Category: Compact Executive 
Price Range: £19,995 to £24,770
Very refined, very comfortable, very relaxing, characterful engines, soothing over long distances, good looks freshened up for 2005
Not as much fun as a 3-Series, town ride not as good as a C-Class, not as economical as it ought to be.
A very impressive car from Volvo; not racy but refined and very satisfying over the long term. A very well-rounded car, particularly in D5 diesel form.
Few people nowadays still think of Volvo as no more than a maker of boxy estate cars. For those who do, the Ford-owned Swedish manufacturer has the answer: the S60. Stylish and sporty in a way no Volvo saloon before it has been, it's also an intriguing alternative to the omnipresent BMW 3-Series. It's given character by a wholly turbocharged range of five-cylinder engines, an ultra-wide stance to aid stability, and a coupe-like rear that belies the saloon boot. With strong shoulders and flowing curves, the S60 is a real head-turner, and easily as attractive as Audi's A4, its closest rival in terms of philosophy and image.
The engine range starts with 2.0-litres, and moves up via 2.4-litre petrol and diesel units to the T5, now with a 2.4-litre engine and 260bhp. There's also the 300bhp, four-wheel-drive S60 R. All pretty desirable, and priced competitively too.
Latest Readers' Drives About the Volvo S60
wrote on 13 03 2008
wrote on 22 03 2007