Used 2011 Volvo S60 for sale 

The 2011 Volvo S60 is a midsize luxury sport sedan currently available in a single T6 trim level. The S60 T6 comes with all-wheel drive, a sport-tuned suspension, 18-inch alloy wheels, front sport seats (eight-way power with memory settings for the driver), leather upholstery, aluminum interior trim, a tilt-and-telescoping steering wheel, dual-zone automatic climate control, an auto-dimming rearview mirror, Bluetooth and an eight-speaker audio system with a single-CD player, satellite radio, HD radio, an iPod/USB interface and an auxiliary audio jack.

Going for the optional Premium package gets you adaptive xenon headlights, a sunroof and a power passenger seat. The Multimedia package upgrades the S60 with a 12-speaker premium sound system, a rearview camera and navigation system with real-time traffic updates. The Climate package adds heated front seats, heated windshield washer jets, rain-sensing wipers and an interior air quality system, while the Technology package includes adaptive cruise control, collision warning with auto brake, pedestrian detection, lane departure warning and driver alert control.

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Redesigned for 2011, the Volvo S60 regains its standing as the looker in the family. But it's what's under the sleek skin that impresses us the most. Available in only a single trim and an optional upgrade which includes features like sunroof/moonroof, the Volvo S60 is worth the money.

While the S60's more aggressive new look might be indication enough that Volvo intends to provide serious performance this time around in the S60, the base spec—300 horsepower and all-wheel drive—confirms it for those who live and breathe performance. While other markets will get smaller engines, the S60 is being brought to the U.S. in only one powertrain flavor for now: a 3.0-liter turbocharged in-line six-cylinder engine.

It's an impressive engine, making a peak 325 lb-ft of torque, but drives the S60 normally in traffic and you probably wouldn't know it, thanks to a soft throttle calibration and a smooth, refined character. It's hooked up to a six-speed automatic transmission on all models (there's no manual transmission available).

Yet despite those racy looks, dashing interior, and sport-sedan credentials, the S60 is certainly not a car that invites to be flogged. Not in the same way as an Acura TL, or even a Lexus ES. The quarter mile time is impressive for the S60, and it is as dynamic as the other sedans featured in the comparison. The price range does justice to all the performance, plus features it showcases.

The S60's EPA fuel economy ratings of 18 mpg city, 26 highway are on par for the class, though if fuel-efficiency is a priority they're not particularly impressive if you weigh them against any number of slightly larger V-6-powered luxury sedans. However, Volvo vehicles have a reputation for lasting a long time, and the brand has shown strong corporate responsibility and a concern for the environment long before it was a marketing tool, so that could be a tie-breaker for some shoppers.

When it comes to the fuel efficiency, Lexus marginally beats the Volvo and the Acura by a mere 1 point difference in all the categories-- city, highway and the combined mpg. Whereas the Volvo S60 and the Acura TL recorded identical figures of 18 mpg in city and 26 mpg on the highways. The fuel tank capacity on the other hand is 17.8, which is a bit lesser than its competitors here.

Interior materials in the 2011 Volvo S60 are on par with the rest of the entry-level luxury sedan class. You may not care for the heavier graining on the dash and doors, but there's no denying that the leather, vinyl and plastic used in this cabin are of solid quality. Volvo offers a different take on the expected wood and metal accents that give the S60's cabin more personality than most rivals. 

 All the flexibility and utility that sedan shoppers expect is there in the S60. The rather high deck actually affords a large trunk and a pretty large opening, and the rear seat splits 40/60 and folds forward to expand space for large cargo items—although there is a step up that doesn't make it completely continuous or flat.

As one would expect in a Volvo, the front seats are excellent in terms of long-trip comfort and proper support. Unfortunately, the backseat isn't quite as accommodating. The seats themselves are supportive, but legroom and foot room are tight for adults over 5-foot-8. Most competitors are slightly more accommodating. Take a seat in the 2011 Volvo S60, and its rakish design doesn't make any real compromises for functionality. The 2011 S60 is still a five-seater with ample space for all its occupants. Some interior feature are listed below:

• Leather-wrapped steering wheel
• Heated Front Seats
• Adjustable steering wheel column
• Heated steering wheel
• Ambient interior lighting
• Steering Wheel Controls

2011 Volvo S60 Sedan Infotainment System

The straightforward dual-temperature adjustment dials and the "mode man" pictogram make adjustments to the climate control system intuitive. The audio system is fairly easy to use, too, though the array of small audio buttons is starting to look dated. The available DVD-based navigation system thankfully does away with the complicated back-of-the-steering-wheel controls seen on previous Volvos and adopts a more conventional dial-type controller. In practice, this interface works fine, though Volvo's navigation software still feels a few years behind the times. 

• AM/FM Stereo
• Auxiliary Audio Input
• CD Player
• HD Radio
• MP3 Player
• Satellite Radio
• Premium Sound System 
• Entertainment System 
• Navigation System
• Wireless Cell Phone Hookup

The 2011 S60 looks like a Volvo, yet it's more rakish and aggressive than anything that's ever before been in this Swedish brand's stable. The S60 is handsome, expressive, and organic all at once from the outside, with smooth contours and swooping lines matched up with a low, wedgie front and pert tail, and framed with large flashy alloy wheels.

While previous Volvos have had strong vertical lines, the overall look of the S60 is close to the pavement with the wheels moved to the corners and a double beltline that gives the impression that the car is even lower than it is. At the rear Sterner’s team moved away from the giant vertical taillights that typified recent Volvos toward a more refined design.

The heaviest of them all is the Volvo S60 with 3901 pounds, the Acura TL follows with 3721 pounds and the Lexus ES with 3605. Although they all have the same wheelbase, the length of each sedan is a different story. When it comes to all the other criterias the Volvo falls behind the competition, except the height.

• Aluminum wheels
• Tire Pressure Monitoring System
• Fog Lamps
• Auto-Off Headlights
• Reverse camera

Safety features are of course offered up in full swing, with a new Corner Traction Control feature designed to smooth cornering by redirecting torque between the axles. And again the automaker is at the leading edge; an all-new world debut in the new S60 is a Pedestrian Detection with Full Auto Brake feature, which can detect a pedestrian, vehicle, or other obstacle in the road ahead and brake to a full stop if the driver doesn't register any indication that they've seen it.

 The new system uses cameras and radar to identify potential issues and warns the driver, with a light and a chime, at the point where a collision seems inevitable, then actually applies the brakes with full force so that, if you're going less than 22 mph, you'll probably be able to stop just short of the obstacle, vehicle, or person. And at higher speeds, it helps to reduce the collision speed and severity as much as possible.

• Brake Assist
• Electronic Stability Control
• Daytime Running Lights
• Child Safety Locks
• Integrated Turn Signal Mirrors
• Traction Control
• Emergency Trunk Release
• Blind Spot Monitor (Optional)
• Lane Departure Warning (Optional)

Despite Volvo's claim that the 2011 S60 is the sportiest sedan it has ever sold, it still doesn't exactly match the fun of its competitors. Yet many buyers are more interested in the sort of comfortable, quiet and refined ride offered, and for them the S60 should be a smart, stylish alternative.