Volvo V60 review

When ABC cancelled the TV thriller Designated Survivor after two seasons, it was viewer demand that led to it being revived by Netflix. Now something similar has happened with the Volvo V60.

You see, the V60 (along with the Volvo V90) was retired a few years ago so the Swedish brand could focus on SUVs, but a resurgence in demand for estate cars means it's back.

Very little has changed from before, but that’s not a bad thing, and means that the V60 is just as practical as ever. It's filled with kit and comes with the choice of three great engines – one mild-hybrid and two plug-in hybrids (PHEVs).

Of course, the Volvo V60 also has plenty of rivals to compete with. So, should you buy one over premium rivals including the BMW 3 Series Touring and Mercedes C-Class Estate, or the likes of the cheaper Volkswagen Passat? That’s what we’re going to find out in this review...

The Volvo V60 is available exclusively with 2.0-litre, four-cylinder petrol engines. Let’s begin with the lowest-powered option, the 194bhp B4, which is a mild hybrid. Its 0-62mph time of 7.6 seconds is energetic, flexible and ideally suited to motorway speeds, especially in a car designed to be filled with people and luggage.

The remaining two options are both petrol plug-in hybrids (PHEVs) with four-wheel drive. The cheaper of the pair is badged is T6, and has a petrol engine driving the front wheels and an electric motor driving the rears.

It has 345bhp but doesn’t feel as rapid as you might expect – partly because the eight-speed automatic gearbox you get in all V60s takes time to react. Still, its official 0-62mph time of 5.4 seconds is quicker than the BMW 3-Series Touring in 330e form.

There’s an even quicker version – the T8 – with a more powerful 306bhp petrol engine for a combined output of 449bhp. That drops the 0-62mph time to 4.6 seconds, but we don't think it’s worth the extra expense.

Both PHEVs can get to motorway speeds on battery power alone, and Volvo says they will manage around 57 electric-only miles between charges. That’s a few miles less than a BMW 330e Touring and around 10 miles less than a PHEV Mercedes C300e Estate.

No V60 is as agile as the 3 Series Touring, and the heavy batteries in the PHEV versions make them even less eager to tuck in to corners or change direction. Still, if you want an estate car that steers predictably, grips well and feels safe and secure on motorways and A-roads, the V60 is fine.

In terms of comfort, the C-Class Estate is one of the most supple models in the class when fitted with adaptive suspension but the V60 is not far behind.

It delivers good long-distance comfort on motorways, but around town it doesn’t isolate you from potholes and ridges quite as well. The heavier PHEVs are less settled at speed, but are by no means boneshakers.

The V60’s engines are quiet for the most part, especially at a cruise, and you’ll only really notice them when you’re trying to get the most out of the engine.

At 70mph, there’s a slight rumble from the tyres and a bit of wind noise from its door mirrors, but it’s all largely subdued. Indeed, it's no noisier than a C-Class Estate, and neither car is irritatingly loud.

"After hours driving the V60 on the motorway, I was really impressed by how effortless it made it. The only thing that soured the experience was the gearbox’s slow reactions in traffic or around town." – Dan Jones, Senior Reviewer

The Volvo V60 has a superb driving position. You sit perfectly in line with the steering wheel and pedals, with a comfortable armrest on the door and another between the front seats. 

The driver's seat is supportive and has lumbar adjustment, and the steering wheel has a great range of height and reach adjustment. Even entry-level Plus trim comes with an electrically adjustable driver’s seat with memory and an extendable seat base for better under-thigh support.

Every V60 has a 12.3in digital driver's display instead of analogue dials, and while it's not as configurable as BMW’s Virtual Cockpit, it gives plenty of useful information, including media, telephone and navigation data.

Likewise, the V60's 9in, portrait-oriented infotainment touchscreen has small icons and lacks the user-friendly dial controller you get with the touchscreen in a BMW 3-Series Touring. BMW's software is more responsive and better laid out than Volvo's, but you soon get used to the V60's menus and the screen is very clear.

The sat-nav system uses Google for its maps, and provides a detailed display with real-time traffic information. DAB radio, wireless phone-charging, Bluetooth, and Android Auto and Apple CarPlay smartphone mirroring come as standard.

The V60 is an easy car to see out of. The windscreen pillars are not too wide and there are no substantial blind-spots. The rear windows provide a good view over your shoulder, and you get power-folding rear headrests that drop at the touch of a button to give you a clearer view backwards.

Front and rear parking sensors, and a rear-view parking camera are standard on all versions, upgraded to a 360-degree camera system on Ultra trim. It’s easy to see at night because high-intensity LED headlights are fitted to every version, with matrix LED headlights standard on Ultra trim.

Volvo is making quite a name for itself when it comes to great interiors and the V60 is no exception. The materials and build quality are better than both the 3 Series Touring and the C-Class. You can also option softer Napa leather upholstery and wood trim finishers that really lift the ambience.

"Despite its length, the V60’s great all-round visibility means that it’s really easy to park, even in tight spaces." – Dan Jones, Senior Reviewer

The Volvo V60 has a generous amount of front head and leg room, but that's reduced significantly if you opt for the range-topping Ultra trim because it comes with a panoramic roof. More positively, the interior is good and wide, so you can get your elbows out without irking your passenger.

Rear space is a strength. Again, head room is fine (panoramic roof aside) and the rear leg room is much better than in the Mercedes C-Class Estate. You can get roomier estate cars but you'll either have to spend much more or do without a premium badge and consider the Skoda Superb Estate or VW Passat.

Storage space is generally good, with plenty of cubbies, compartments and a decent glovebox, although the door bins are a little small. The V60's boot has an electrically operated tailgate.

The non-PHEV versions have 519 litres of boot space with the rear seats up – enough for eight carry-on suitcases. That’s more than the 3 Series Touring and C-Class Estate, but loads less than the Superb Estate. 

As is often the case, the PHEV versions have a slightly smaller boot, with a reduction to 481 litres. That’s still more than you’ll find in the BMW 330e Touring or Mercedes C300e Estate though.

There’s more space under the floor if you don’t order a spare wheel, and you can drop the rear seats to make more space for longer items. They split 60/40 rather than in the 40/20/40 arrangement you get in the 3 Series Touring. The seats fold flat to the floor, with no step up in the long boot space.

"It almost goes without saying that interior space is really important for estate cars, and that’s one area where I've found the V60 does well." – Dan Jones, Senior Reviewer

If you tend to keep a beady eye on costs, the Volvo V60 is worthy of your attention. Like for like, it’s generally no pricier to buy in cash than premium-brand rivals, but you could save money if you buy a Skoda Superb Estate or VW Passat. 

The V60 is predicted to hold on to a good chunk of its value when it comes to reselling in three years. There's little to split it on depreciation with the Mercedes C-Class Estate but the BMW 3 Series Touring is a bit better.

The engines generally come in slightly better than the 3 Series Touring in terms of CO2 output and fuel consumption. If you're a company car user, it's definitely worth looking at the PHEVs because they significantly cut your BIK tax bill relative to other versions. An electric estate car – the Volkswagen ID 7 Tourer for example – will be even cheaper to run as a company car.

We recommend sticking to the V60's entry-level Plus trim for the best value. It has more than enough gubbins to keep gadget lovers entertained, including a 9in touchscreen with sat-nav, a 10-speaker stereo, an electric tailgate, four-zone climate control, a heated front windscreen and steering wheel, heated front and rear seats, adaptive cruise control, 19in alloys and keyless entry.

Ultra trim adds a panoramic roof, tinted rear windows, an upgraded Harman Kardon sound system, an electrically adjustable front passenger seat and upgraded LED headlights and parking aids. It's worth noting that the T6 is only available in Plus trim, and the T8 is Ultra-only.

The PHEV models come with a Type 2 charging cable (to plug into home EV chargers) and have a maximum charging rate of 6.4kW. At that rate, the battery is charged from empty in about five hours.

The V60 achieved the full five-star rating from Euro NCAP in 2018 but the tests have become more stringent since then and the rating has now expired. That makes it impossible to compare its very respectable scores with the more recently tested 3 Series Touring and C-Class Estate.

Regardless, you get a good amount of standard safety equipment with the V60, including automatic emergency braking (AEB) that will detect cars, pedestrians, cyclists and large animals, traffic-sign recognition, oncoming lane mitigation (to help avoid a head-on collision) and lane-keeping assistance.

As a manufacturer, Volvo finished in a respectable 12th place out of 31 brands in our 2024 What Car? Reliability Survey. The V60 placed in the middle of the 20 models in our list of the most reliable executive cars. The V60 comes with a three-year, 60,000-mile manufacturer’s warranty and breakdown cover.

"Given the importance Volvo places on safety, I think it’s a bit disappointing that the V60’s safety rating has been allowed to expire." – Dan Jones, Senior Reviewer

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