 flagship. All S60s use an inline 5-cyl engine. The base 2.4-liter model, the more-powerful turbo 2.4T, and the sporty turbo 2.3-liter T5 all have front-wheel drive. The new 2.4T AWD apportions power to the rear wheels when the front tires begin to slip. Base and T5 models offer manual transmission or an optional 5-speed automatic. The 2.4Ts come only with automatic. Front side airbags, curtain side airbags, and antilock 4-wheel disc brakes are standard. The base model has 15-inch wheels and offers optional 16s. The 2.4Ts have 16s and offer 17s. The T5 comes with 17s. Traction control is standard on all S60s and an antiskid system is standard on the T5, optional for the 2.4T models. Optional on all is a navigation system with pop-up dashboard screen.

Competition

This hotly contested segment has two clear benchmarks; the Acura TL and Lexus ES 300. Both succeed in blending comfort, style, luxury, and sport into an efficient package at an affordable price. ES 300 offers a little more luxury and TL, with it's Type-S, a bit more sport.

We Recommend the sporty and Euro-flavored BMW 3-Series as a rear-drive alternative. The "3" has enough bodystyles and engine choices to suit anyone. At the other end of the near-luxury spectrum is the posh and comfortable Buick Park Avenue--an old-school luxo-cruiser from Detroit.

News

S60 is a fair success by Volvo standards, drawing nearly 27,000 initial sales through the third quarter of 2001. This year's new AWD model sets the stage for a hotter edition to challenge the Audi S4, BMW M3, and Mercedes C32 AMG. Likely to be launched in early 2002 as the S60R, it's said to pack 300 hp via a tuned version of the T5 model's 247-hp 2.4-liter turbocharged 5-cyl engine. Torque reportedly goes from 243 lb-ft to 295. Other features, previewed on a recent concept model, should include 6-speed manual gearbox, discreet "performance car" body add-ons, low-profile performance tires on oversize wheels, and computer-managed shock absorbers with driver-selectable Comfort, Sport and "Advanced Sport" settings. The last are tied in with larger antilock brakes and an upgraded traction/antiskid system. No word yet on price, but we'd guess $38,000 to start.

2002 Volvo S60 Road Test >

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