Audi a4 interior

A decade in the automotive industry is like the passing of the Mesozoic era; a lot changes. In 2001, Hyundais were questionable and Toyota was infallible. Pontiac, Oldsmobile and Plymouth existed. Scion did not. So it may come as a bit of a surprise that it's been 10 years since Volvo pulled an all-new S60 out of the oven.





With the exception of an ornery transmission and navigation system, the 2011 S60 was worth the wait.

Volvos have always been long on safety and (with a few exceptions) short on sporty. The company knew that if it was intent on positioning the S60 as competitive against the segment's leading performers like the Audi A4 and BMW 3 series, engineers were going to have to channel their inner Emeril Lagasse and "kick it up a notch."

To wit, the engine in the S60 T6 all-wheel drive I tested (base price is $38,550) was a three-liter, turbo-charged six-cylinder gem that pumps out 300 horsepower and 325 pound-feet of torque. The power comes on smooth, the turbo lag is minimal and Volvo estimates a zero-to-60 time of 5.8 seconds, which frankly seems conservative.

Power is routed to the standard AWD system through a six-speed automatic transmission with a manual mode (but no paddle shifters.)

This transmission is clearly the weak link in the car's performance, especially when you push it. In full-automatic mode, the S60 avoids the red line like a frightened turtle and instead upshifts too eagerly. Thinking you're clever by kicking the transmission into manual mode only nets you slow shifts in either direction.

The rest of the S60's character is indeed sporty, though it doesn't quite have the dance moves to vault it to the top of the segment. There is minor body roll and understeer, but overall it's a very balanced, solid ride.

The sport mode affords the driver a bit more leeway in tossing the car around turns before engaging the stability and traction control.

The steering feel is excellent, and drivers can choose from three levels of power assistance, though this feature is ultimately superfluous as "normal" mode is the best choice.

Those who think the S60 T6 is too powerful or too expensive should consider the T5. A starting price of $32,300 gets buyers a front-wheel drive car with a 2.5-liter, five-cylinder turbocharged engine good for 250 horsepower and 266 pound-feet of torque.

The only thing better than the T6's engine is the car's interior.