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"Park City, Utah\u2014For the most part, many car companies avoid the mountains or any other high altitude venue when showing of products for fear that that the thinner air robs performance to the point of inviting poor reviews. Volvo, however, chose this ski resort and its nearly 9,000 foot elevation to underscore the strengths of its 2013 S60 T5 AWD models.        2013 Volvo S60 T5 AWD    For 2013, Volvo has made some mechanical tweaks to the car, most notably the addition of a $2,000 all-wheel-drive option. While July is hardly the month to showcase this technology, which features the fifth generation of Haldex AWD, the point here is that with traction available at all four wheels, skiers can count on this handsome sedan to deliver them to their destinations with minimal drama despite the weather. And even though there isn&amp;#039;t a lick of snow to be found in July, the atmosphere doesn&amp;#039;t change much season to season. Even in this rarefied air, the turbocharged 2.5-liter inline five beneath the hood was capable of keeping the car&amp;#039;s performance nearly intact to those levels found at sea level.        2013 Volvo S60 T5 AWD    Among the tweaks to the T5 power plant is a boost in engine compression to 9.5:1 from 9.0, engine torque now peaks at 4200 rpm and engine management changes provide fast gear changes and upshifts when the 6-speed automatic gearbox is in the sport mode. Output remains the same over 2012 at 250 bhp and 266 lb ft of torque, although there is a provision for overboost from the turbo which bumps the torque number to 295 lb.-ft. The changes in compression ratio helps the S60 T5 deliver an extra mile of mpg in the city and combined cycle. Front-drive versions are rated at 21 city/30 highway for a combined of 24, while the AWD model is 1 mpg less across the board. Volvo also says the T5 AWD is good for a 0-60 mph sprint of 6.6 sec., while the front-drive version is 0.2 sec. quicker.        2013 Volvo S60 T5 AWD    The modest tweaks in the mechanical package nicely complement an already competent and satisfying driving experience. A slightly quicker steering gear, the responsive turbo motor especially in sport mode along with torque vectoring and advanced stability control make the S60 T5 a great companion on the smooth winding roads that wend their way through the mountain passes and rolling countryside east of Salt Lake. The steering is precise and in most conditions, the car behaves like a well-sorted front-driver, since in most instances the Haldex system delivers 95 percent of the torque to the front wheels. Even though we pushed the car through the twisties and encountered a bit of rain, we never felt that we engaged the full capability of the all-wheel-drive system, which is best suited for more inclimate weather. The chassis is rock solid, pretty well damped, although on some uneven pavement it was evident that the car is set up a bit more aggressively than your ordinary family sedan. But that lack of compliance on harsh road surfaces is more than compensated by the direct feel and decided lack of body motion when the road bends.        2013 Volvo S60 T5 AWD    But the competent suspension, responsive handling and good engine performance is only half the story. The S60 T5 AWD is good-looking inside and out. The lines are crisp, clean and elegant. That approach carries over into the interior with its stylish dash, muted accents and high quality materials. There&amp;#039;s a large 7-in. LED screen in the center of the dash, which in addition to providing information about the sound system and climate controls, is used by the optional navigation system. Our test model, which starts at $31,750, also included the $2,000 AWD upgrade, a premier trim level package of $2,200 that featured a power glass moonroof, leather seating, keyless ignition, power passenger seat and a couple of other goodies. Add a climate package for $700, a $375 rear spoiler, $250 for the 17-in. wheels and $895 destination and it totals out to $38,170. The only disappointment in the car, given its final price, is the lack of navigation (perhaps it should be part of the premium package), paddle shifts on the steering wheel and no rear-backup camera, a feature that is increasingly common on cars costing far less.   Aside from those items, the 2013 Volvo S60 T5 AWD is a handsome and daresay charming alternative to upscale import and domestic compact sedans.        2013 Volvo S60 T5 AWD   "^^<http://www.w3.org/2001/XMLSchema#string>
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