2001 Volvo S60 Review Summaries

What reviewers liked most about the Volvo S60:

Zero to 60 mph comes at just 5.5 seconds [in the S60R], which is a full second quicker than the S60 T5, nearly two seconds faster than the S60 AWD, and most notably, only 0.3 and 0.5 second slower, respectively, than the Mercedes C32 AMG and the 340-hp Audi S4.

-- Car and Driver

The heating, ventilation and air conditioning controls are well designed and easy to operate, with big buttons that use Volvo's clever metaphoric design to direct the airflow.

-- New Car Test Drive

The S60 combines exciting performance and a stylish shape with Volvo's well-deserved reputation for outstanding safety.

-- New Car Test Drive

Driven with care in the snow, the S60 AWD is exceptionally adroit and virtually unstoppable - especially on winter tires.

-- Car and Driver

The seats are excellent and the dash controls - particularly those for the a/c and heater - can actually be figured out at a glance by a person who's never seen them before.

-- Road & Track

What reviewers liked least about the Volvo S60:

Our good friend Mr. Torque Steer loves to spoil the party just when that turbo starts pumping its punch around 3500 rpm.

-- AutoWeek

Constant-throttle acceleration is smooth enough, but dip into and out of the go pedal while dicing in traffic, and there's a sense of the electronics working overtime to manage the boost, fuel, spark, and gear selection, resulting in surges and sags in the power delivery.

-- Car and Driver

It's not as fun to drive as some other vehicles in this segment, such as the rear-wheel-drive Lexus IS 300 or BMW 3 Series.

-- Edmunds.com

One of our editors described the Volvo as "a motor looking for a chassis." There's a little more to it than that, but if the drawstring were pulled a little tighter on the steering and suspension, this would be an extraordinary sports sedan instead of just a pleasant one.

-- Road & Track

Volvo S60 Comparisons:

Despite this Saab-like tendency and a lightness to the steering, the T5 performs capably on the track. Witness it beating fellow front-driver Acura TL Type-S through the traps and the slalom.

-- AutoWeek

S60 fills the middle range in Volvo's lineup: It's larger than the S40, but not quite as large as the premium-luxury S80.

-- New Car Test Drive

Best one-liner about the Volvo S60:

Perhaps those traditionally frumpy Volvo buyers have known something all along?

-- AutoWeek

It's handsome in a Lars-in-a-cable-knit sweater kind of way.

-- New Car Test Drive

While most of the Volvo's shortcomings seem to reside between the steering wheel and the contact patches of the front tires, there's not much to dislike about the rest of the car.

-- Road & Track