I have never visited Sweden. All I know of this Scandinavian county is that its denizens are the inventors of those tasty candy fish and its other national confection, the '70s band Abba. And all I knew of Volvos was that they were safe, slow and square--in that order.
My paradigm was officially shifted after a 964-mile jaunt in our long-term 2001 Volvo S60 T5. The S60 is the antithesis of what I thought a Volvo was supposed to be. The bright red exterior is stylish and bold. Its curvy exterior cuts through the slab-sided sedan clutter currently in the marketplace with a classy, demure look that makes it stand out in a way unexpected from Volvo.
On the inside it's business-like in black leather, high-quality dark gray plastic and pseudo-wood trim. Besides a top-notch audio system with Dolby Pro Logic(TM) circuitry and four CD in-dash player, the Volvo cabin features a plethora of speakers perfectly tailored for its space. The rest of the interior is simple and nondescript with the typical over-engineered HVAC system found on many European cars. Worth noting is the driver's seat--it's comfortable, supportive and cradles the driver in a way that implies personal safety. This is one of the few passenger car seats that you sit in, not on.
I drove the Volvo over four-lane highways and meandering two-lane roads, straight as a stick and twisted as a snake's back, and this is where I learned the true nature of the Volvo. It turns out that the T5 is a Swedish freight train with 247 bhp on tap! Of course, it's got turbo lag, and the torque steer is reminiscent of a K-car, but once the inline five is on full boost you forget about these shortcomings. The delivery of power at cruising speed is smooth and startling. Just pick something ahead you want to get around, like that E-Class or bumbling Buick, slog the stylish gear selector to fourth and count 3 as you punch the skinny pedal. At wide-open throttle the S60 gathers itself quietly and takes on a locomotive-like quality that caught me off guard.
Since I had chosen Interstate 5 as the quickest way to my destination, I decided Highway 1 would be my return route. This road that hugs California's coast is the holy grail of driving enthusiasts and tourists alike. On any given day you can find sport bikes, roadsters and Winnebagos enjoying this twisting two-lane ribbon along the Pacific Ocean. The Volvo's suspension is controlled and compliant, but fast sweepers and hairpins don't bring out the car's best. The steering response is too slow for such a powerful front-drive car and the on-center feel is missing, and the five-speed shifter mechanism is slow, vague and tempers the fun you can have with the responsive engine.
My time in the S60 T5 was an eye-opening experience, and I anticipate many sedan shoppers will have the same realization I have had about the Volvo S60 T5. Perhaps our friends in the aftermarket can help this unique sedan realize more of its performance potential.