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2008 Volvo S60 Quality Review

July 22, 2008

COMFORT AND QUALITY | 8 out of 10

Expert Quotes:

notably comfortable front seats
Kelley Blue Book

Superb front-seat comfort
Edmunds

not as composed over bumps as its competition
Edmunds

There's more room inside than you'd think.
Automobile

no shortage of space for people and their luggage
The Auto Channel

The 2008 Volvo S60 soldiers on with really, really comfortable front seats and a nice nav system, but seems to be lacking in every other area, including value for the price.

Near-universal praise for the front seats, a seeming Volvo standard, leads editors at Car and Driver to rate it “very comfy for long cruises” and “probably my first choice for a road trip.” Edmunds agrees emphatically, stating “front occupants will bask in the comfort of the Volvo's orthopedically designed seats.” Kelley Blue Book lauds the wide-for-its-class interior, saying this feature “translates into generous shoulder room.”

While not a penalty box, the rear of the S60 doesn’t receive the glowing comments showered upon the front section. “Rear-seat passengers also complained about having to crane their necks sideways because the large front headrests blocked their view forward,” says Car and Driver. Edmunds warns that “rear passengers will likely find the legroom tight,” and ConsumerGuide notes “the nicely shaped bench seat is comfortable for two medium-sized adults, but legroom is very tight if the front seats are set far back.”

Some editors consider the base interior a bit Spartan, but all feel it's put together well. “The Volvo S60's interior is functional but doesn't feel upscale unless you order the leather upholstery and Dolby Surround Sound options,” comments Edmunds. Cars.com judges the base trim, with its cloth seat, manual driver’s seat, and single CD-player, to be “modest.”

Ergonomics are generally rated high, as summed up by The Auto Channel, who feel that “Volvo's iconic climate control switches are the most self-explanatory in the industry.” Kelley Blue Book loves “the placement of the optional navigation screen, which rises up from atop the dash rather than being integrated into the audio head unit.”

The S60 starts with an MSRP of just over $31,500 and extends all the way to nearly $39,000 for a fully loaded model. This competes directly with rivals such as the Mercedes C-Class and the Audi A4, two competitors with greater refinement and newer design.

Conclusion

The 2008 Volvo S60’s harsh ride, tire slap, and discordant five-cylinder put a lot of pressure on its amazing front seats and solid ergonomics to carry the day.

COMFORT AND QUALITY | 8 out of 10Expert Quotes:notably comfortable front seatsKelley Blue BookSuperb front-seat comfortEdmundsnot as composed over bumps as its competitionEdmundsThere's more room inside than you'd think.Automobileno shortage of space for people and their luggageThe Auto Channel The 2008 Volvo S60 soldiers on with really, really comfortable front seats and a nice nav system, but seems to be lacking in every other area, including value for the price. Near-universal praise for the front seats, a seeming Volvo standard, leads editors at Car and Driver to rate it “very comfy for long cruises” and “probably my first choice for a road trip.” Edmunds agrees emphatically, stating “front occupants will bask in the comfort of the Volvo's orthopedically designed seats.” Kelley Blue Book lauds the wide-for-its-class interior, saying this feature “translates into generous shoulder room.” While not a penalty box, the rear of the S60 doesn’t receive the glowing comments showered upon the front section. “Rear-seat passengers also complained about having to crane their necks sideways because the large front headrests blocked their view forward,” says Car and Driver. Edmunds warns that “rear passengers will likely find the legroom tight,” and ConsumerGuide notes “the nicely shaped bench seat is comfortable for two medium-sized adults, but legroom is very tight if the front seats are set far back.” Some editors consider the base interior a bit Spartan, but all feel it's put together well. “The Volvo S60's interior is functional but doesn't feel upscale unless you order the leather upholstery and Dolby Surround Sound options,” comments Edmunds. Cars.com judges the base trim, with its cloth seat, manual driver’s seat, and single CD-player, to be “modest.” Ergonomics are generally rated high, as summed up by The Auto Channel, who feel that “Volvo's iconic climate control switches are the most self-explanatory in the industry.” Kelley Blue Book loves “the placement of the optional navigation screen, which rises up from atop the dash rather than being integrated into the audio head unit.” The S60 starts with an MSRP of just over $31,500 and extends all the way to nearly $39,000 for a fully loaded model. This competes directly with rivals such as the Mercedes C-Class and the Audi A4, two competitors with greater refinement and newer design. ConclusionThe 2008 Volvo S60’s harsh ride, tire slap, and discordant five-cylinder put a lot of pressure on its amazing front seats and solid ergonomics to carry the day.  2008 VOLVO S60 STYLING | [6 out of 10] Car and Driver: “An entirely unique style” Kelley Blue Book: “from boring box to stylish Swede” Edmunds: “still sports a distinctive Scandinavian flavor” Popular Mechanics: “Remember the 240? Now forget it.” Like Demi Moore—or Bruce Willis--the ...

Read More of this Review:

  1. styling
  2. performance
  3. quality
  4. safety
  5. features

Other Choices:

The Saab 9-5—from Volvo’s rival Swedish brand—is perhaps the closest competitor to the S60. The 2008 Volvo S60 boasts better interior appointments and a better ride, though the (more expensive) 9-5 is more of a driver’s car—and it has a roomier backseat. The Audi A6 is offered with either front-wheel drive or quattro all-wheel drive, has a roomy interior that feels more upscale, and exhibits a nice ride, but it’s also significantly more expensive than the others. Another alternative is the Acura TL, a sporty (especially in Type-S form) and luxurious sedan that has a much roomier interior, though it’s only offered with front-wheel drive.

Next Steps:

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See the Volvo S60 in Other Years:

2010 | 2009 | 2008 | 2007 | 2006 | 2005 | 2004 | 2003 | 2002 | 2001

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