2012 Volvo S60

Volvo's S60 is in the second year of a fashionable redesign, backed by new Chinese ownership. Wrapped in a slinky coupe-like profile, the S60 is Volvo's mature sports sedan, a quirky alternative to the snobby German rivals.

Visually, the S60's facial features are fashionably elongated, resembling those recently given to the updated C30, while its tail has a beautiful fastback design. Inside, the interior mixes Volvo's traditional stoicism with an Audi-esque flair and excellent center-stack control ergonomics.

Three engines are offered, a front-wheel drive T5 with the 250-hp 2.5-liter, turbocharged 5-cylinder, the T6 all-wheel drive with a 300-hp turbocharged 3.0-liter 6-cylinder, and T6 all-wheel drive R-Design with a high-output 325-hp turbocharged, 3.0-liter 6-cylinder. All engine configurations come with Volvo's electronically controlled six-speed automatic.

Predictably, Volvo has also gone all-out in the safety arena, offering its sporty sedan with advanced technologies including City Safety and Pedestrian Detection -- both of which trigger automated braking in an emergency -- and a 180-degree front-mounted video camera. The S60 is a solid start for Volvo as it begins its future under Chinese ownership.