New cars: 2011 Volvo S60

Motor Trend

Unlike many Volvos, the sporty new four-door S60 “is as stylish as it is safe.” It’s also comfortable and roomy, with a capacious trunk that “can swallow a couple of big Samsonites, no problem.” Handling and performance have been improved by all-wheel-drive, a 300-hp turbocharged engine, and six-speed automatic transmission—a strong signal that the long-struggling automaker is “serious about becoming a legitimate player in the crowded near-luxury segment.”

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The S60 will surprise those who think of Volvo as “the equivalent of a European Buick.” In addition to being “a handsome package that is fun to drive and extremely comfortable,” this is among the safest cars around. It even offers an optional pedestrian-avoidance system, which can recognize groups of up to 10 people at a time and bring the car from 25 mph to a dead stop to avoid a collision. This option is expensive, though, and “works only with two-legged creatures.”

Car and Driver

A $750 option on the new S60 offers comfort, sport, and advanced driving modes. Flaws include somewhat numb steering and shifts that “are a bit hesitant” in stop-and-go situations. Still, this Volvo “drives well enough to appeal to that segment of European-car buyers for whom ‘pretty sporty’ is just perfect.”