Test drive Volvo S60 2000 - 2004 sedan

All photos of Volvo S60 2000 - 2004

Equation with "x" and "r"

Today, looking at the elegant forms of two prestigious sedans, an inexperienced person will not determine how many leading wheels they have. Only three magic letters AWD (All Wheel Drive) on the lids of trunk will tell you that the presenters are all.
But an attentive look already from afar will celebrate large wheels and a serious caliber of graduation pipes. To fuel high feelings, we present the test participants-Jaguar X-Type (Jaguar X TyP) with a 230-horsepower V-shaped engine and 300-horsepower Volvo S60 AWD R (Volvo S60 AWD R) with turbocharging and cooling of boost air.

Imposing and sports
On a weekday, there were few cars outside the city, and on the way to the auto polygon, both test pilots sometimes allowed themselves liberties. At times it seemed that overtaken were simply motionless - acceleration was so impressive. But this only served as a reminder that one should not particularly get involved.

As it turned out later, the driver of Jaguar perceived what was happening less emotionally. Bright skin and dark tree in the interior acted relaxing, so that a significant part of the path he indulged with a large sensory screen, sorting through the menu. Here, the climate management, and the functions of the radio, and the navigation system, which, however, only partially works in Russia - the position of the car determines, but is not attached to the map of the terrain.
The one who was sitting behind the wheel of Volvo spent time in his own way. The car tuned him more for the pleasure of driving. The correct grip of the steering wheel (I don’t even want to take it in a different way), saturated music from a whole dozen large and small speakers scattered along the cabin, and control of all this orchestra - without tearing off the steering wheel.
Jaguar, even on our roads, tries to be as comfortable as possible. But despite the steppe swaying up and down, its suspension surprisingly tenaciously holds on the asphalt in corners. Fronts caused by deformation of elastic elements or tires is almost not noticeable. The automatic gearbox is also ready to give up the speed of its reaction for the sake of smoothness. And the lever of control of it, despite many different provisions and the Sport button, is transferred only once - in Drive, where it remains until the end of the trip. If the hand slides once or twice on a wooden handle, then solely in order to again try a pleasant polishing to the touch again.
Volvo and his driver feel differently. Depending on the nature of the highway and the quality of the coating, the driver selects one of the three options for setting an active suspension - Comfort, Sport or Anvanced, thus controlling the characteristics of shock absorbers. The handle of the automatic lever here is covered with leather: its pleasant roughness pushes to go into manual switching mode -to pierce up and down on overtaking or choose a low gear before entering the next turn.

In full

In addition to the traditional set of polygon tests, we wanted to understand the difference between the two types of all -wheel drive, because the transmission scheme for machines is different. In the jaguar, the Intersose differential constantly transfers torque to the front and rear wheels in a ratio of 40 and 60%, respectively. But the central viscousyft, if necessary, will distribute it differently, directing 60% already to the front wheels and only 40% to the rear.
On a volvo corner gearbox passes the torque back through the Haldex electromagnetic coupling, which instantly connects the back of the front wheels and turns it off when the car drove without slipping. So with normal adhesion to the expensive Scandinav, it becomes front -wheel drive.
In the standard traffic modes, Jaguar reacts very sensitively to work by the steering wheel and obediently follows the given path. The reactive force is small and as the wheels rotates smoothly, creating a feeling of lightness. The car does not bother in the bends, allowing a relaxed control manner.
In the behavior of Volvo, on the contrary, it is felt assertive - another approach to him. The car makes it clear that he likes high speeds and storming complex turns, requiring a small steering amplitude. The Swede seems to push to go faster and be assembled all the time, not allowing liberties and imposing landing.
Differences in the schemes of all -wheel drive and the settings of the pendants markedly affect the behavior of machines in critical modes.

With a side breakdown of the wheels on dry asphalt, the stabilization system Volvo returns the car to the course faster, although harshly. The electronic brains of the jaguar and its constant full -wheel drive determine a more smooth and slow return to the trajectory. The prepared driver manages to help the car a little.
Volvo has more maximum speed, so it was equipped with aluminum brake mechanisms from Brembo with ventilated disks with a diameter of 330 mm in front and back. The jaguar has a slightly smaller caliber brake, also disk in a circle, but non -premised behind. However, the standard verification confirmed that special brake qualities will be required when the speed exceeds 200 km/h. And from hundreds of both cars stopped equally - after almost 42 meters.
Despite all -wheel drive, it is obvious that the purpose of the cars is good roads. Perhaps wet in the summer or slightly sprinkled with snow in winter, but nothing more. So, in our case, the purpose of all the drive wheels is the implementation of the power of the engines.
When examining from below, the bottom of the Volvo seemed better protected, but under the lowest point - the longitudinal ski of the subframe - we measured 132 mm. His colleague has a 10 mm lumen more, but the jaguar is not going to contact obstacles. Apart from the plastic casing that takes the air for cooling the WISKOFTA, the final system will be the lower point. The front bumper at the jaguar hangs higher - 225 versus 175 mm - it helps to enter the curbs without unnecessary excitement, although on both machines this maneuver is better to reverse: at the back under the bumper of the jaguar 330 mm, Volvo - 300.

Soft car
Needless to say, in the salons the kingdom of the skin: in the jaguar - beige, in Volvo - light brown. However, other color schemes are also stored. More democratic upholstery, say velor, S60 has no R. But Yaguar dealers admitted that although this option is provided for, they will not recall the case that the client take this opportunity.
Salons are made in different styles. The interior of Volvo pierces notes of sports, here and there inserts from polished aluminum. And most importantly - deep seats with developed lateral support, a puffy three -spoke steering wheel, designed to work without interception, slightly deployed to the driver, a central console with many single -function buttons. If the driver wishes, most manipulations can be performed quickly, even lightning speed.
Jaguar was not created to manifest sports ambitions - this is a car with high opportunities, full of luxury. Probably, here they first determined what size and shape there should be a console to look elegant, and only then the controls were placed on it.

Not a single drive

Cars, equipped almost to the maximum, fell into our hands, so let us stop only at the most curious.
In Jaguar we include the navigation system here. Although, as already mentioned, in Russia it works partially, the feasibility of its installation here is explained by the desire of the client to have a large liquid crystalline display with sensory management of many functions listed above.
The pre -heating from the household power supply is also unusual: one end of the cord - to the connector under the bumper, the second - in a regular outlet (you see, it is unlikely that the jaguar will often spend the night somewhere except a good garage). Of course, there are parking sensors, electric drives and heating everything and the whole, including windshield, there are rain and light sensors, automatically darkened in the inner mirror. There were also xenon headlights on our car.
The basic configuration includes six airbags, cruise control, a route computer, fog lights, climate control. If desired, they will install more expensive music with 10 speakers, a cd changer, a full-sized spare wheel instead of a docking, an electric hatch in a roof, sports seats with different upholstery options, etc. taken for a jaguar test costs 59,900 euros, although a machine with a three-liter engine You can buy for 50,700, with a 2.5-liter-for 45,400, and with a modest 2.0-liter price, prices will begin from 38,500 euros.

The costs of the Volvo S60 AWD R start from 44,500 euros for a machine with standard (very rich) equipment of the sports version R. The price of maximum configuration is such as in our test - about 57,000 euros. The list of goods offered for this money is very impressive.
An interesting suspension adjustable from the place of the driver. By pressing one of three buttons, it is set up on a comfortable, sports or extreme mode. But the system does not just know how to change rigidity. Analyzing the signals of all kinds of sensors, she tries to pump up the shock absorbers so that the car will turn with a minimum roll.
But that's not all. For hundredths of seconds, Electronics manage to evaluate how deeply the car nods when braking, and gives the command to compensate for the nods with front shock absorbers.
In our Volvo, in addition to many electric drives and heating, a solid audio system with 12 speakers, a built -in GSM standard, an extended set of airbags, including side curtains, were installed. We add a non -standard color of the leather upholstery, the electrically leaning rear head restraints.
In general, opponents are worthy, although not at all similar. But, probably, this is exactly what the buyer needs: equally high equipment, level of comfort, technical perfection, but at the same time different ideology. Then there is something to choose from. And the fact that one has a slightly larger speed, and the other has the volume of the trunk is not at all the main thing when you have a powerful all -wheel drive sedan ...

Volvo S60 AWD R
AWD R AWD R AWD R model, which debuted in 2000, has been produced since 2003.
It is equipped with only one 2.5 liter gasoline engine, 220 kW/300 liters. p., mechanical six -speed or automatic five -speed gearboxes.
When equipped with an automatic machine, the engine torque is reduced from 400 to 350 N.M.
The price in Russia is from 44,500 euros.
Jaguar X-Type AWD
It has been produced since 2001.
In addition to a car with all -wheel drive transmission, there is a modification with front -wheel drive.
It is equipped with V-shaped six-cylinder gasoline engines 2.0 liters, 115 kW/156 liters. With.; 2.5 l, 144 kW/196 l. With. and 3.0 l, 169 kW/231 l. With. with mechanical or automatic five -speed gearboxes.
It is delivered to Russia in all trim levels, the price is from 38,500 euros.

Volvo S60 AWD R
Scandinavian idea of \u200b\u200ba sports style.
Devices in the style of chronograph.
Active suspension control buttons.
The version R is issued both wheels and brakes.
Volvo has developed lateral support.
Jaguar X-Type AWD
Such are the creators of the jaguar of the salon of a respectable car.
Round devices again, but the design is different.
Screen with sensory control.
Winter? Turn on the jaguar in the outlet.
White skin. What else?
The trunk of the jaguar is longer and higher, the Volvo is wider. However, the potatoes are still not transported there.

SUMMARY
Volvo
High dynamic qualities, adjustable rigidity of the suspension, expensive audio system.
Large fuel consumption during dynamic driving, low road clearance ..
Jaguar
High smoothness, rich interior decoration and equipment, permanent all -wheel drive.
Moderate dynamic qualities, noisy suspension work.