Super TestCar reviews - Volvo - S60 - sedan rangeVolvo modelsOverviewAttractive, comfortable Volvo S60 is top for value and safety but not for handling1 Dec 2010 FOR the past few years, the only Volvos to sell here in decent numbers are SUVs such as the XC60 and XC90. The Swedish car-maker wants to change all of that with the second generation of its relatively affordable mid-sized prestige sedan, the S60, which is aimed at the BMW 3-Series and Mercedes-Benz C-class, but Volvo has placed more emphasis on comfort and safety, as you may expect. Three engines will be available by the start of 2011, but until the turbo four-cylinder petrol unit arrives the choice is between a 151kW/420Nm five-cylinder turbo diesel and a 224kW/440Nm six-cylinder turbo petrol. Both engines feed their power through a constant all-wheel-drive system. The S60 is also choc-full of safety gear, becoming the first car with Volvo’s new pedestrian detection and avoidance radar and camera system that automatically brakes for wayward pedestrians. Model release date: 1 December 2010 to 1 September 2013 All car reviewsAlfa Romeo Abarth Alpine Alpina Audi Aston Martin BMW Bentley Chevrolet Chery Citroen Chrysler Dodge Cupra Ferrari DS Ford Fiat FPV Foton GWM Great Wall Holden Haval HSV Honda Hyundai Hummer Isuzu Infiniti Jeep Jaguar Lamborghini Kia LDV Land Rover Lotus Lexus Maserati Mahindra McLaren Mazda Mercedes-Benz Mercedes-AMG Mini MG Nissan Mitsubishi Peugeot Opel Proton Porsche Renault Ram Rover Rolls-Royce Skoda Saab SsangYong Smart Suzuki Subaru Toyota Tesla Volvo Volkswagen Previous modelTHE S60 was built to take on the BMW 3 Series, Mercedes-Benz C-class and Audi A4 and inject some youthful appeal into the Volvo brand. It arrived in Australia in 2001 and sold strongly to start off with.It had a dramatic design for the time came with two naturally aspirated and turbocharged five-cylinder petrol engines including the entry level 2.4-litre and the boosted 2.5-litre.Volvo increased its appeal by adding an all-wheel drive version as well as a red-hot 220kW 2.5-litre turbo R model soon after the launch.The range was given an upgrade in 2006 with a range of equipment and suspension revisions aimed at improving the handling. By 2008, sales had slowed and Volvo Australia dropped the S60 from its line-up. Get the full story: Volvo's S60 was the sedan version of the V70 wagon |
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