Volvo has worked hard in recent years to shed it’s stodgy image by redesigning its entire line of cars both visually and mechanically. In doing so, it has emerged as a more serious competitor to the likes of Audi, BMW, Lexus and Mercedes than it has ever been. Its new midrange S60 sedan is typical of the direction Volvo is heading — and consumers in big numbers have noticed.

The Swedish automaker has always been known for boxy, safe, dependable, but generally boring cars that had little or no appeal to anyone under 50. Enter Ford Motor Company. Today’s Volvos are stylish, fast and have set a marketing trend with the “Volvo for life” sales philosophy.

Recognizing that the average first-time Volvo buyer was 45+ years old, and because of their dependability, generally bought only two over the course of time, the “Volvo for life” strategy was born.

By introducing the S and V40, which are entry level sedans and wagons aimed at young professionals and families, the Volvo line now offers a vehicle for every price range and lifestyle. All the other European manufacturers have adapted a similar strategy after seeing how much market share Volvo gained — at their expense — with it.
  The new S60 replaces the boxy S70 design and completes the restyling of the entire Volvo line. Besides the aforementioned S and V40 sedan and wagon, in the last few years Volvo has debuted the stylish C70 coupe and convertible, the V70 wagons, and the top of the line S80 sedan.

The S60 is built on the same front-wheel-drive platform as the V70 and S80, and consists of three sedans — all with inline 5-cylinder engines. The base model puts 168 ponies to the pavement and offers spirited acceleration — especially with a 5-speed manual gearbox — for a very reasonable $26,500.

The $29,800 turbocharged 2.4T delivers 197 horses to the highway and provides much livelier acceleration. But the top dog is the $31,800 T5. With its high-boost turbocharged 247-horse powerplant, the T5 is simply a hot rod that boasts neck-snapping acceleration, doing the 0 to 60 drill in 6.5 seconds.

The base model and T5 come with a 5-speed manual or 5-speed automatic, which is the only choice in the midrange 2.4T. The $1,200 Geartronic automatic, which can be used like a clutch-less manual is offered as an option on the T5.

Both turbos are smooth with almost zero turbocharger lag, and the high-performance T5 has very little front wheel-drive torque steer during hard acceleration on dry roads. A traction control system to help keep tires firmly planted on the road is standard for the T5 and optional for the other two models. And, an all-wheel-drive (AWD) S60 that puts power on the road even more efficiently is slated to be in showrooms very shortly.

All the S60s have excellent road manners and offer lots of interior comfort — which is more of a priority than absolute world-class sport sedan handling. Although all three S60s deliver more than respectable handling, the T5 handles the best of the trio.

Interiorwise, much of the quiet, roomy no-nonsense interior is borrowed from the V70 wagon — Volvo’s top seller. Although the front seats are very supportive and comfortable and the rear has two nicely formed passenger areas, typical of cars in this segment, rear legroom is a little tight with the front seats shoved all the way back. Rear-seat headroom under the sloping roof isn’t bad either.

Instrumentation is easy to read, and the controls work smoothly and are large and easy to decipher.

The trunk is long and deep and features a low opening with the deck lid hinged on struts for easy loading of large objects. The rear seatbacks can also be folded forward which makes the already impressive cargo area even larger.

It wouldn’t be a Volvo without an impressive array of safety features such as side airbags and side curtain airbags, and whiplash-protection front seats. Anti-lock brakes are also standard on all S60 models.

Whines: I found the brake pedal a bit mushy, but emergency stopping distances are short. I also found the power steering a bit light, but quick. The Geartronic works well enough, but why bother ? I’d personally opt for a genuine stick with a car like the T5. The front power windows are annoyingly impossible to stop until completely lowered or raised after the switch is activated.

Applause: The S60 offers slick, contemporary styling that’s both attractive and functional. This car handles well, is very roomy and comfortable and offers an impressive menu of standard safety items. The T5 is a genuine hot rod sedan.

Bottom Line: In the traditional Volvo fashion, the new S60 is built for the long haul and is an exciting car that moves Volvo away from it’s stodgy past. Volvo boasts that the S60 has a “coupe profile and sporty soul.” That’s not hyperbole, it’s a fact. The AWD version coming soon will make this fine car even better. The S60 is very definitely is not your Uncle Olaf’s Volvo — he never had it this good.