2004 Volvo S60 User Reviews

Pros

6-speed quick to accelerate, trunk space huge, upgraded sound system awesome, 3 settings for chassis

Cons

Turning radius very poor

The S60R is an all-around superb sports sedan. Its value alone is worth the purchase - you get the innovative and top-of-the-line braking system standard, leather standard, active chassis standard (press "comfort" for a smoother ride, "sport" for a bit lower-to-ground and thus bumpier ride, or "advanced" for a race-track experience where the wheels stick to the road like rubber cement!), and all the interior functions/radio/temperature/dials/etc are centered around the driver. It truly is the epitome of design and functionality.

I would encourage anyone who is thinking about purchasing an R to buy the manual transmission. From what I've heard and read, the manual allows the driver to bring out the power in the S60R. It allows the driver more control and more options while driving. The automatic, on the other hand, does not have as much power and therefore drivers do not have as much control.

The R, when compared to similar BMW, Mercedes Benz, Audi, and SAAB models, outvalues the others BY FAR. Unlike these others, Volvo includes leather, a great sound system, etc. standard. (Whereas the upgrade to leather for BMW is an extra $K or two.) I purchased the premium package which upped the sound system to a 4-CD in-dash changer (minus the tape player) and a sunroof. I also added the heated seats.

The only downfall to the R is its poor turning radius (hence the 4-star review in performance). This is annoying when in parking lots or trying to make a U-turn. However, this is not a hinderance when driving or racing. It is only a problem when making narrow turns at low speeds. A 3-point turn may become a 5- or 6-point turn.

But for my money, I am extremely happy with my S60R and would highly recommend this vehicle to a driver with both the need for speed and the need for practicality. The safety features, 4 doors, 5 seats, and plenty of trunk space shows your more realistic side when with family, while the somewhat-hidden 300-hp, racing brakes and active chassis setting allows you to conquer the open road whilst leaving others in the dust. Many of them won't know what hit them!...read morehide

Pros

Great Seats, very good handeling, stereo is nice, braking is incredible.

Cons

Not enough room in back seat, turning radius sucks!!! 0-60 is slow for 300hp.

The S60 R is fun to dirve but it is no sports car with the Auto. We've had the car know for 4 days. The three things that stand out most (good or bad):
1) brakes 60-0 in 123 ft
2) seats and how comfortable they are
3) how slow the car is from 0-60 with 300 hp under the hood with the automatic.
This car is fun but needs to be refind a bit to meet the needs of who they are targeting....read morehide

Pros

This car is wonderful. Very happy with the mileage, comfortable, tight, relatively quiet ride.

Cons

Just a bit underpowered. Idles rougher than a V engine but smooths out above idle.

Listen, believe and know what Volvo says about how they build their cars for safety. Today, I was forced off the road by a semi into a guardrail at a high speed. In any other car, I really believe I would have been seriously injured or killed. I walked away from the car with a bump on the head and a sprained neck. The car suffered substantial damage without compromising the interior of the vehicle that could have injured me. I owe my life to this vehicle and I will never purchase anything other than a Volvo again....read morehide

Pros

Comfortable seats, easy to drive, great looking, smooth

Cons

automatic transmission poor, horrible turn radius, no satellite radio

I bought the S60R with the automatic transmission. Big mistake. It suffers from major turbo lag. It is also nearly 2 seconds slower on 0-60. It goes, but not how I really how I thought it would go.

On the plus side, the seats are awesome. Comfortable and supportive. The sound system is great except that there is no satellite radio available or even a conversion kit. A minor complaint that I have daily is that the accelerator and brake pedal are too close together. I am always having to adjust my foot position to avoid the brake pedal. (Size 11.5 shoe)

The AWD is a nice safety feature and helps in the rain. In the snow, the all season tires are useless. Get snow tires. The AWD gives the car a miserable turn radius.

My previous car was an Audi S4. I needed more room for my son and his car seat. Volvo is known for its safety and it has all the bells and whistles. Overall a good, safe ride. Not yet a sports car....read morehide

Quality, safety, ride, mileage, power (over 200 hp 2.5 turbo), and price all add up to a great value. It was either this or a Cadillac CTS...........we are pleased with the choice.

My first car was a hand-me-down Volvo 262. Despite being a twenty five year old car it got me too and from school for four years without any major problems. I recently purchased the 60 and got a great deal. For the money, it is the best European car you can get. Great excelleration and room.
No mechanical trouble, but had some trouble getting the hang of the CD controls. Otherwise, great interior....read morehide

After driving 13,000 km including one harsh Canadian winter, my S60 2.5 AWD has been a pleasure to drive. I ordered the car with all the bells and whistles, including the navigation system which is impressive and extremely valuable when driving in unfamiliar areas. The 17" wheels and Pirelli P6's are useless in the winter and definitely need to be replaced during the winter months with smaller wheels and proper winter tires. The big wheels are easily damaged (watch out for potholes) and so are the tires so unless the roads in your area are perfectly smooth, opt for the smaller wheels. The Pirelli tires are very comfortable but easily damaged (I had to replace two of them already which could not be repaired - a costly exercise!).
Gas consumption is very high (!) in city driving and if you are looking for something economical, opt for another car.
The windshield scratches very easily so be very careful when you clean your car and do not use anything abrasive on your windshield or you will regret it.
Otherwise the car is a pleasure to drive. Solid, comfortable, fast and safe....read morehide

What a fun car to drive!! I accelerated to pass a car during my test drive and looked down to see that I was going over 100mph without even realizing it. I am trying to decide between this car and the Acura TL. The Volvo is definitely quicker and has the AWD, but the TL is more comfortable and comes loaded....read morehide

Way cool. Best value out there, I drove all the AWD sedans. It's a hoot to drive good int. room..... a cool car best in it's class.

After 320 miles on my 2004 S60 the rear brake rotors were found to be warped (really bad vibrations during deceleration). Of course they were replaced under warranty, but that's a MAJOR defect with one of the most basic pieces of safety equipment.

Other nit-picky stuff that hasn't been fixed yet is a bothersome static/noise that plagues the from center channel speaker. A strange low frequency vibration in the steering wheel - front wheels. I'm also getting moisture in the tail lights, and the sunroof seeps water (not really enogh to call a leak).

The dealer has been great about repairs so far but after this experience, I don't plan to keep the car past the warranty period. If this is a wide spread problem, then I'm sure I'll take a beating on resale value when I try to sell it.

On the bright side, the interior is well done, and the turbo does a good job without too much lag....read morehide