2002 Volvo S60 – A balance between elegance and sporty
An artful design
Volvos are very inconspicuous cars. They are designed in a way that makes them look sharp, sophisticated, and suave. The Swedes do this by making the design as flowy as possible. No distinctly bold lines, no parts that stand out. The smooth rectangular shape is incredibly well designed.
Volvo has designed the 2002 Volvo S60 based on the S80 sedan and V70 wagon platform. To give the S60 a sportier edge, the carmaker has made sure that dimensions are smaller. The V-shaped hood, the sloping roofline, and the thick C-pillars are all part of a car that looks sportier than anything in the Volvo lineup. The small grille and front bumper do not add much in terms of demeanor; however, the rest of the car looks athletic.
Powerful engine
There are four trims and three engine options. For the base model, you get a 2.4-liter five-cylinder engine that produces 168 bhp. The base model is aptly named the S60 2.4. For the 2002 Volvo S60 2.4T, the same engine gets a turbocharger. The addition of the 2002 Volvo S60 turbo helps push the power envelope to 197 bhp. However, if power is all you want, you have to take a look at the 5T model. Here the engine size is reduced to 2.3-liter but the turbocharger is still present and you get nearly 247 bhp, a sizeable bump.
The result is a car that contains enough power to smoke the rivals. You can imagine the power delivery on a Volvo to be precise. The car is quick to respond. You get something that takes off the line very well and without any hiccups. The 0-60 timing is sub eight seconds, which is saying something, considering the car’s size and heft. From no angle will you be able to tell that the Volvo S60 is fast, yet on highways, it is most likely to cruise past most cars with ease.
A tasteful drive
Volvo cars are known for refined and luxurious driving. Casting the quality of the materials aside, the drive on the 2002 Volvo S60 is impeccable. The car is well suited for a good winter drive. The car’s tires are wide enough to grip any surface comfortably. You will have no problems trying to get through small bumps and cracks on the roads. The automatic transmission on the car is good enough and it does well to move through the gears.
Although among the 2002 Volvo S60 problems, we would say it is the downshift. The car does come with some excellent braking. The pedal feel was tremendous and stopping distances were incredibly short. There are anti-roll bars on the front and the back but hampers the car from cornering well. You get a good feel for the roads while eliminating all kinds of cabin noises. On top of that, the ride comfort is something to gush about. Seldom did you get a car that drives well and feels well, especially in the early 2000s.
Interiors befit a king
The great thing about Volvo cars is their attention to detail. The interiors are perhaps the crown jewel for any Volvo and here you can rest assured that you will get the highest quality. The car does, however, shy away from the luxurious aspect of things. It does so because the 2002 Volvo S60 name is supposed to represent a new dawn, one where Volvo makes sports sedans. Despite Volvo insisting the car is not a luxury sedan, it still retains some good elements.
If you want a blown out luxurious experience, the optional leather seating is a must. It enhances the feel and comfort of the seats while giving the car an aromatic feel. The quality of the buttons and electronics is also noteworthy. The buttons feel tactile on the touch. The gauges were easy to read and the stereo system is excellent. On top of that, every piece of gadgetry is well thought out and placed.
Features ahead of its time
On the 2002 Volvo S60, you get electronic brake assistance (EBA), improved throttle management, and better traction control. The latter is Volvo’s patented Dynamic Stability Traction Control, which is miles ahead of anything else in the same category.
For 2002 Volvo S60 specs are miles ahead of the competition. Even the most base level 2.4 gets a ton of features that other cars do not. Satellite controls on steering wheels, rear cupholders, a memory function for power seats and mirrors, revised headrests, emergency trunk handle release, and child restraint points.
The Volvo assurance
The real benefit of owning a Volvo is the assurance of safety. Volvos are so well made that they often do not need to undergo any kind of safety test to verify their authenticity. There are very few cars that can match the package that comes with a 2002 Volvo S60. Even the base model is extremely safe.
Dual-stage front airbags, side-impact airbags, whiplash-reducing head restraints, head-protection airbags, and a slew of other features are just the tip of the iceberg. The anti-roll bars also help in overhead impact protection. The IIHS gives this car a “good” rating overall and the NHTSA gives it five out of five stars. You will be hard-pressed to find cars that are as good as the Volvo S60 when it comes to safety.
The verdict
It is simple, if you are looking for a car that comes on a budget, has all the right luxury features, a competitive price, and a simple design, look no further than the 2002 Volvo S60. Currently, for the 2002 Volvo S60 price, it will be hard to find another car with a similar feature set. On top of this, there are very few cars that offer a powerful engine and uncompromising performance. Add to that Volvo’s world-class safety features and you are getting a pretty solid package.
The 2002 Volvo S60 is a car that adds to everything that you want in a car. The quality itself is a big factor and we reckon there are going to be a handful of cars that can even fulfill this criterion.
