Driving and handling is a totally different beast than the x70 platform. The car has a factory strut tower brace and it handles very well.

The 2.T paired with the 5 spd automatic provide enough power to get around...and then some. Right now I have BF Goodrich Super Sport G-Force A/S tires which supposedly are decent. They do handle very well and have a stiff sidewall. From a dead stop if you go wide open there is actually too much power off the line and causes wheel spin (instantly corrected by the DSTC system)....but I've only experienced this a few times as most spirited driving for me tends to be more on the highway or when passing ;-)

Got a true taste of the DSTC system today actually. We finally got some snow in central MA today. I was getting off a highway during the early morning commute. Come to find the offramp had glazed over as it was only 30 out...nice amount of frozen slush and black ice. Felt the rear end start to slide out from underneath me and then in a split second the DSTC came alive and started applying varying brakes and the car was out of the impending skid and I went on my merry way to work. I was VERY impressed by the performance of the system. Back in the day with either my RWD or x70 cars I would have tried to fix this situation like a boss by using the e-brake, ample throttle, or whatever keen idea came to my head during the split second - meanwhile the S60 performed without a hitch. Trunk is very deep though, and there are some nice creature features like folding rear headrests, valet lock system (will likely never use this tough). There are two air outlets build into the B pillars? (between from and rear doors. I'd imagine this will be nice in the summer as far as A/C performance and distribution. Overall the ECC climate is very efficient, and quiet!

The overall ride quality is very nice, seats are awesome! Forget it though if you have thoughts of putting someone in the back seat if you are driving (and tall)....I am 6-2 and I was having to cramp up really forward in order for someone to sit behind. I suppose if you have youngsters this wouldn't be a problem until they are much older. The doors are solid but there is not a convenient place to rest your left elbow when driving. On the x70 cars I recall having at least enough space to comfortable rest my arm on either the top part of the inner door assembly (where it meets window)...or back my elbow into the space where the window controls where - while then comfortably steering with the left hand. The S60 is a little more akward - less space.

Variable wipers are nice as well.

Even just being the LPT I find the comfort, power, and handling to be leaps and bounds better than earlier generation Volvos... Only concerns other than my small gripe about the sound (which is still better than most other OEM standard car audio systems BTW....) is the maintenance schedule. The book indicates that under normal circumstances the tranny and antifreeze are not a scheduled maintenance item. They only get changed if you drive the car in desert mountains with high temperatures and hauling a trailer....because so many people do this? - Tranny fluid in mine is sad and needs to be changed.