Volvo S60 Review (2019-present)

What is the Volvo S60?

The third-generation Volvo S60 is a compact premium saloon that rivals the Audi A4, BMW 3 Series and Mercedes-Benz C-Class. It also serves as an alternative to more evocative saloon options, such as the Alfa Romeo Giulia and Jaguar XE.

The S60 has traditionally been something of an also-ran in its class, particularly when compared to the more prominent and popular choices. That’s not to say that it was ever devoid of talent, though, as the Volvo has always done well in areas such as safety and equipment levels.

Unfortunately, many rivals often edged ahead of the Volvo when it came to driving performance, running costs and practicality, which made it difficult to justify and less common as a result. It didn’t have the cachet of cars such as the C-Class, either, further quelling its appeal.

The third generation of Volvo’s small executive saloon, which arrived in 2019, needed to impress on more fronts to make up ground. Fortunately, it was underpinned by a new Scalable Product Architecture platform (a fancy, industry term for new mechanical underpinnings), designed to offer significant dynamic improvements.

How practical is it?

There’s plenty of room for four adults to sit comfortably, while in the front seats there’s a useful array of storage in the form of various sizeable cubbies, most of which can be covered by a lovely, smooth, rollaway lid.

Having said that, you’ll find more space on offer in some of the S60’s rivals, and the same can be said for its boot space. While 427 litres enough to be getting along with, the Volvo doesn’t lead the class – especially when you consdier the Mercedes E-Class's 540-litre boot, which is 113 litres bigger than the Volvo's.

What's it like to drive?

At launch, the S60 was offered in a sporty-looking R-Design Edition specification that was offered with a sole powertrain called the T5. This featured a 2.0-litre turbocharged petrol engine, producing 247bhp, coupled to an eight-speed automatic gearbox that drove the front wheels.

New trim levels were soon introduced, including Inscription and R-Design Plus, and Volvo added a T8 Twin Engine plug-in hybrid option to the range, which coupled petrol and electric power for excellent performance and efficiency.

There’s not a great deal of note to be discovered behind the wheel of standard S60s, though. The steering is accurate, albeit uncommunicative, and although generally composed, the car does roll more in corners than some would like.

Consequently, the S60 isn’t as fun or as capable as a rear-wheel-drive BMW, Jaguar or Alfa, but entertainment isn’t at the top of everyone’s list. It’s by no means bad, and it is quick enough, with the T5 model dispatching the 0-62mph sprint in 6.5 seconds.

The Volvo offers a generally comfortable ride, too, although it's worth noting that this can deteriorate with bigger wheel choices and sportier suspension options. Road- and suspension noise, however, can be intrusive.

Technology, equipment & infotainment

The interior of the S60 impresses as much as the exterior, thanks to its elegant design, supportive seats and premium materials. It looks and feels exactly as you’d hope given the price, and features such as the 12.3-inch driver’s display give it a modern and high-tech appearance.

A new Volvo S60 comes with an extensive amount of equipment. Standard features include dual-zone climate control, heated seats, a 12.3-inch driver’s display, the nine-inch touchscreen Sensus infotainment system with satnav, automatic adaptive LED headlights, cruise control and keyless entry and start.

You also get an extensive amount of safety equipment, which is among the reasons the S60 scored the maximum five-star rating in Euro NCAP safety tests. It must be pointed out, though, that the BMW 3 Series outperformed the Volvo in various categories in those official tests.

Volvo S60 running costs

The Volvo S60 saloon isn’t particularly affordable when new, with entry-level models costing more than many competitor offerings. It’s not a cheap car to run, either, in part because there’s no sensibly-priced and efficient diesel variant available.

The entry-level petrol B5 mild hybrid, for example, promises a fuel economy of around 41.5mpg, whereas some BMW 3 Series with diesel engines promise up to 60.1mpg.

Volvo’s S60 B5 also emits 153g/km of CO2, which is higher than many diesel alternatives. Such emissions will land you in a higher first-year VED band, ramping up ownership costs. Many versions cost north of £40,000 when new, too, meaning you’ll get hit with an extra VED premium for five years.

The plug-in hybrid Recharge T8 models aren’t terrifically more expensive than the B5 versions, in the grand scheme of things, but they are significantly cleaner and more efficient, on paper at least. Volvo claims CO2 emissions as low as 40g/km and fuel consumption of up to 156.9mpg.

However, in the real world, if you don’t drive carefully and keep the batteries charged, you might see economy figures in the region of 30 to 50mpg. That’s more on a par with the standard B5 but, if you do make good use of the T8’s plug-in capabilities, you could average far better. The all-electric mode is great for making silent, relaxed short trips, too.

Volvo does offer a range of service plans, which can cover up to several years to simplify your ownership experience. Servicing is required every year or 18,000 miles, and prices aren’t extortionate. A one-year, 18,000-mile service for a T5 or T8, for example, was quoted as costing £255. The second-year service predictably costs more, at £430. Even so, given the premium nature of the Volvo saloon, those figures are unlikely to prove unpalatable.

Volvo S60 reliability

A new Volvo S60 will come with a three-year, 60,000-mile warranty. The paintwork is protected by a three-year, unlimited-mileage warranty, while every car gets a 12-year anti-perforation warranty. The lithium battery pack in plug-in hybrids is also covered by an eight-year, 100,000-mile warranty.

The warranty offering is fairly conventional, but not uncommon in the premium sector. An Audi will come with a three-year, 60,000-mile warranty, for example, while a BMW comes with a three-year, unlimited-mileage warranty.

Fortunately, major issues and stumbling blocks should be rare because Volvo has a good reputation for both reliability and customer satisfaction. Its more modern offerings also often perform well in surveys, which bodes well for the S60. Volvo also offers extended warranties, if you want to keep fuss to a minimum, with extensions available up to four years or 80,000 miles.

There has only been one recall so far for the S60, too, which is good news. It is a fault with the automatic emergency braking system, however, so it’s worth checking if the issue has been resolved if you’re looking at used S60s. In any case, remember to carry out a history check and make sure all the paperwork is in order.

If you want to make buying a used approved Volvo particularly painless, you could consider one from the official Volvo Selekt scheme. Through this, Volvo offers used cars that have undergone 150-point checks and all the relevant updates. Each car also comes with 12 months’ roadside assistance, 12 months’ unlimited-mileage warranty and a host of other benefits.

One thing to bear in mind is that the S60 comes as standard with a tyre sealant kit and compressor instead of a physical spare. A spare wheel and jack kit is available, but it’s not suitable for Polestar Engineered or plug-in hybrid models.