2003 Volvo S60 Full Review - Consumer Guide Automotive

Volvo's top-selling line gives its all-wheel-drive version more power and adds a midyear high-performance model. The S60 is the sedan variant of Volvo's V70 wagon. All S60s use an inline 5-cyl engine. The base model has 168 hp. The turbocharged 2.4T has 197 hp. The turbo 2.5T AWD for 2003 goes from 197 hp to 208. The T5 has 247. Added midyear as an early 2004 model is the 300-hp S60 R. The 2.5T AWD and the R have all-wheel drive. Other S60s have front-wheel drive. The 2.4, T5, and R models come with manual transmission--a 5 speed on the 2.4 and T5, a 6 speed on the R. A 5-speed automatic is standard on the 2.4T and 2.5T AWD and optional on the others. The base 2.4 model has 15-inch wheels and offers optional 16s. The 2.4T, 2.5T AWD, and T5 have 16s and offer 17s. The R comes with 17s and offers 18s. Front side airbags, head-protecting curtain side airbags, traction control, and antilock 4-wheel disc brakes are standard. An antiskid system is standard on the T5 and R, optional for other models. The R's suspension has three driver-selected firmness settings to emphasize ride or handling. Optional on all is a navigation system with pop-up dashboard screen. For '03, fog lights and simulated-wood dashboard trim are newly standard on 2.4T and 2.5T AWD models, and all S60s are available with Volvo's On-Call Plus assistance system.

Competition

This hotly contested segment has its benchmark in the Lexus ES 300. It blends comfort, style, luxury, and sport into an efficient package at an affordable price. ES 300 manages to offer a little more luxury than others in the class.

We Recommend the Acura TL, Audi A4, and new Infiniti G35. All offer comfort, speed, and nimble handling at attractive prices. The sporty and Euro-flavored BMW 3-Series is Recommended 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

The R-models shape up as the fastest Volvos yet, with claimed 0-60 times of 5.6 sec with manual, 7.4 sec with automatic. Pricing, all things considered, is competitive against sportier class rivals, most of which don't offer AWD. The sedan starts $36,825, the wagon at $38,325. Volvo expects about 5000 first-year sales, mostly sedans. The R-models don't replace the T5 S60 and V70, which had been the sportiest mid-range Volvos, but we wouldn't be surprised if the T5s disappear after 2003.

The S60 line is a fair success by Volvo standards, drawing over 38,000 sales in calendar 2002, up 7.5 percent from '01. Sources say a redesign is coming for 2005, but have no specifics right now.

2003 Volvo S60 Road Test

Pros	Cons

Available AWD	Navigation-system controls

Acceleration (S60 R)

Front-seat comfort

Consumer Guide® Road Test Ratings

Acceleration

2.4T	2.5T AWD	T5 w/ nav. sys., man.	S60 R w/18-inch wheels, man.	Class Average
6	6	6	8	6.5

No S60 springs off the line, but all pick up speed impressively enough, especially the turbos. Test manual-transmission T5 did 7.3 sec 0-60 mph. Have not yet timed '03 2.4T, but '02 model with 11 hp less did 7.9 sec 0-60. S60 R has impressive power; Volvo says 5.4 sec 0-60 with manual transmission, 7.2 with automatic. Still, all turbo models suffer power lag at low rpm. Mild "torque steer" wander occurs in front-drive S60s in fast takeoffs. AWD provides outstanding grip on slippery surfaces.

Fuel Economy

2.4T	2.5T AWD	T5 w/ nav. sys., man.	S60 R w/18-inch wheels, man.	Class Average
5	5	4	4	4.5

Test 2.4T averaged 21.7 mpg. Extended-use-test '02 2.4T AWD averaged 23.3 mpg over 21,700 mi. in mostly highway driving; expect roughly the same from the '03 2.5T AWD. Manual-transmission T5s averaged 21.5 mpg in city/highway mix, 17.9 with gas-eating performance tests. Volvo recommends premium fuel for all S60s.

Ride Quality

2.4T	2.5T AWD	T5 w/ nav. sys., man.	S60 R w/18-inch wheels, man.	Class Average
7	7	5	4	7.1

Satisfyingly solid structure, but suspensions allow minor road imperfections to be felt more than in most class rivals, especially in the T5 with its extra-firm settings and low-profile performance tires. R's suspension can't duplicate supple control of best European rivals.

Steering/Handling/Braking

2.4T	2.5T AWD	T5 w/ nav. sys., man.	S60 R w/18-inch wheels, man.	Class Average
6	7	7	8	6.7

S60 R and T5 try hard, but can't match moves of top rival sport sedans. R needs more bumpy-road composure to reach upper ranks. Still, road manners confident enough in all models, though with more body lean and tire scrub in turns than we like. Extra grip of 2.5T AWD is welcome in snow; R has AWD, too, but you'll need to replace its summer tires for best traction. Brakes feel strong, though some testers find pedal action touchy around town.

Quietness

2.4T	2.5T AWD	T5 w/ nav. sys., man.	S60 R w/18-inch wheels, man.	Class Average
5	5	5	4	6.8

Engines muted at modest rpm, but these inline-5s are never as smooth as rivals' V6s, and T5 is intrusively throaty at full throttle. Wind noise, tire slap also high for the class. R's 18-inch tires rumble on mildly coarse surfaces.

Controls

2.4T	2.5T AWD	T5 w/ nav. sys., man.	S60 R w/18-inch wheels, man.	Class Average
7	7	5	6	6.6

R's fancy "chronograph-style" instruments indistinct in dim light; other models' gauges well-marked, nicely lit. Agreeable controls, but radio's 20 station presets selected by scrolling with a single rotary dial rather than by individual buttons, a feature not all our testers like. Dashtop navigation screen isn't easy to read in daylight. And navigation system's controls are on steering wheel, inaccessible to the passenger. Stylish, contemporary interior design tempered by a few budget-grade plastic panels.

Room/Comfort/Driver Seating (front)

2.4T	2.5T AWD	T5 w/ nav. sys., man.	S60 R w/18-inch wheels, man.	Class Average
7	7	7	7	7.2

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	2.5T AWD	T5 w/ nav. sys., man.	S60 R w/18-inch wheels, man.	Class Average
4	4	4	4	5.5

Nicely shaped. Comfortable for two medium-sized adults. But leg room very tight if front seats are set more than halfway back.

Cargo Room

2.4T	2.5T AWD	T5 w/ nav. sys., man.	S60 R w/18-inch wheels, man.	Class Average
3	3	3	3	3.9

Trunk is wide and deep, but not tall, and has a smallish opening. Adequate cabin storage.

Value within Class

2.4T	2.5T AWD	T5 w/ nav. sys., man.	S60 R w/18-inch wheels, man.	Class Average
4	5	3	3	5.7

These are arguably the most-stylish Volvos ever and certainly the best-handling Volvo sedans yet. But compromised powertrain smoothness relative to other near-luxury cars is hard to overlook. The all-season capability of the 2.5T AWD model is an asset to this line, but it doesn't help the S60 match the Audi A4 or Lexus ES 300 for overall value.

Total Score

2.4T	2.5T AWD	T5 w/ nav. sys., man.	S60 R w/18-inch wheels, man.	Class Average
54	56	49	51	60.5

Scores for all Premium Midsize Cars

Low Score		48
Average Score		60
High Score		70

2003 Volvo S60 Prices & Equipment

Model Prices

Prices Updated: 04/02/2003

Trim Name	Retail Price	Dealer Invoice	Destination Charge

2003 Base 4-door sedan	$26,370	$24,787	$685

2003 2.4T 4-door sedan	$30,425	$28,599	$685

2003 2.5T AWD 4-door sedan	$32,175	$30,244	$685

2003 T5 4-door sedan	$32,825	$30,855	$685

2004 R AWD 4-door sedan	$36,825	$34,615	$685

Pricing Key: Retail prices listed with each report are set by the vehicle's manufacturer. These figures appear on each car's federally mandated window sticker. Most price lists also include dealer-invoice prices. Dealer-invoice prices are what the dealer pays the manufacturer for the car and its factory-installed options. The destination charge is not included in the suggested-retail or dealer-invoice price and must be added to the cost of the vehicle. Car companies change prices frequently throughout the year. If the prices published do not match those on the vehicle's window sticker, the manufacturer has probably altered the price recently.

NA = price note available, NC = no charge.

Rebates and Incentives

There are no rebates or incentives at this time.

Consumer Guide®'s Rebates and Incentives represent a summary of national manufacturer programs available. Regional restrictions may apply, and offerings may vary by model. For a complete list of Rebate & Incentive programs click here.

Standard Equipment

Base

Powertrain

2.4-liter dohc 5-cylinder engine, 5-speed manual transmission, traction control.

Safety

Dual front airbags, front side airbags, curtain side airbags, front-seat active head restraints, antilock 4-wheel disc brakes, emergency inside trunk release, daytime running lights.

Comfort and Convenience Features

Air conditioning w/dual-zone manual climate controls, interior air filter, power steering, tilt/telescoping leather-wrapped steering wheel, cruise control, cloth upholstery, front bucket seats, center console, cupholders, split folding rear seat, power folding rear headrests, heated power mirrors, power windows, power door locks, remote keyless entry, AM/FM/cassette/CD player, digital clock, tachometer, outside-temperature indicator, rear defogger, illuminated visor mirrors, map lights, variable-intermittent wipers, floormats.

Appearance and Miscellaneous

Theft-deterrent system, rear fog light, 195/65HR15 tires, alloy wheels.

2.4T adds to Base

Powertrain

2.4-liter dohc turbocharged 197-horsepower 5-cylinder engine, 5-speed automatic transmission.

Comfort and Convenience Features

8-way power driver seat w/memory, dual-zone automatic climate controls.

Appearance and Miscellaneous

Front fog lights, 215/55HR16 tires.

2.5T AWD adds to 2.4T:

Powertrain

2.5-liter dohc turbocharged 208-horsepower 5-cylinder engine, 5-speed automatic transmission w/manual-shift capability, all-wheel drive.

Comfort and Convenience Features

Heated front seats, rain-sensing wipers.

Appearance and Miscellaneous

Headlight washers, 205/55HR16 tires.

T5 adds to 2.4T:

Powertrain

2.3-liter dohc turbocharged 247-horsepower 5-cylinder engine, 5-speed manual transmission.

Safety

Antiskid system.

Comfort and Convenience Features

Cloth/vinyl upholstery, 8-way power passenger seat, trip computer, universal garage-door opener, automatic day/night rearview mirror.

R adds to T5:

Powertrain

2.5-liter dohc turbocharged 5-cylinder 300-horsepower engine, 6-speed manual transmission, all-wheel drive.

Safety

Brake assist.

Comfort and Convenience Features

Leather upholstery.

Appearance and Miscellaneous

Adjustable-damping suspension, 235/45ZR17 tires.

Optional Equipment

Major Packages	Retail Price	Invoice Price
Premium Pkg.
R	$2,400	$2,040
Power sunroof, AM/FM radio w/in-dash 4-disc CD changer, upgraded sound system.

Touring Pkg.
T5, R	$550	$467
Interior air quality system, grocery-bag holder, security laminated side windows.

Sport Pkg.
T5	$750	$637
Sport suspension, 235/45R17 tires.

Climate Pkg.
Base, 2.4T, T5	$550	$467
R	$350	$297
Heated front seats, headlight washers (Base, 2.4T, T5), rain-sensing wipers.

Powertrain
5-Speed automatic transmission
Base	$1,000	$1,000


5-speed automatic transmission w/manual-shift capability
T5	$1,200	$1,200
R	$0	$0


Safety
Dynamic Stability Traction Control
Base, 2.4T, 2.5T	$695	$590
Antiskid system. Requires Premium Pkg.

On-Call Plus Communication System
2.4T, 2.5T AWD, Base, R, T5	$835	$709
Emergency-assistance program. Includes one-year service fee.

Child-booster seat
R	$300	$255


Comfort and Convenience Features
Power sunroof
2.4T, 2.5T AWD, Base, R, T5	$1,200	$1,020


Navigation system
2.4T, 2.5T AWD, Base, R, T5	$1,895	$1,610


Leather upholstery
Base, 2.4T, 2.5T	$1,400	$1,190
T5	$1,450	$1,232


Upgraded leather upholstery
R	$1,495	$1,270


Leather/cloth upholstery
2.5T, T5	$1,050	$892


Max AM/FM/cassette w/in-dash 4-disc CD changer
2.4T, 2.5T, T5, R	$1,200	$1,020


Wood/leather-wrapped steering wheel
Base, 2.4T, 2.5T AWD	$250	$212
Base requires Premium Pkg.

235/40ZR18 tires
R	$995	$845


Appearance and Miscellaneous
Special paint
R	$600	$510

2003 Volvo S60 Specs & Safety

Vehicle Dimensions

Specification	Volvo S60 4-door sedan

Wheelbase, in.	107.0

Overall Length, in.	180.2

Overall Width, in.	71.0

Overall Height, in.	56.2

Curb Weight, lbs.	3276

Cargo Volume, cu. ft.	13.9

Standard Payload, lbs.	--

Fuel Capacity, gals.	18.5

Seating Capacity	5

Front Head Room, in.	38.7

Max. Front Leg Room, in.	42.6

Rear Head Room, in.	37.9

Max. Rear Leg Room, in.	33.3

Specifications Key: NA = not available; "--" = measurement does not exist.

Engines

	dohc I5	Turbocharged dohc I5	Turbocharged dohc I5	Turbocharged dohc I5

Size, liters/cu. in.	2.4 /149	2.4 /149	2.5 /153	2.3 /141

Horsepower @ rpm.	168 @ 5900	197 @ 6000	208 @ 6000	247 @ 5200

Torque (lb-ft) @ rpm.	170 @ 4500	210 @ 1800	236 @ 1500	243 @ 2400

Availability	Standard	Standard	Standard	Standard

EPA City / highway mpg

5-speed manual	22/30	--/--	--/--	20/28

5-speed automatic	22/31	21/28	18/25	21/27

Engine Key: l/cu in. = liters/cubic inches; ohv = overhead valve; ohc = overhead camshaft; dohc = dual overhead camshaft; I = inline cylinders; H = horizonally opposed cylinders; V = cylinders in a V configuration; W = cylinders in a W configuration; rpm = revolutions per minute; CVT = continuously variable (automatic) transmission; NA = not available; "--" = measurement does not exist.

Safety Features

Antilock Brakes

Traction Control

Antiskid System

Front Side Airbags

Curtain Side Airbags

Rear Side Airbags

NHTSA Crash-Test Results

Test	Volvo S60 4-door sedan

Front Impact, Driver	4

Front Impact, Passenger	4

Rollover Resistance	5

Side Impact, Driver	5

Side Impact, Rear Passenger	5

The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) tests a vehicle's worthiness in front- and side-impact collisions and rates its resistance to rollovers. Front-impact crash-test numbers indicate the chance of serious injury: 5 = 10% or less; 4 = 10-20%; 3 = 20-35%; 2 = 35-45%; 1 = More than 45%. Side-impact crash-test numbers indicate: 5 = 5% or less; 4 = 6-10%; 3 = 11-20%; 2 = 21-25%; 1 = More than 26%. Rollover resistance numbers indicate the chance for rollover when the vehicle leaves the roadway: 5 = Less than 10%; 4 = 10-20%; 3 = 20-30%; 2 = 30-40%; 1 = More than 40%.

Manufacturer's Warranty

Class	Years/Miles	Comments

Powertrain	None/--	--

Bumper-to-bumper	4/50,000	--

Corrosion	8/unlimited	--

Free roadside assistance	4/unlimited	--

Free scheduled maintenance	None/--	--

Manufacturers may periodically offer additional coverage as a purchase incentive. There offers are not reflected on this chart. The federal government requires two other warranties. The Exhaust Emission Warranty covers corrosion-related parts for 2 years/24,000 miles, plus 8 years/80,000 miles on the catalytic converter and any on-board diagnostic device. The Passenger Restraint Warranty covers seat belts and airbags for 5 years/50,000 miles.

Built in: Sweden

Drivewheels: front-wheel drive, all-wheel drive

< 2003 Volvo S60 Photos

Also in the 2003 Volvo S60 Review:

Volvo S60

Volvo S60 Road Test

Volvo S60 Prices & Equipment

Volvo S60 Specs & Safety

Volvo S60 Photos

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