We’ve already laid into Saab’s new 9-5 for launching with with only the 300hp, AWD “Aero” trim level, for which the former GM division wants a base price of about $50k. That asking price just became a little more ridiculous as Volvo has announced base pricing for its new S60 sedan at $37,700. And guess what? That’s for the 300 hp, AWD “T6” version as well, which is also the only trim level available at launch. Volvo 1, Saab 0. UPDATE: OK, OK, we admit that Volvo’s “win” here is minimal. A lower base price does potentially bring in more buyers, but on an apples-to-apples basis, the two Swedes are pretty much a wash, price-wise. Which still leaves plenty of room for debate… and inevitable references in each others reviews. Besides, both models will offer cheaper versions over time. Does this make us think Saab’s $50k fan tax is any less ridiculous? Not a bit. But then, only time and test drives will truly tell if Saab’s gamble has paid off.
Ouch!
Are those optioned equivalently? Given TTAC’s policy of regular red-headed-stepchild beatings of Saab, I wouldn’t necessarily assume so.
Yeah, I just went to that configurator and optioned the S60 equivalently to the Aero – lo and behold, comes out to $49,945.
Why didn’t you mention that the S60 stripper fails to include heated seats, keyless, rain sense, park assist, xenon, adaptive chassis, adaptive cruise, auto-dip headlights, etc etc etc? Is it bias, or did you just not bother to do any research?
S60 competes with the 9-3 and the S80 competes with the 9-5.
Where did you get the idea that the S60 competes against the 9-5?
S40 competes with 9-3 and S60 competes with 9-5.
Nah, S40 is a size class and price class below a 9-3. The base 9-3 is 30,360 the base S40 is 26,200.
Because the 9-3 compares, almost perfectly, to the S40/V50. It might not be priced on top of it, but feature- and space-wise it’s almost identical
The 9-5 is an odd duck: the current one is much more roomy than either the S60 or S80, but that’s because the larger Volvos are ridiculous small inside.
Swedish people must not develop legs until the age of 16.
Completely wrong (as often when it comes to Saab on the truthaboutcars :-))
The S60 is a smaller car than the Saab 9-3 and the new 9-5 has roughly the same size as a BMW 7 series and is substantially larger than the S80
So the truth is :S40<S60<Saab 9-3<S80<Saab9-5=BMW7 series
A bit of fact checking always helps
The S60 is a smaller car than the Saab 9-3
No, it isn’t. Neither car is very big inside, but the 9-3’s back seat is tiny. If you were talking about the NG900/9-3, sure, but the Epsilon version is amputee-transport only.
For a car owned by a Chinese company? No way. Shame on you Ford!
The sale of Volvo was a business deal, not a measure of Swedish or American patriotism.
Considering who their former parents were, this makes sense.
Saab should have been left to die; their new product will assure this outcome.
Volvo’s have gotten smaller and smaller inside and more expensive on the outside. Ford tried to position Volvo up against BMW and other luxury brands.
On the one hand, they did a nice job with styling. On the other, they priced Volvo’s out of their market and into a market where they don’t compete well.
Sales plummeted and discounts were HUGE. If I recall, I bought the last version of the S60 for about $27K. We bought an XC70, that MSRP’d in the mid 40’s for the low $30’s.
The last Volvo I shopped for, was a 2010 S80. It came with front and rear heated seats for about $32,000 out the door. I think the MSRP was close to $10K more than that. Despite that, it didn’t end up being the car we bought because the back seat was way too tight and the engine was dated and a bit low on power.
It looks like the same pricing model as the old S60R. Loaded, mine stickered at $47K in 2004. Not too bad, relatively for more torque, A zillion electronic toys, and a turning circle that’s a couple feet smaller.
I’m disappointed, it looks as though the new S60 is only marginally bigger than the old one. The wheelbase went from 107″ to 109.3″ and overall length from 181.2″ to 182″.
I’m not sure where I read it but I am pretty sure I remember reading some time ago that the new S60 was going to be bigger so that it would compete more effectively with the 5-Series and the A6. I guess that was just speculation.
In recent years it seems Volvo has always had in-between sizing. My perception is that they are never as large as the size class bigger and never as small as the size class smaller. Using BMW as a benchmark the S40 was always smaller than the 3-series, the S60 bigger. The S60 was bigger than the 3-series, smaller than the 5-series. The S80 was bigger than the 5-series, smaller than the 7-series.
Although the new 9-5 is clearly bigger (wheelbase 111.7″, overall length 197.2″), I think the S60 does compete with the 9-5. However since both have similar power and all-wheel drive the dollar for dollar comparison doesn’t even come close.
With regards to the comment above about optioning the S60 and the 9-5 similarly my argument would be that at least with the S60 you don’t have to buy all the upgrade equipment if you don’t want to.
…my argument would be that at least with the S60 you don’t have to buy all the upgrade equipment if you don’t want to.
True, for the moment. But that’s not what TTAC said – they said, “The 9-5 is $13k more than the S60”, which is patently untrue. Every other comparison like this will carefully point out the option differences; Saab gets no such courtesy.
OK, that’s fair enough. I was mainly looking at the size differences.
For what it’s worth I’ve always liked Saabs. I’ve just never had one come along at a decent price whenever I’ve been in the market for a car.
Get a real car. Buy the Legacy GT for less.
LOL… the new 9-5 or S60 look way better than the current Legacy.
I’d have bought that with the previous gen car
Saab 0 Wolwo 0 No one that actually spends their own money on new cars cares.
The real issue is the price premium for the “luxury” brand. My opinion is that these brands having been traded around the world are no longer “prestige” brands. Add this to their iffy reliability, expensive to repair nature and steep depreciation and I doubt that they can find enough buyers to support their premium price point. The current economy is leaning toward less expensive cars. I can see locally in Los Angeles people are shifting to smaller models of true luxury cars (like BMW and Mercedes) and others are moving on to brands offering more value per dollar like Hyundai. I’ve seen a proliferation of Toyota Prius models and the replacement of the Suburban/Denali by Honda and Toyota minivans. I haven’t seen a new Volvo or Saab in about a year. Not a good omen for these brands.
It seems you can easily pay 50K plus for an entry to mid level “me too” mobile…like a BMW 335 or 535 for example. A few options on the 535 can quickly add 10K or more. Why bother? If I’m going to pay 50K (or 60) for a car, I’d at least like to get something slightly unique. I doubt Volvo is going to interest me, but maybe the new 9-5 will offer the class and competence I expect for 50K without being ubiquitous.
Too bad Volvo doesn’t offer a V70 T6. If they did, it would probably go for ridiculous $ anyway. Here in Canada, a V70 starts at $42,495 and that doesn’t include leather or a sunroof. Insane. I’ll be buying my Volvos used for quite a while.
At $30K, it’s an interesting car. But starting at $38 and going up to $50 is crazy.
They have to recover their costs. If the price means few sales in the U.S., too bad, but selling more at a loss would be worse.
The U.S. dollar isn’t what it used to be, so get used to higher prices, or decontenting, for imports.
The U.S. dollar isn’t what it used to be,
What are you talking about? The Euro is at $1.26 the lowest it’s been for years.
Ten years ago the euro was at 75 cents.
For about a year. It started at $1.18 in 1999.
Sweden doesn’t use the Euro – they have their own currency (Swedish Krona).
I’m struggling to know why I shouldn’t buy a G37S instead of this. Better looking, dynamically superior; well equipped for what Volvo is asking for the basic S60.
There is no reason not to buy a G37S. A better car at a better price.
Neither one of these brands are what I would consider premium. They’re both now living off their good reputations (one that IMO, Saab never deserved).