Volvo S60

There's a revolution not so quietly occurring at Volvo: Boxy is out, sporty is in.Just look at it: The all-new S60's bodywork is by far the most forward thinking ever to come from Volvo's Camarillo, California-based design center. The S60's sculpted, curvaceous shapes more resemble a coupe's trailing roofline than an old, square-rigged sedan's

The S60 uses the larger S80 platform as a springboard. Its suspension architecture (MacPherson struts up front; multilink out back) is also retained and thoroughly retuned for sportier sedan duty. This combination provides cat-quick steering response and enthusiastic handling, without jolting occupants over rough roads.

Our top-of-the-line T5 tester came with an all-aluminum 2.4L high-pressure turbocharged inline five-cylinder putting out 247 hp and 243 lb-ft of torque. Power goes to the front wheels via the standard five-speed manual gearbox (a five-speed automatic is optional). The I-5 purrs at idle, but once turbo boost begins to build at 1200 rpm, it's a torque-filled, slingshot ride to the fun zone. The TS's wide power band should allow it to compare favorably against the normally aspirated Mercedes C320 and BMW's 330i. Four-wheel ABS-assisted discs lifted from the larger S80 are more than up to the job.

Any driver will appreciate the S60's cockpit-oriented interior, especially its fabulously supportive front seats. The S60's climate control system and easy-to-use switchgear should be a model for the industry to follow.

Sport doesn't come at the cost of safety. The S60 packs dual-stage driver and passenger airbags, a set of side airbags, and full length inflatable curtains. Combined with active-headrest-equipped seats and seatbelts fitted with pretensioners and load limiters, the entire system "thinks" and acts to optimize its response for the highest occupant protection, regardless of the situation.

Competing against BMW's 3 Series, Mercedes-Benz' C-Class, and the upcoming Jaguar X400, the base S60 (powered by a normally aspirated 2.4L I-5) rings in at a starting price of $26,500. A luxury-minded light-pressure turbo model with automatic starts at $29,800, and the sporty T5 at $31,800.

With the S60, it looks like Volvo finally kept the toy, and threw away the box.

What's Hot:
Excellent safety heritage;
designed with the driver in mind;
finally some style

What's Not:
Soft power until turbo kicks in;
back seat tight for three