1. Overview
2. Gallery
   • Photo Gallery (16)
   • 360° View
   • Video
   • Web Videos (39)
3. Trims and Specs
   • Select a Trim (7)
4. More Resources
   • Related News (0)
   • Other Expert Reviews (9)
   • Consumer Opinions (276)
   • Car Tweets
   • Q&A (0)
5. Next Steps
   • Get Volvo Insurance Quotes
   • Get Volvo Financing Quotes
   • Check Local Classifieds
   • Find a local dealer

     Select State Alabama Alaska Arizona Arkansas California Colorado Connecticut Delaware Florida Georgia Hawaii Idaho Illinois Indiana Iowa Kansas Kentucky Louisiana Maine Maryland Massachusetts Michigan Minnesota Mississippi Missouri Montana Nebraska Nevada New Hampshire New Jersey New Mexico New York North Carolina North Dakota Ohio Oklahoma Oregon Pennsylvania Rhode Island South Carolina South Dakota Tennessee Texas Utah Vermont Virginia Washington West Virginia Wisconsin Select City
     

     See all Volvo dealers

April 3, 2008 http://www.thecarconnection.com/fullreview/volvo_s60_2002

  TheCarConnection Team
 TheCarConnection Team

by Dan Carney

You review the 2002 Volvo S60 AWD

When they introduced the mid-size S60 sedan, Volvo said they intended to attack all aspects of the sporty European sedan segment. Asked if that meant an all-wheel-drive variant, the company candidly admitted from the beginning that it would.

Fans of proper sport sedans should rejoice, because the resulting S60 AWD is not a dressed-up, macho SUV wannabe. It is, instead, every bit the refined near-luxury sedan the S60 is, but it is one that is even more surefooted than the conventional front-drive version.

Sure-footed luxury

The all-wheel-drive system adds a little weight (140 pounds) and cost to the S60, and surely siphons off a bit of performance in terms of straight-line acceleration. But only the added cost could be detected by a customer under normal circumstances because the all-wheel drive system is completely unobtrusive.

That’s because the system sends 95 percent of the engine’s power through the front wheels under typical dry, straight-line acceleration. If wheels start to slip, as when we floored it from a stop on a gravel road, power is rerouted as needed. Between the AWD system and the traction control, we weren’t able to induce any wheelspin on the gravel road, which bodes well for traction in rain and snow.

As always, the S60 is a supremely comfortable sedan, capable on twisty roads, where it feels agile, as well as in the school parking lot, where its spacious back seat carries three in comfort. Naturally, the car is loaded with safety features, such as just about every imaginable airbag and advanced seatbelts.

by Dan Carney You review the 2002 Volvo S60 AWD When they introduced the mid-size S60 sedan, Volvo said they intended to attack all aspects of the sporty European sedan segment. Asked if that meant an all-wheel-drive variant, the company candidly admitted from the beginning that it would. Fans of proper sport sedans should rejoice, because the resulting S60 AWD is not a dressed-up, macho SUV wannabe. It is, instead, every bit the refined near-luxury sedan the S60 is, but it is one that is even more surefooted than the conventional front-drive version.Sure-footed luxury 2002 Volvo S60 AWDEnlarge PhotoThe all-wheel-drive system adds a little weight (140 pounds) and cost to the S60, and surely siphons off a bit of performance in terms of straight-line acceleration. But only the added cost could be detected by a customer under normal circumstances because the all-wheel drive system is completely unobtrusive. That’s because the system sends 95 percent of the engine’s power through the front wheels under typical dry, straight-line acceleration. If wheels start to slip, as when we floored it from a stop on a gravel road, power is rerouted as needed. Between the AWD system and the traction control, we weren’t able to induce any wheelspin on the gravel road, which bodes well for traction in rain and snow. As always, the S60 is a supremely comfortable sedan, capable on twisty roads, where it feels agile, as well as in the school parking lot, where its spacious back seat carries three in comfort. Naturally, the car is loaded with safety features, such as just about every imaginable airbag and advanced seatbelts. by Dan Carney You review the 2002 Volvo S60 AWD When they introduced the mid-size S60 sedan, Volvo said they intended to attack all aspects of the sporty European sedan segment. Asked if that meant an all-wheel-drive variant, the company candidly admitted from the ...