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“An entirely unique style”
Car and Driver »
“from boring box to stylish Swede”
Kelley Blue Book »
“still sports a distinctive Scandinavian flavor”
Edmunds »
“Remember the 240? Now forget it.”
Popular Mechanics »
STYLING | 6 out of 10
Like Demi Moore—or Bruce Willis--the 2008 Volvo S60 is aging but still turns heads.
Originally released for the 2001 model year, reviewers nonetheless still find the S60’s shape appealing and distinctive. Perhaps one of the first sedans to adopt a coupe-like roofline (a trend now exemplified by vehicles like Mercedes’ CLS), the S60's “swept-back rear roof creates a nice fastback look,” states Kelley Blue Book. Cars.com says the “curvy shape, far removed from past Volvos, gives the four-door S60 the look of a coupe.” Automobile names “other sporty cues,” such as “the wide stance, the subtle flares at the wheel openings, and the tucked-in bumpers.” A grille and bumper redesign for 2006 smooth the S60’s exterior. According to Autoblog, changes for the 2007 model year include “a deeper lip spoiler, new grille and larger Volvo iron symbol.”
Calling the interior design “similar to the previous-generation S80,” Cars.com says “the S60’s businesslike dashboard groups audio and climate controls within a broad center panel.” Of changes made for the ’07 model year, Autoblog comments, “Many interior trim pieces have also been dipped in metal to brighten up the S60’s insides and the watch-like instruments found in the S60R and new S80 are now an option.” The Auto Channel notes that the S60’s interior “is very much an example of Swedish Modern style."
Conclusion
The 2008 Volvo S60 is still a visually striking alternative to other European luxury vehicles, but it’s no longer progressive.