2011 Volvo S60 
The second-generation Volvo S60 takes a slightly different approach than its predecessor. Yes, there are a ton of safety features in the car, more than on any previous Volvo. Loaded with items such as City Safety and the company's third-generation of collision warning, the S60 has an optional pedestrian safety system that, using a camera and radar system, recognizes people (up to 10 at a time, distinguishing the nearest threats) and will bring the car from up to 25 mph to a dead stop to avoid a collision. The system works only with two-legged creatures, so it will not respond to four-legged animals.
How's it drive?
While safety is Volvo's calling card, company engineers have spent years working on the chassis and suspension of this new S60 with the goal to make the car not only safe, but fun to drive.
After sampling a preproduction car on the twisting, undulating roads of the Taunus hills near Frankfurt, Germany, we can say their effort was worthwhile. With the turbocharged six underhood--the only engine variant to be offered when the car goes on sale in the United States this fall--the S60 is fun to drive. A six-speed manual or six-speed dual-clutch gearbox would make the car even more fun to drive, but simply saying "Volvo" and "fun-to-drive" in the same sentence is certainly a good step forward.
During development Volvo engineers paid special attention to the car's steering, offering drivers the option to choose the effort needed to turn the wheel. Using the center console display, you can choose low, medium or high, depending upon personal preference. Low gives you the type of feel you might expect in say, a Lexus, while medium feels like a traditional German sports sedan. High is a notch up from there. Steering weight preferences are very personal, and during some tight switchbacks the high felt a bit too much, while medium seemed spot-on while low was, well, too light. Your experience may vary. Giving the driver the option is a nice feature, we think.
No matter which setting you use, the car responds with crisp turn-in, and the steering feedback lets you know where the car is at all times. Our test car was riding on 18-inch summer tires and the grip was very good. U.S.-spec cars will come with all-season rubber, so the ride may be jut a tad softer and the grip not as good. Summer tires may be offered as an option here in the States.
The Haldex AWD system splits torque according to which wheels are getting bite, and, working in coordination with the car's traction control system, minimizes understeer.
The suspension is stiff, not brutally so, but you notice very little body roll and hardly any brake drive. Jounce and rebound are very well handled, giving the car a solid, secure feel on a variety of road surfaces. The net result is a car that will surprise those who might think of Volvo as being the equivalent of a European Buick. We all know the Euro Buick is, of course, an Opel Insignia.
Do I want it?
Volvo knows convincing customers the S60 is a driver's car, not just a safe cocoon in which to haul precious cargo--aka family members--is a tall order, so Volvo priced the car competitively. At $38,550, the S60 packs more features and more horsepower than similar-sized cars offered from Audi, BMW, Mercedes-Benz and Lexus. Start ticking off options, and you can easily push the price of the car north of $45,000. Still, the S60 offers one of the safest cars built in a handsome package that is fun to drive and extremely comfortable. The interior design is elegantly simply, with just two round dials in the instrument panel fitted into a dash with a sweeping design reminiscent of a road-course layout. The center stack, topped by a seven-inch display screen, is again simple and straightforward. And Volvo continues to put in its cars some of the most comfortable seats available in a car today.
Who said safe can't be fun?
2011 Volvo S60
Drivetrain: 3.0-liter turbocharged I6, 300 hp, 325 lb-ft; AWD, six-speed automatic
Curb weight: 3,764 lb
0-60 mph: 6.5 sec (mfr)
Fuel economy: TBD
