The S60 is a five-year-old design that does not compete at the same level as the better vehicles here. It was originally designed with a balance of luxury and sport, but since its introduction, competing models have raised the standards of both, leaving it as an all-around mediocre vehicle, impressive in neither area. Both are relatively inexpensive and have excellent front seats, but those traits alone are not enough to propel the mediocre S60 higher than this in a very competitive class.

        The S60 has a rather stiff ride that manages to quell unwanted body motions well enough, but fails to adequately suppress road imperfections. The optional run-flat tires equipped on the 2.4i version reviewed here make the ride even less absorbent, and can lead to a jittery feel on uneven pavement. There is little excessive body roll, but the steering is slow to respond, and neither version feels particularly agile overall. The 2.4i's 2.4-liter five-cylinder provides unimpressive acceleration; the 2.5T's turbocharged 2.5-liter five-cylinder is much quicker, but still far from a class leader here. Quicker T5 and R models are also available, but only the latter is truly an impressive vehicle, and it is too expensive for inclusion here. Neither the 2.4-liter or 2.5-liter 5-cylinders are particularly smooth or quiet, and road noise is prominent, especially with the 2.4i's run-flat tires. Fuel economy is a strong point with either engine, and the turbocharged 2.5-liter provides gas mileage virtually identical to its lesser sibling.

        Inside, the S60 has large, firm, supportive, and very comfortable front seats that offer impressive legroom and headroom, even with the optional sunroof. The rear is cramped, however, with minimal leg and headroom. The cushion is nicely-shaped, but too soft and too low. The interior uses mostly high-quality materials, and all trim pieces fit together very well, but a few plastics are lacking for a car in this price range, and the interior makes use of little aluminum or wood trim to spruce up the decor. The gauges could be larger, and the large instrument panel is populated only be notably small instruments, many of which are unlabeled. Drivers sit very comfortably, but the sloping roofline inhibits rearward visibility, as well as rear seat entry/exit. The trunk is fairly roomy by the standards of this class, and well-shaped to make the most of its volume.

        The S60 did well in crash testing, but its showings were not as exceptional as Volvo's image of unbeatable safety would suggest. It earned a rating of Good, the second highest of five, in the IIHS offset crash test, and an Acceptable rating in the side crash test. In NHTSA testing, it earned four stars for both the driver and for the front passenger for its frontal protection, and five stars for both the driver and for the rear passenger in side-impact protection.

       The S60 2.4i reviewed here came out to approximately $2,000 less than the 2.5T, but at the expense of feature content. Overall, despite its higher base price, its additional standard equipment and more-convenient options packages, the 2.5T comes out as a better deal overall, with exceptional feature content while remaining at a very reasonable price by the standards of this group. While it lacked no major equipment compared to the other vehicles here, the 2.4i version lacked the navigation system and rear parking assist that came with the 2.5T; they are unavailable even as options on that base version. Consumers who do not desire those options could get a 2.5T S60 for the same price or less than the 2.4i with the same features.

         Overall, neither S60 model stands out. Comfortable seats and excellent pricing are nice traits, but they are not unique in this class. And stack those positives against a roster of negatives, and against the numerous areas in which the vehicles fail to excel, and both come up short. The 2.5T is the obvious choice between the two, coming in at the same price with additional power and the same gas mileage, but even it does not manage to stand out in this class. There are better choices.

Pros:

-Features for the Money

-Front Seat Comfort

-Fuel Economy

Cons:

-Refinement

-Interior Space

-Ride Comfort

-Acceleration (2.4)

Overall:

Mediocre all- arounders selling primarily on Volvo's safety image.

Prices of Versions Reviewed:

2.4i: $29,325

2.5T: $31,227

Powertrains:

2.4-liter I5

2.5-liter I5