Test drive Volvo S60 2000 - 2004 sedan

Strong go further

Volvo, introducing the all -wheel drive version of the S60 model on the market, took a significant step for itself. S60 AWD, possessing respectability and safety characteristic of cars of this brand, will fully satisfy the driver's ambitions.
 
The answer to the question of what positions to approach the S60 AWD assessment is listed in the words of the vice president of Volvo Cars Hans Gustavson: the owner of a sports sedan uses all -wheel drive mainly in order to increase stability and stability, and not cross -country ability. Here are the keywords: stability and sports.
 
Our car is equipped with a five -cylinder engine of 2.4 liters with a low -pressure turbine and a five -speed automatic. In the all -wheel drive system, a coupling with electronic control of Haldex was used. The drive of the rear axle is connected when the front slipping is connected. With a difference in clutch, a larger torque is supplied to where there is support.
 
The car at the first glance has it. It does not have external roughness or angry dryness, characteristic of some of its classmates. Supply, we note the parting part - the presence of full -fledged headlight wipers. This is much better for driving in winter than nozzles fashionable.
 
The car interior is decorated in light colors, which even with a strongly developed central tunnel helps to avoid a feeling of crowding. Electro -regulated seats - with lateral support. A review from the driver’s place is good in all directions. The dashboard is not overloaded and read easily - the central place on it is occupied by equal speedometer and tachometer. In general, the sensation of the cabin is light and positive.
 
The weather on the day of the dough was extremely lucky: lead clouds hung over the city, rain streams were periodically replaced by a curtain of wet snow. Another time, this would probably be upset, but now we have looked for a chance for ourselves to drive a car on all types of coating, except for dry asphalt, which is not particularly interesting for a car with all -wheel drive.
 
In the order of retreat, we note: the newly -driven traffic vehicles that have become a fashionable equipment with all -wheel drive systems increases the receipt on slippery coverage and improves stability in corners, but it also has a flip side - if the car still went beyond the line of the permitted one, it is incomparably more difficult to catch it than a monotive drive. . And the standard methods for leaving the skid, equally applicable to various cars, even with the current variety of systems, do not exist. Therefore, we will try to pay special attention to the aspect of safety and predictability in the behavior of the S60 AWD.
 
Despite the slush, the transmission allows you to use all the power of the two -hundredth engine when starting. There are practically no delays when connecting the rear axle. Acceleration - like a dish. The motor demonstrates good pain in the entire speed range. Automatic transmission works quickly, quietly and smoothly. With a gas pedal pressed, the engine has the ability to get out to the peak. The Kick Down mode turns on with a minimum delay, allowing you to at ease to gain speed for overtaking.
 
I paid attention to the operation of the machine in a manual sectral mode: delayed delay when switching transfers is so tangible that this needs to be adopted. The option is likely to be useful more in the case of problems with cross -country ability on slippery coating than to increase the dynamics of the car.
 
In ordinary situations, when managing our S60 AWD, skills obtained when driving in front -wheel drive cars will be useful. But they must warn: addiction to a new ratio of accelerated and brake speaker is required. By the way, the brakes of the S60 are powerful and informative, but the ABS work disappointed: when braking both on asphalt and on the ground, the system functions with a loud bang, unequal intervals and severe return on the brake pedal.
 
In gentle turns, the behavior of the car is stable, even the irregularities of the roadway and the gas provocation do not knock the car with the intended curve. Due to the fact that the suspension is connected to the body through the subframes, and vibration -insulating supports are used in the mounts, small irregularities are practically not felt.
 
The approach used in the design of the S60 is generally quite interesting. The fact is that the basis here is the Volvo S80 platform. Since the donor is a heavier car, the use of S60 silent blocks, shock absorbers and other parts of the suspension from it automatically led to the fact that the nodes already familiar from the representative comfortable sedan show hard sports behavior below the car below. The question of the strength and durability of details, originally designed in the calculation for heavier loads, explanations, I think, does not require.
 
The segment of the future ring road, recently put into operation, served as a good landfill for evaluating the S60 AWD at high speeds. Gas - on the floor, we follow the speedometer. The arrow stubbornly crawls to the right, now 170 km/h behind. Further, the readings of the devices can only be observed briefly - the road requires a lot of attention. The car easily dials 200 km/h, we are alone on the highway, but you won’t last at this speed for a long time. The reactive force on the steering wheel weakens, although the steering wheel retains sensitivity.
 
The best highway in the vicinity of Peter was clearly not even enough for the Eska. I want a softer suspension, the steering wheel is more drunk, a smaller aerodynamic unloading. On the European class highway, the behavior of the car will most likely be different. Now the position in the maximum speed area becomes shaky, and holding the car on a straight line requires piloting, not steering. To gain confidence, you need to go down to 180-170 km/h.
 
More or less dealing with the thesis about the stability of the car, we call on the site where it will be possible to draw the missing information about its sports. Coating - asphalt under a thin layer of snow mixed with water.
 
Attack the turn. A sharp impulse by the steering wheel for discharge of gas, and immediately - the pedal to the floor. How will the car answer such a provocation? Zero emotions. The Nordic movement in an arc with neutral trends in skidding or demolition, the rolls are minimal. Balance S60 AWD is really on top.
 
At the next attempt, we break the car with a handbrake. It is not for nothing that it is so accessible - light movement with the hand is enough to block the rear wheels. Sliding! What will the cunning Haldex throw us in this situation?
 
Frankly, they have already prepared to demolish the whole markup and would not consider it indecent for the first acquaintance with the controlled electronics of an all -wheel drive car. But it goes like a rally, it is accurately adjusted by the steering wheel and gas, to keep it within the corridor is not difficult. With the machine, you can do everything that will please, and it does not fail, performs the slightest whim of the driver.
 
The alertness in our relationships is increasingly giving way to trust. Would you like something else? Yes. Mechanical KP. But, I must admit, and a machine with a machine gun is able to deliver a lot of pleasure.
 
Everything, it's time. Exit. Stabilization occurs sharply, as if the car got on the rails. For the exact completion of the turn, only a quick correction of the steering wheel is necessary.
 
The Volvo S60 AWD seems to live in two poles tightly separated from each other: maximum stability on one and driving in sliding on the other, and to cross the line, a serious effect or the gross mistake of the driver will require.
 
In the near future, they plan to install a full -fledged dynamic stabilization system (DSTC) on this model, which should even more insure the car that is not indistinguishable to surprise from possible situations in emergency situations. As for passive safety, it is close to the level of S80.
 
Is it possible to trust the new Volvo? In my opinion, unconditionally - it's nice when you are understood.
 
Text: Dmitry Sokolov
 

Source: Magazine 5 wheel [12/2001]