Volvo V60 Review (2018-present)
Volvo V60 cars for sale
4.0
Expert review
Pros
Crisp styling inside and out
Supreme long-distance comfort
An interesting alternative to a BMW or Mercedes
Cons
VW Passat and Skoda Superb offer bigger boots
A 3 Series is more exciting to drive
Interior quality good rather than sparkling
The CarGurus verdict
Volvos have been highly desirable ever since the latest XC90 and XC60 SUVs arrived on the scene. What the V60 does is add that same desirability to Volvo’s traditional, sensible heartland of estate cars. It is a vehicle with all the style, plentiful standard equipment, comfort and class that you’ll find elsewhere in the Volvo range, only this time in the body of a conventional estate car. If might not be an exceptionally exciting car to drive (if that’s your thing try a BMW 3 Series Touring), but if you value space, sophisticated design, and the ability to effortlessly waft away miles then the Volvo V60 is well worth considering.
One thing to note: the V60’s flexible load space is likely to be big enough for most buyers, and is certainly as good as or better than most of its key rivals. But it is important to be aware that anybody seeking ultimate carrying capacity will be better served by a Skoda Superb Estate.
What is the Volvo V60?
Volvo is a brand that’s inextricably linked to estate cars, even if the bulk of its sales these days come from SUVs. The V60 is one of two Volvo estates that remain on its price lists, the other being the larger V90. As with other Volvos, the V60 boasts smart styling inside and out, useful technology and Volvo’s hallmark practicality and safety.
The V60 is priced and positioned to be pitched against the German trio that comprises the BMW 3 Series Touring, Audi A4 Avant and Mercedes-Benz C-Class estate. As well as these it battles for sales with some other more spacious estate cars from the more mainstream car brands, with models such as the Volkswagen Passat Estate, Ford Mondeo Estate, and Skoda Superb Estate all serving as viable contenders in this category.
How practical is it?
While the V60 can’t quite match the ludicrously commodious rear of that Skoda, for all but the most ambitious of packers the Volvo should provide ample luggage space. All V60s come with an electrically operated hatch at the rear, while 60/40 split-fold seats make for a hugely practical space when folded. There are some clever touches in the boot, too, such as a fold up luggage divider and a 12-volt power socket.
The actual boot space of the V60 is 529 litres with the rear seats in position, or 1,441 litres with those seats folded. That’s not quite the ultimate seats-down load-carrying capacity to topple all of its rivals. However, with the seats in place the V60 does have one of the larger boots in its class. Usefully, passenger space for people in the back seats is better than rivals, with the V60 offering more headroom and legroom than the Audi, BMW and Mercedes.
What's it like to drive?
If you’re not plugging in, there’s a conventional line up of petrol and diesel options, with the 2.0-litre petrol choices spanning outputs of 160bhp to 295bhp. The sole diesel engine offered is a 2.0-litre turbodiesel with 194bhp. All V60s come with an eight-speed automatic gearbox. Most are front-wheel drive, but Volvo does offer some models with all-wheel drive (AWD), including the Volvo V60 Cross Country. This more rugged V60 also comes with slightly raised suspension and SUV-aping body cladding for those wanting their estate car to have the looks of an off-roader.
From behind the wheel the V60 goes about its job with little fuss. The ride quality and refinement are good, the steering is accurate, and the engines – in all but the lowliest power outputs – perform in an unstressed fashion. The V60 might not be as engaging to drive as some of its rivals, but for those who prefer a more laid back approach that might actually be quite appealing.
Technology, equipment & infotainment
Safety remains a huge part of the Swedish brand’s identity, with the V60 coming fully loaded with all the latest active and passive safety equipment. As standard there’s (deep breath!): City Safety with full automatic braking; pedestrian, cyclist and large animal detection; Oncoming Lane Mitigation; Driver Alert Control with Lane Keeping Aid; a pair of isofix child seat mounts; a Speed Limiter; Road Sign Information Display; and a full suite of front, side and curtain airbags.
In terms of exterior styling, the V60 is a paragon a restraint and understatement. That’s true inside as well, with the interior being particularly fine in its detailing, comfort and ease of use. The exception is Volvo’s smart-looking nine-inch portrait-orientated touchscreen infotainment system. For while it all works once you're familiar with it, there remains a fair amount of sub-menu navigation required to undertake what should be fairly simple tasks.
Trim levels cover all bases, with choices including R-Design, a sporty Polestar Engineered model, Inscription, and Recharge. Recharge, incidentally, is the model name Volvo applies to its plug-in hybrids, of which there are two choices in the V60 (see our Three Things to Know section, below, for more details). These plug-in hybrid models don’t just improve fuel economy, but in the case of the T8 AWD Polestar Engineered, also boost performance. That flagship model has a 313bhp petrol engine helped by an 86bhp electric motor, making it particularly rapid in a straight line.
If you’re not plugging in, there’s a conventional line up of petrol and diesel options, with the 2.0-litre petrol choices spanning outputs of 160bhp to 295bhp. The sole diesel engine offered is a 2.0-litre turbodiesel with 194bhp. All V60s come with an eight-speed automatic gearbox. Most are front-wheel drive, but Volvo does offer some models with all-wheel drive (AWD), including the Volvo V60 Cross Country. This more rugged V60 also comes with slightly raised suspension and SUV-aping body cladding for those wanting their estate car to have the looks of an off-roader.
From behind the wheel the V60 goes about its job with little fuss. The ride quality and refinement are good, the steering is accurate, and the engines – in all but the lowliest power outputs – perform in an unstressed fashion. The V60 might not be as engaging to drive as some of its rivals, but for those who prefer a more laid back approach that might actually be quite appealing.
Volvo V60 running costs
Obviously those PHEV plug-in hybrid models will be the cheapest V60s to run, especially if your commute comes in under the potential electric-only range – or you can plug in at work. They’re a good deal more pricey to begin with, though, so any running costs savings will be offset by their significantly higher initial purchase price. If you are within the circa 30-mile range of the batteries and electric motor then you’ll be able to run around during the week by just plugging in at home, with the petrol engine helping out on any longer journeys.
Should you regularly cover higher mileages then you might actually find a diesel V60 to be a better option thanks to an official fuel consumption figure in the 45-50mpg sphere. Those kind of numbers should be achievable, too, particularly on a longer run. Pick the Cross Country and you’ll pay a bit in fuel economy, with the diesel version delivering a quoted combined consumption figure of 43-47mpg.
None of the conventional petrol engines can get close to that, with the best offering just over 40mpg. CO2 emissions in all but the PHEV models put the V60 into some of the higher first year VED (road tax) bands. You'll pay a minimum of £540 for a petrol model, or £870 for a diesel. On top of that, the V60 dances very close to the £40,000 threshold for higher rate VED, which, if breached, means a further £325 a year over the standard VED charge for the first five years of ownership.
A service from Volvo should cost in the region of £290, with the servicing schedule worked out by the car’s on-board computer – depending on usage. Also bear in mind that, depending on how you’ve paid for your V60, you might have inclusive servicing as part of the deal. Insurance for a V60 meanwhile shouldn’t be any more expensive than for any of its rivals, particularly given the amount of standard safety equipment it has.
Volvo V60 reliability
It would be fair to say that for a while Volvo’s reputation for reliability took a bit of a slide. However, the company seems to be addressing that, and has climbed back up the reliability charts with its newer models.
The V60 has had some teething issues with some of the car's software, with Volvo recalling it a few times to address these. It’s worth asking, when your V60 goes in for a service, to check if there are any outstanding recall bulletins.
It seems that the majority of issues relating to Volvos older than the current V60 are largely down to glitches around software and the infotainment system. These are likely to be frustrations rather than serious mechanical maladies and breakdowns, but even so it's worth knowing that all Volvos come with three years of Volvo Assistance European breakdown recovery, which can be extended annually for £99 if you service your car at a Volvo dealership.
If you’re buying a new V60 you’ll have the peace of mind of a three-year, 60,000 mile warranty, while buyers of the plug-in hybrid Volvos will have the battery covered for eight years or 100,000 miles. Buyers of used V60s will have the balance of any warranty (assuming the car has been maintained to Volvo's standards), and if it’s from a Volvo main dealer it will be offered with the company’s Selekt approved used warranty as well.
- Two plug-in hybrids (PHEV) versions of the V60 are offered, each combining a 2.0-litre four-cylinder petrol engine with an electric motor to improve fuel economy and emissions. The first is the T6 Plug-in hybrid and returns a WLTP combined consumption figure of 134.5-156.9mpg along with CO2 emissions of 41-46g/km. The second PHEV V60 is the range-topping T8 Polestar Engineered. It can’t quite match the economy figures of the T6, instead achieving 113.0-128.4mpg and CO2 emissions of 50-56g/km. However, it is a fair bit faster.
- Both plug-in hybrid V60s offer an electric-only range from 31 miles to 36 miles depending on the model and specification. That’s enough for most commutes to work, with the back up of the four-cylinder petrol motor when you need it. Both the PHEV choices are four-wheel drive, with the conventional internal combustion engine driving the front wheels, and the electric motor sending its power to the rear wheels.
- Volvo isn’t alone in doing so, but if you want its infotainment touchscreen to have Apple CarPlay or Android Auto you’ll need to pay extra. It’s a £300 stand-alone option, or can be bundled into an audio upgrade pack. These include the 'TECH' which also adds Harman Kardon Audio with 13 speakers and Dolby Pro Logic II Surround Sound for £850. Or if you’re a proper audiophile there’s a Bowers & Wilkins TECH pack, too, which at £2,500 might be a little trickier to justify, however sensational it might sound.
- If you need a workhorse: Look no further than the entry-level Momentum model. Actually, do, because the first V60 on the price lists is the 2.0-litre petrol with 160bhp, which is a little bit lacking in torque. Spend about £1,500 more and get the 194bhp option instead, because it won’t feel quite so overwhelmed if you’re prone to filling up that boot, or towing a trailer or caravan. As for equipment, the Momentum has it covered, with everything you could possibly need including cruise control, keyless start, a power-operated tailgate, park assist rear camera, alloy wheels, two-zone climate control, a 12.3-inch active TFT driver’s information display, heated front seats with power adjustment for the driver, leather-faced upholstery, DAB, Bluetooth connectivity and plenty more besides.
- If you want the fastest V60: That’ll be the V60 T8 AWD Polestar Engineered. Admittedly it has the same 112mph speed restrictor as other Volvos, but thanks to its hybrid powertrain it can still get from 0-62mph in a brisk 4.6 seconds. Not only that, but the Polestar Engineered chassis ensures it remains more composed in the bends than other V60s, too.
- If you want to look cool: Is it just us who finds the jacked-up suspension and additional body cladding of pseudo off-road estate cars deeply appealing? No, we thought not. The Cross Country is the V60 we lust after, being an estate that looks as at home sitting outside a country pile as it is an Alpine chalet. People who buy Cross Country Volvos tend to use them as intended, so don’t be surprised to see bikes, skis, kayaks or suchlike hanging off the roof or a towball-mounted bike rack out back.
- If you want to put safety first: All V60s are a great choice for safety. In fact, no Volvo skimps on safety equipment, even if you’re at the bottom of the price list. The only option that you can add to the V60 in relation to safety is Intellisafe Surround for around £625. This adds Blind Spot Information with Steer Assist, Cross Traffic Alert with Autobrake, and Rear Collision Mitigation.
