From the January 2001 Issue of Car and Driver.

Why settle for the cold when you can create your own heat wave? Five or six forward gears. Power figures at or above 200 horsepower. Tires engineered for strong grip, and seats shaped to keep you planted during hard cornering. Wrap it all in a four-door shell to keep things discreet. Plotting a fast getaway?

"No, officer, simply rushing to collect the children from their club meeting."

Sports sedans occupy a flexible niche where enjoyment intersects with everyday usefulness. No lab test confirms membership. Rely on seat-of-the-pants feel. You recognize them once you drive them.

Spending can stay modest or climb higher. How much warmth suits your taste? With January chill in the air, we chose the upper end. Thirty thousand dollars? Minimum. Thirty-five thousand? We aimed to stay near that mark. Yet added features tend to push totals upward.

Any sports-sedan test quickly raises the question, "Which BMW?" Resistance proves futile. The Bavarian maker owns the image, and its vehicles deliver the handling that earned two spots on the 2001 10Best roster. Every rival worldwide aiming for this segment measures itself against a BMW. Bimmers set the benchmark.

A base 330i might fit the budget. Its inline-six grew 5.6 millimeters in stroke to reach 3.0 liters for 2001, promising strong output. Yet the goal was balanced machines, so a 325i starting at $27,560 leaves room for worthwhile extras.

Recent sports-sedan tests have seen BMWs and Audis trading blows for the lead. An A4 Quattro with the 2.8-liter five-valve V-6 would land comfortably inside both the price cap and performance targets.

So far the field looks familiar. Where does Saab fit? The turbocharged 9-3 SE making 205 horsepower at 5500 rpm stands out as a logical pick.

Now the newcomers. Lexus aimed squarely at BMW with the IS300. This compact sedan sits within an inch of the 3-series in almost every measurement. The 3.0-liter six from the GS300 dropped in readily, delivering 215 smooth-revving horsepower. An inline-six again. The classic BMW recipe, and an intriguing prospect.

Volvo introduced the S60 for 2001, a trimmed-down take on the larger S80. Family traits are obvious. Spotting the difference without checking the trunk badge takes effort. Volvo promotes the S60 as a true sports sedan. The talk comes easily. One detail stands out: the T5 badge signals a turbocharged five-cylinder making 247 hp. That is serious output, well above any rival compact sports sedan near this price. The T5 beats the 325i by 63 horsepower. BMW as underdog? The figures appear decisive.

Mercedes-Benz likewise stresses that sport figured prominently in the new C-class design. Proof comes via a six-speed manual paired with the base 2.6-liter V-6 rated at 168 horsepower. The sleek four-door carries the toned look of an Olympic swimmer, though the medium here is air. Its drag coefficient of 0.27 hints at effortless pace.

Six sedans in total: two driving the front wheels, three powering the rear, and one splitting torque to all four. Six distinct approaches aimed at enthusiasts. The calendar may read January, yet the mercury climbs once the landscape begins to blur. Time to discover what these machines can deliver.

6th Place: Saab 9-3 SE

This model shows its age. Rooted in the 900 introduced in 1994, it received over 1000 updates when it became the 9-3 in 1999. Yet in 2001 the competition has sharpened, and the old car's choppy, rigid ride over winding roads no longer satisfies. The suspension feels harsh, and quick travel over uneven surfaces causes bottoming, vague steering, and elevated risk.

The turbo four still supplies strong thrust in Saab tradition, second quickest to 60 mph at 6.8 seconds and second fastest through the quarter-mile at 93 mph. Boost arrives early with a firm shove. Torque steer appears readily, especially on bumpy pavement. Until recently such traits were accepted as the price of front-drive power. Now they stand out as a front-drive limitation. Interestingly, both turbocharged cars here use drivetrains least suited to sudden torque.

By a slim margin the Saab offered the most rear-seat space for three passengers. Still, anyone regularly carrying that many would be better served by a larger vehicle. None of these sedans comfortably seats three adults in back for long trips. The five-door hatch also led in cargo versatility.

Stopping from 70 mph took 196 feet, last in the group, while skidpad grip reached 0.77 g, fifth overall. All-season tires on this car and the Mercedes trade dry grip for winter capability.

HIGHS: Leather scent in the cabin, strong turbo pull, generous interior space.
LOWS: Noticeable torque steer, unsettled ride on rough pavement, wind noise from the sunroof. A firm ride overall.
VERDICT: The veteran of the group, rich in history yet short on future promise.

The cabin welcomes with its leather aroma yet lacks the close feel expected in a sports sedan. The shifter feels imprecise. The seat is somewhat flat, the console sits low, and door panels appear plain. The space feels open and tall. Familiarity from years since 1994 brings the sense of an old acquaintance who has stopped learning.

2001 Saab 9-3 SE
205-hp inline-4, 5-speed manual, 3427 lb
Base/as-tested price: $33,170/$34,015
C/D TEST RESULTS
60 mph: 6.8 sec
100 mph: 17.8 mph
1/4 mile: 15.4 @ 93 mph
Braking, 70-0 mph: 196 ft
Roadholding, 300-ft-dia skidpad: 0.77 g
C/D observed fuel economy: 23 mpg

5th Place: Mercedes-Benz C240

A fresh face whose main shortcoming was incomplete preparation. Some responsibility rests with us. We could not locate a C240 equipped with the optional Sport package that adds firmer springs, firmer shocks, and lower-profile tires for sharper handling along with cosmetic touches. Instead we tested a six-speed example with typical comfort options. DaimlerChrysler continues to claim sport was designed in from the start.

That intent was not obvious. The character is calm and refined, ideal for relaxed travel: strong suppression of road noise, minimal harshness, low wind intrusion. Yet where is the athletic edge? The body pitches noticeably over bumps. Steering produces quick roll angles. The motions feel too boat-like for a sports sedan.

The Sport package would likely address those issues. Additional concerns remain. The clutch engages sharply. The brake pedal travels far before strong stopping begins, with little change in effort. Roughly half the drivers found the steering feel lacking; effort and wheel movement do not translate cleanly into direction change. The car feels disconnected. Driving brings little satisfaction.

Further notes: the aerodynamic mirrors are small and oddly shaped, and the tachometer appears undersized.

Passengers fare better. The cabin is rich, soft, and tastefully hued. Leather shows attractive gathers. Seats feel supportive without stiffness. Rear comfort and space nearly matched the Saab and exceeded the rest.

HIGHS: Plush leather cabin, minimal wind noise, sleek aerodynamic styling.
LOWS: Abrupt clutch, vague brakes, soft chassis response, small tachometer.
VERDICT: A compact luxury sedan wearing compact-luxury-sedan attire.

Overall the impression is of a passenger car rather than a driver's car.

2001 Mercedes-Benz C240
168-hp V-6, 6-speed manual, 3389 lb
Base/as-tested price: $30,595/$35,560
C/D TEST RESULTS
60 mph: 8.8 sec
100 mph: 23.8 mph
1/4 mile: 16.7 @ 85 mph
Braking, 70-0 mph: 183 ft
Roadholding, 300-ft-dia skidpad: 0.76 g
C/D observed fuel economy: 23 mpg

4th Place: Volvo S60 T5

Two hundred forty-seven horsepower, all eager to work. This Volvo delivers strong acceleration. It pulls away from the others, reaching 60 mph in 6.6 seconds, quickest here. The quarter-mile passes in 15.1 seconds at 96 mph, also best. That is 0.3 second and 3 mph ahead of the next-closest Saab. Governed top speed is 129 mph.

These results come from a high-boost turbocharged and intercooled 2.3-liter five-cylinder. A milder low-boost version without intercooler makes 197 horsepower for those seeking less intensity.

Compared with the Saab, the Volvo behaves more calmly. Torque steer stays moderate and the suspension rarely bottoms. Like the Mercedes, body motions are pronounced, yet better damping improves control. Grip reaches a solid 0.81 g, placing it in the upper half of the group. Subjectively, however, understeer prevails in corners, suggesting that comfort and quietness, not sportiness, are its strengths.

The interior makes an immediate impression. Attention goes first to the "space ball" shifter, a large ball-and-socket lever finished in a cool metallic tone. Door handles share the same material. The dash wears a simulated hide texture. Large gauges feature beveled edges reminiscent of certain Porsche chronographs. Seats feel especially plush thanks to a thin layer of soft foam under the leather, giving the cabin a more expensive air. Rear seating is well shaped for two, though space is comparable to the Audi, BMW, and Lexus models, which sit at the lower end of the group.

HIGHS: Abundant horsepower, comfortable cabin, distinctive metallic interior details.
LOWS: Sensitive brakes, sharp clutch, five-cylinder sound under boost.
VERDICT: A capable tourer that stops short of outright sportiness.

The S60 is a strong cruiser, yet never a playful one.

2001 Volvo S60 T5
247-hp inline-5, 5-speed manual, 3410 lb
Base/as-tested price: $32,375/$35,675
C/D TEST RESULTS
60 mph: 6.6 sec
100 mph: 16.3 mph
1/4 mile: 15.1 @ 96 mph
Braking, 70-0 mph: 172 ft
Roadholding, 300-ft-dia skidpad: 0.81 g
C/D observed fuel economy: 25 mpg

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6th Place: Saab 9-3 SE

5th Place: Mercedes-Benz C240

4th Place: Volvo S60 T5

3rd Place: Lexus IS300