Volvo S60 Compared to other Luxury Cars

Consumer Reports recently release results of owner polls and laboratory
tests. Based upon these experiences they concluded:

They recommend the following (listed in order of most safety
features/tests):

Volvo S60 2.5T (one of 3 least expensive in class)
Lexus IS300
Lexus ES330
BMW 330i
Saab 9-3 Aero
Infiniti I35
Saab 9-5 Arc
Acura TL (one of 3 least expensive in class)
Lincoln LS Premium (V6)
Nissan Maxima 3.5 SE
Infiniti G35 (one of 3 least expensive in class)


They do not recommend the following based upon below average reliability:

Mercedes-Benz C320 (most expensive in class)
Audi A4 3.0 Quattro
Cadillac CTS
Jaguar X-Type 3.0

Safety Comparison Listing Missing Standard Safety Features or Tests

Volvo S60: (0) no safety features missing

Lexus IS300 & Lexus ES330: (1) No Safety belt Pretensioners in rear

BMW 330i & Infiniti I35: (2) No Safety belt Pretensioners in rear; No
Daytime running lights

Saab 9-3 Aero: (2) No Safety belt Pretensioners in rear; No Gov't crash
tests

Saab 9-5 Arc: (2) No Safety belt Pretensioners in rear; No Head
Protection air bags


Saab 9-5 Arc: (2) No Safety belt Pretensioners in rear; No Head
Protection air bags
Acura TL & Nissan Maxima 3.5 SE: (3) No Safety belt Pretensioners in
rear; No Daytime running lights: No Gov't or IIHS crash tests

Lincoln LS Premium: (3) No Safety belt Pretensioners in rear; No Head
Protection air bags; No Daytime running lights

Infiniti G35: (3) No Safety belt Pretensioners in rear; No Daytime
running lights; No Gov't crash tests

 

Is this the only thing they compare? the safety issue? Is there nothing
about value, or performance?

Good job Volvo on the safety aspect tho.

What does a seatbelt pretensioner do? Is that the thing that tightens the
belt when yo do hard braking, acceleration, or turns?

 

That got me - as well as this. The A4 is a superb car that stomps
on the 40 series Volvo if you get it without the Quattro AWD.
It also costs less in its normal base form.

But CR - seems they purposely test it in the least reliable version.

 

What's the point having the safest car if it spends one 1/4 of the
time at the dealer...

 

Believe it's a small explosive charge which in the event of an accident it
very rapidly takes up all the slack in the seat belt, causing the belt to
act considerably more quickly. Might be wrong, but think they're like air
bags being single use only before needing replacement, so hopefully they
won't act in the above situations, but only in the event of an accident.

Mark

 

They rated cars on handling, comfort, performance and attention to
detail as well as safety and reliability. However they based their "not
recommended" on reliability. I selected to order by safety since Volvo
did best there and that is where Volvo claims to be best.

It anticipates an accident and cinches up the seat belt. That way, if
the belt is comfortably snug, when it counts it is safely snug.

 

The Volvo was rated at average model reliability, better than Cadilac
CTS, Mercedes-Benz C320, Audi A4 3.0 Quattro, and Jaguar X-Type 3.0.

My 10 Volvos have had much better than average reliability.

 

The Jaguar stomps also, at least when it is running. The same goes for
the Audi, when it is running. They removed recommendation based upon a
lack of reliability.

 

Correct idea, but they are spring-loaded and last years. Try this - yank
failrly hard and quick on your otherwise loose-fitting belt. Note how
it instantly locks up. Then, let go and it is loose again and moves with you.

Neat, really - quite possibly one of the simplest yet most effective safety
inventions ever made.

 

It may "stomp" on the 40 series Volvos but this is talking about the S60 -
an entirely different class of car!

Personally I think the A4 is at best a fairly average car,
although I haven't driven the very latest version. I recently drove an A4
again for the first time in over a year (well before I got my current 850)
and was extremely surprised at how cheap it felt in comparison. Ride,
handling, engine, interior - give me the 850 any day! My 850 is also
more than twice the age of that A4, and done plenty more miles too...

Cheers,

AJ

 

That's the "inertia reel" mechanism you're feeling. Most seatbelt
pretensioners are pyrotechnic and as far as I am aware are all single-use
devices. On my 850 there is a red "dial" switch on the seatbelt
receptacle which must be turned to isolate the pre-tensioner before work
is done in that area of the car.

You're right though, the inertia reel mechanism is a great thing - anyone
who has experienced "static" seat belts will agree!

Cheers,

AJ

 

Audi's are reliable... CR knows nothing.

 

Well, DUH. Give me an 850 or even a 940 over most of the new suff - even
the new Volvo models.

 

Exactly. They are fine as long as you stay away from the Quattro
suspension and CVT transmission. In their review, the Quattro
suspension was cited as one of their "negatives". Well, DUH.

1.8T engine. Manual transmission. No Quattro. Three of the biggest
potential problems are no longer a factor.

As an upgraded base Passat, though, the A4 is a nice budget car
that rides and feels nice than a Camry or Accord - for only a little
more money.

MSRP Invoice
$25,250 $22,818(plus $700 or so delivery charge, IIRC)

This is kind of like the BMW 3 series and Mercedes C230K/C230 -
they are great cars if you get the minimal amount of options.
They are lousy if you get the AWD and virtually any options, as
that can add up to another $5K+ instantly.

I do like that they are now offering the C230K in the same 2-door,
but with the 6 cylinder engine for a little more money.
MSRP Invoice
$25,300 $23,529

MSRP Invoice
$27,650 $25,715

You can hit 29-32K awfully fast, but in its stock 27K out the door form,
it's a good car(the $400 cd changer is a must, as the car is all fiber
optic otherwise - aftermarket stereo is not an option). 25K out the
door with the 1.8 turbo engine.

***
You have to bargain shop, that's all. If CR was reviewing a base
C230 or A4 for 24-25K actual price, they'd probably rate them higher
as they are better than a Camry or other 24-25K sedan in how they drive.

 

Don't know anyone who has had any problems with their Quattro system. What
exactly is the problem with it?

Yes I realize this should probably be disscuseed in the VW or Audi group,
but whatever...

 

Maybe. I know three people with A4's and they all say the same thing:
nothing big ever really breaks, but some "little things" go wrong.
A door latch stops working. A window jams. An engine sensor fails.
Even with an extended or manufacturer's warranty, each time something
happens you are spending a day in the shop.

Granted, this is a small sample size, so the results may not be true
of the cars as a whole, but it's enough to make me leery of an A4.


Cheers,
-+JLS

 

What they know is what the owners tell them. That is what they report.
Some Audi's are as reliable as the average automobile and some aren't.

 

Some most likely are, my only experience with an Audi was one my uncle had
back in the 80's, it had endless electrical gremlins, most we attributed to
poor ground connections everywhere. Probably could have been fixed, but at
the time it was hard to track down.