When our own Michael Karesh reviewed Volvo’s entry-level entry-luxury aeroback, he advised TTAC readers that the optional Dynamic Package was “…a must for anyone who cares about driving.” Hey! I care about driving! Trouble is, the rental companies don’t.
When Volvo introduced the S60 in 2011, the Swedes advertised their mid-sized sedan as the naughtiest Volvo ever thanks to a 300HP turbocharged engine. While I’m sure former “R owners” would disagree, the S60 has met with sales success with over 18,000 units sold so far this year, a 14% increase over last year. In 2012 Volvo added a less powerful FWD model to the mix to cut the price of entry. For 2013 Volvo has further expanded the S60 line by adding a torque vectoring AWD system to the lightest S60. Volvo also tells us they have completely refreshed their T5 engine for 2013 and tweaked the transmission for the naughty Volvo’s first retouch ahead of the rumored 2014 refresh. Huh? Yep, Volvo’s gettin’ down with the yearly refresh. Does that make the T5 AWD the naughtiest Volvo ever? Let’s find out.
Quite a few of you balked at the idea of a $47,610 not-quite-midsize Volvo sedan. Well, for 2012 a T5 joins the S60 range. While the T6 might venture a bit deep into Audi and BMW territory, with a $31,850 base price the T5 is within striking distance of the similarly semi-premium front-drive Acura TSX and Buick Regal. But how much of the T6’s self-proclaimed naughtiness must one do without? Is the more affordable T5 a match for the Acura and Buick, much less the Germans?
Recent Comments
NMGOM - sirwired… Sorry that I am wasting your time. Please see my comments to “HerrKaLeun” and “jpolicke” above....
DeadWeight - Let me juuuust drop a little conversation piece here: http://members.rennlist.com/91 4_canam/zCanAmBumblebee.jpg Happy Birthday, Doug.
28-Cars-Later - I like the way you’re thinking but i doubt few people will even know what the Mark V was, MKV would probably work. Plus in...
corntrollio - Curbside Classic mentioned this too: www dot curbsideclassic dot com/blog/thank-you-for-a-numbe r-of-things/
Thomas Kreutzer - This is a car crowd and I felt the detail would be lost upon most people. If you like, I also helped write the “Suzuki Advanced Cooling...
gslippy - Too many moving parts here. The Chinese aren’t stupid investors – not gonna happen.
crtfour - If I had 100K that was to be spent on a vehicle and needed an SUV, I would choose one of these. I seem to get more driving enjoyment out of a...
manbridge - Nice piece. A small, hair splitting correction, the 91 GSXR was air AND oil cooled like an old 911. (Old Suzuki Cup racer I was).
NMGOM - redav…. With regard to your “1 & 5″, H2 does not just “lose” electrons inside steel storage cylinders, or...
DeadWeight - As soon as I saw this headline and accompanying photo, I thought of you. This sort of persuades me that the Nash is one of the most distinctive vehicles...