What's New for the 2005 Volvo S60 R?
Body-color exterior trim cleans up the 2005 Volvo S60 R's appearance this year, and a new color called Magic Blue is available. A Sport Body package adds lower spoilers front and rear as well as side skirts for a racier look, while inside a redesigned center console contains a six-disc rather than four-disc in-dash CD changer as well as improved cupholders.

Advantages of the 2005 Volvo S60 R:

• 300 horsepower and all-wheel-drive
• Comfortable front seats
• Long list of standard safety equipment

Objections to the 2005 Volvo S60 R:

• Limited rear seat room
• Slightly downmarket interior materials
• Lacks ability to match German rivals in terms of refinement
• Volvo's new Blind Spot Information System is not offered on the S60 R

Editor's Advice:
To our eyes, the 2005 Volvo S60 is one of the most attractive luxury-sport sedans on the road, and in sport-tuned R trim it's a downright bargain. However, despite its 300-horse turbo motor, manual gearbox, and all-wheel-drive system, it lacks the dynamic refinement and performance of an Audi S4 or BMW 330i Performance, relying instead on a low price tag, extensive safety engineering, and world-class seat comfort as its primary selling points. Better than ever, the 2005 Volvo S60 R is worth consideration if you value safety and comfort over refinement and performance.