Volvo S60 (2000-) Review

Comfort and Equipment

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Another area where the S60 excels. Those seats have already been mentioned - they really are superb - but everything else about the S60's interior is fine, too. Trims are plush, controls are smooth and, with plenty of well-placed arm-rests, few cars are more relaxing on a motorway. Ace refinement also helps here, with all engines proving near-silent at speed (and great-sounding when revved), while ride comfort settles down well too. It's not quite up to C-Class or Laguna standards around town, mind, particularly on firm T5 suspension.

R cars feature a sophisticated system called Four-C, similar to that fitted to the S80 and optional with the T5, with three settings: Comfort, Sport and Advanced. The Comfort mode - revised for 2005 to help it fulfill its brief even better - gives a much flatter ride, and a more cushioned, floating feel; understandably, the other two modes will rattle your fillings.

The S60 certainly is a notably wide car, with fine levels of side-to-side space. It feels spacious, particularly in the front where you're not likely to be rubbing elbows with your passenger. Factor in seats which slide rearwards seemingly forever, for a car to fit all shapes. It's good in the back too, with acceptable legroom and fine headroom, despite the sloping roofline. There's a decent boot, and plenty of convenient storage slots. You'll find new slots for your mobile 'phone almost on a daily basis.

Standard stereos sound good, and look as good as the rest of the fascia with their big-button, ultra-simple style. Best of all is the optional 13-speaker Dolby 'Surround Sound' system though. Powerful, crystal-clear and well-defined sound is stunning, and raises the game for in-car entertainment. Most telling is when you switch the Surround Sound off, making it sound like a 'normal' unit; then you realise just how good it is.