Find the best price deals on Volvo S60 T5′s.
Long ago, Volvo used to make the safest and most bland cars on the road. Some of the older Volvos were downright ugly; most were boxes on wheels. Volvo owners only had one effective retort: “yeah, but it’s safe.” Fast forward 2000, when Volvo introduced the S60. Not only does it have a sleek, modern design, but it was used as a police cruiser in Europe, and even broke 18 British land speed records for production cars.
For the 2012 model year, the S60 is in its second generation. Volvo calls it a compact executive sedan, and it is classified as a midsize luxury sedan in the US. The T5 is the base trim level. It has a 2.5 liter, turbocharged, inline 5-cylinder engine that produces 250 horespower and 266 foot-pounds of torque, 17-inch alloy wheels, front-wheel drive, and a 6-speed automatic transmission with manual shifters. It is rated at 20 mpg in the city and 30 mpg on the highway. It goes from zero to sixty in 6.8 seconds.
The T5 comes with a leather and simulated alloy, tilt-telescope steering wheel that houses the audio and cruise controls. It has an 8-way power driver’s seat with height adjustment and lumbar support, a fold flat passenger seat, cloth upholstery, a split-folding rear seatback, keyless entry, full-power accessories, speed-proportional power steering, 2-zone climate control split between driver and front passenger, leather and simulated alloy on the console and doors, simulated alloy trim on the dash, a leather-covered shift knob, turn signals in the mirrors, memorized settings for 3 drivers including climate control and audio system, a rear defogger, automatic headlights, foglights, and a trip computer.
The 160-watt audio system has Bluetooth, 8 speakers, AM/FM/satellite radio, a CD/MP3 player, an audio jack, and a USB/iPod port. 6 months of Sirius satellite service are included.
Volvos might not be bland anymore, but they are still as safe as any car on the road. The T5 has antilock brakes, stability control, traction control, side front airbags, side curtain airbags, and active front head restraints. It also has a very creative system called City Safety. It basically applies the brakes if you are going 19 mpg or less and are about to run into something. There is also some optional equipment that we will list in the options section below. There are no test scores available yet, but Volvo is one of about four companies whose internal standards are much more stringent than any of the testing agencies.
Conclusions and Driver Feedback
The interior is very well-done. The materials and workmanship are top-notch, and the controls are well-placed and easy to understand. Some may really like the abundant trim, while some may find it cloying. We like it. There is plenty of headroom and legroom in the front seats; the combined headroom and legroom is 80.2 inches. Unfortunately, the combined number in the rear seat is 71.9 inches, or just under 6 feet. The seats themselves are very comfortable, and the myriad adjustments for the driver’s seat make the T5 a car that is fine for a “road warrior.” The trunk holds 13.9 cubic feet of cargo.
The T5, like the rest of the S60 trim levels, is a luxury sedan with an edge. Even this base trim with the smaller engine has a bit of pop in the accelerator. There is enough power to accelerate cleanly and cruise with ease at highway speeds. The steering and suspension are geared more toward a great ride, but are still tight enough to assure very good response and excellent handling. The ride is very smooth, and the cabin is very quiet.
All in all, the Volvo S60 T5 is a very nice entry-level luxury car for a single, couple, or small family, whose main concerns are reliability and safety. The back seat, while not great for adults, is one of the safest places you could ever seat your child in an automobile. The ambience and ride are pure luxury, and the handling engages the driver just enough to assure full attention.
The verdict: very highly recommended.
Options, other trims, and miscellaneous caveats.
The options list is staggering, so we will give highlights. First of all, there are some very nice safety options here that may become mainstream in a few years. The coolest one is Pedestrian Detection, which is part of the Technology Package. PD uses a sensor to detect pedestrians over 31 inches tall, and applies the brakes, slowing down the car by up to 22 mph. It also has features that counteract lane departure, driver inattention, and impending collision. There are also front and rear parking sensors, and a warning system for the side blind spot.
Other options include: Dual screen rear seat entertainment system, navigation system, sport pedals, wood inlays, keyless drive with personal car communicator, and a plethora of exterior additions. There are also packages broken into the following: Dynamic, Sport Appearance, Technology, Multimedia, Climate, and Premium.
The second trim level is the T6. It has a 3.0 liter, turbocharged inline 6-cylinder engine that produces 300 horsepower and 325 pound-feet of torque. It also has all-wheel drive. It has all of the equipment on the T5, and adds 18-inch wheels, selectable steering tunings, a sport-tuned suspension, and leather upholstery.
The third trim level is the T6 R-design. It adds a bit of extra turbo to the 3.0 engine, giving it 324 horsepower and 354 pound-feet of torque. It also has a sunroof. It is really a separate trim, though, and will be reviewed at a later date.
Basically, the higher you go in trim levels, the more the S60 is like one of the ones that becomes a police cruiser. You get more power and a suspension that is more able to handle it. Since the R-design costs around $11,000 more than the T5, we like the T5 as a great starting point. As with many entry-level luxury cars, the T5, even as a base trim, has more than enough conveniences for most drivers.
Related posts:
- 2011 Volvo XC60 3.2 Review & Cheapest Priced Deals
- 2011 Volvo S40 T5 R-Design Reviews & Cheapest Prices
- 2011 Volvo C30 T5 Review, Cheapest Price & Specs
- Cheapest Price 2011 Volvo XC70 3.2 Wagon & Review
- Cheapest Price Deal 2011 Volvo V50 T5 Review & Ratings
