Test drive Volvo S60 2000 - 2004 sedan

Version AWD

A general enthusiasm for all -wheel drive, observed in the ranks of the world car manufacturers, is clearly into the hands of the Russians. Its advantages are known to everyone: in addition to a clear improvement in patency, it makes it possible to feel more confidently on slippery coatings.
 

Volvo has already managed to marked the full -wheel drive on the V70 XC (Cross Country) model - but this is a special case, since it has an enlarged clearance and some other attributes of a light SUV and even positioned as SUV. This time we were provided for the test for the all -wheel drive modification of the S60 - S60 AWD sedan. The car debuted last fall in Frankfurt, and went on sale in Russia in September.
 

The car does not have any special external differences from the basic front-wheel drive model. The exterior is very dynamic - Volvo representatives say that the designers wanted to create a car very similar to the compartment, and indeed - with one pair of doors, she would look no worse.
 

However, for the flight of design thoughts, it was necessary to pay the convenience of passengers. The car opens the rear doors not too hospitably - due to their rather modest sizes, and even if you managed to penetrate without any problems, this does not mean that you can get comfortable there. Especially if your height exceeds 185 cm - in this case, the knees are guaranteed to elapse in the back of the front chair, and the head will be in unpleasant proximity to the roof. Sitting in the second row is quite difficult, regardless of height - there is little space in the shoulders, especially the middle one will have to be tight - it will not be very convenient elevation.
 

Well, okay, we’ll get better ahead. Electric adjustments allow you to quickly and without any problems rebuild a very comfortable chair - it is moderately tough. The only thing I missed was developed side support. The interior design refers to the cars of another Scandinavian company - SAAB, it is inherent in it, I would say, some restrained functionalism, while everything is done very carefully from solid materials.
 

The steering wheel is nice to pick up - pretty, and the cross section is well chosen. In addition, he does not completely block the instrument panel with a large speedometer and a tachometer. To the left of the steering wheel is a light control unit. On the right on a stylish console is a radio that has slots both under the cassette and under CD. The sound is generally not bad, but if you want more, the alterations will need very serious. A convenient microclimate control unit is located under the radio, with separate temperature adjustment for the driver and passenger.
 

The box control lever is made as if it is a mechanic, not a machine gun, and at first I kept reaching out to him, subconsciously, wanting to switch.
 

As noted above, you can guess the essence of this car only according to a small AWD nameplate or looking under the bottom. There you can see a lot of interesting things. For example, the fact that all -wheel drive in the S60 AWD, unlike many competitors, is not real - the differential is absent, and the power of torque is organized to the rear wheels using a multi -disc booth of Haldex, which begins to clip when the front wheels slip. The advantage of this design over viscous couplings, which were previously used in Volvo all -wheel drive cars, lies at a greater speed of operation. In addition, the Haldex coupon can be easily adjusted to different models (it is used in Audi TT and in 1001-horsepower Bugatti). I must say that not all manufacturers are delighted with such a scheme, but Volvo has bet on it ...
 

Whether this will show the movement in marginal modes correctly, therefore - forward, on a honey. I have not reached it yet, I note the slow -out engine reaction to the movement of the electronic gas pedal and noticeable delay in the automatic gearbox, which creates certain problems on the city routes. For example, it is necessary to make a quick short maneuver: I give a gas pedal - no effect, now I have to act faster, the gas is stronger, and then both the engine and the box react: the machine makes a powerful sprout forward - it is too powerful, so that you have to brake almost in the floor . Very uncomfortable...

 
The end of February - and the highway on the Khodynsky field is almost dry, and the studded rubber Gislaved NordFrost 2 was not entirely appropriate. I choose a wide 90-degree turn and begin to experiment. If the speed at the input is simply slightly exceeded, a smooth demolition of the front axis is observed. If at the entrance the car is a little swing, a skid begins, which is fully controlled by the steering wheel and gas, and you can go through the turn spectacularly, by a fan. But if all the same is done at a noticeably higher speed (imitating the movement along the slippery coating), the situation changes. The habits of the car become less predictable, its behavior in the drift is quite sharply changing from the front to the all-wheel drive, and the ability to miss the car can turn into reality. (Recall that the machine was not equipped with a stabilization system of course sustainability - this is an option that should be entered into standard equipment.) So far, Volvo S60 in the AWD version is equipped with only one low -pressure turbine (5 cylinders, 2.4 liters, 200 liters. p.)., you can only choose a box - a five -speed mechanics or automatic machine, and the option of finishing the cabin with a small list of options. By the way, the mechanics would probably be preferable - the machine gun was already painfully thoughtful. In addition, despite the assurances of the Volovites that the box is adaptive, it was not able to force it to work convenient for me.

 
When switching to a manual, sequential mode of cardinal improvement did not occur, problems with the choice of transmission and timely switching were added. In general, I think that all this manual control of automatic machines is nothing more than pampering, since powerful sound insulation does not make it possible to determine by ear to determine in which mode the engine works and the delay in switching is so great that all the need disappears in them. Therefore, it is better to set the mode D and go to yourself without straining.

 
The steering is quite informative and allows you to accurately monitor the trajectory of movement, but only until the angle of rotation of the steering wheel exceeds 130-150 degrees, then it follows a failure, especially unpleasant, when you catch the car in deep drift. There are no complaints about the brakes, they work clearly, and ABS acts correctly.

 
Volvo S60 AWD is a great choice for Russian roads, but if you choose it, it is better with a mechanical box and a stabilization system.

 

Text: Alexander Nadens
 
 

 

Source: Motor magazine [No. 4/2002]