Overview

What's New
For 2007, both the 2.5T and T5 versions of the S60 get revamped front-end styling, side mirrors with integrated turn signals, standard Dynamic Stability Traction Control, a tire-pressure-monitoring system, and simplified option and package choices. In addition, 2.5T models get stiffer springs and shock absorbers. Also, the 2007 model year will be the last for the 300-hp S60R.

Overview
Midsize sedans have been an integral part of Volvo's North American lineup since the 1970s. First there was the 240 sedan, which looked like the box it came in, and later the front-wheel-drive (FWD) 850-curvier than the 240, but still pretty squarely shaped. It wasn't until the S60 premiered in 2003 that midsize buyers got a serious taste of Volvo style.

The S60 is sold in three versions. The entry level model is the 2.5T, available with FWD or all-wheel drive (AWD), powered by a 208-hp, 2.5-liter, turbocharged 5-cylinder engine, and connected to a 5-speed automatic transmission. The T5 features a smaller but more powerful engine: 2.4 liters, 5 cylinders, and 257 hp, with FWD and a choice of 6-speed manual or 5-speed automatic transmissions. Topping the range is the S60 R, with a 2.5-liter 300-hp turbo, AWD, and 6-speed manual or 6-speed automatic transmission. Performance buffs take note: 2007 will be the last model year for both the manual-shift S60 T5 and the S60 R.

Safety is, naturally, an important part of the S60's design. The S60 boasts the latest safety technology, including Dynamic Stability Traction Control, anti-lock brakes, and a multitude of air bags: front and seat-mounted side air bags for the front occupants and Inflatable Curtain air bags for both rows. Other safety features are more subtle, such as rear-seat headrests that fold down and out of the driver's field of view at the push of a dash-mounted button. Options include bi-Xenon headlights that change direction with the steering wheel, rain-sensing wipers, and a Dolby ProLogic premium sound system.

The Competition
The Volvo S60 competes in the Compact Premium Conventional segment, which consists of 15 models. Buyers in this segment look for performance, exterior styling, and quality, according to the J.D. Power and Associates 2006 Avoider Study^SM and the Escaped Shopper Study.^SM

The top sellers in the segment during calendar year 2006, according to the J.D. Power and Associates Sales Report,^SM were the BMW 3 Series (120,180 units sold), Acura TL (71,348), and Infiniti G35 (60,741). The Volvo S60 sold 25,753 units in 2006, an increase of 4.3 percent compared to the previous year. Other models offered in the Compact Premium Conventional segment include the Cadillac CTS, Lexus IS Series, Mercedes-Benz C-Class, Audi A4, and Acura TSX. Joining the segment in 2007 is the Lincoln MKZ.