Wilvo S40 test drive since 2007 sedan
Minimum changes
In order to understand how Volvo S60 changed after another shallow restyling, we had to overcome some temptation. The temptation was the ability to take on the test the updated S60 R. The hot 300-horsepower car, which we tested in late spring of last year (see motor for June 2006). However, we had a different modification of the sedan on a long test for several months just S60 2.5T AWD, and here it would be no less interesting to evaluate restyling results. In general, Erka remained with the dealer, and we drove a week on the civilian version of the car.
The first and main thing that attracted our attention, improved chassis. The suspension was one of the weaknesses of the car is not elastic enough, it was poorly suitable for our roads. Especially in combination with low-profile 18-inch tires. The creators knew about this, I think, better than us. They conquered over the settings of shock absorbers, changed the characteristics of springs and reptile stabilizers. It was reported that in general, the chassis became 25%tougher. But what will practice show? 
The car stood 18-inch discs a great contribution to the purity of the experiment. However, when I got into the salon, I found that this S60 is still not the same as the previous one. The fact is that the updated sedan has a suspension with active shock absorbers by Monroe-chans, which is called Four-C and is also installed on other models of the company. The system can operate in two modes comfort and sport. Accordingly, in the second, the behavior of the car is somewhat more collected, the steering is more acute, due to which it passes turns with smaller rolls and more confidently. As for the comfortable regime, in it the car shows an impressiveness and is not at all suitable for active driving. By the way, it was in the sports mode that the new S60 reminded me of the predecessor and allowed me to draw parallels (though with a small stretch).
The test showed that the character of the car has changed very slightly. The car became a little tougher and sharper in motion, and the chassis added a little in the energy intensity. In general, as for the settings of the chassis, we have an old acquaintance S60. However, refinement is still felt. By the way, I am sure that if you put 16- or 17-inch wheels more appropriate in our conditions, then the suspension will be much more adapted for driving along broken winter roads. What's new besides the chassis? A little cosmetics, as expected: updated rotary bi-ksenon headlights, bumpers and a radiator grille with a larger emblem of the company.
In the cabin, the option of finishing for aluminum (the inserts look perfectly), the instrument panel from the more expensive R-version, which refers to the design to the top model S80. In general, a small planned face lifting to keep up with the times. The car is good, but there is one wish of the chassis could be made even more elastic. However, not everyone is obsessed with fast driving like us, and other drivers of the measures taken, I am sure, will be enough. The prices for the car will start from the $ 29,900 mark so much as a sedan with a 2.4 liter engine. The front -wheel drive option with a 2.5 l in a turbo engine will pull $ 37,900, and the AWD nameplate on the trunk lid will add another $ 3,000. The 300-horsepower all-wheel drive S60 R costs from $ 59,900. The automatic transmission adds $ 2000 to the cost of the machine, the hatch $ 1000, the color of the metalline is $ 1000.
Nikolai Ilyin
A source: Motor magazine [January-February 2007]
