Volvo V60 review

Driving position

It seems like every other car is an SUV today, and that's great if you like the high-up driving position associated with them, but what if you prefer a more car-like experience?

You're in luck with the Volvo V60, because you sit much lower for a more engaging feel when you're tackling corners. In fact, it feels more like a sports car than an estate, thanks to the way you sit much lower than you'd expect.

Everything, from the steering wheel position to the pedals and the comfortable armrests, feel perfectly aligned.

There are some blind spots, particularly rearwards, but that's to be expected from any similar estate, and there's plenty of active safety kit onboard to deter you from pulling out into oncoming traffic.

All Volvos, including the V60, stand out for their supremely supportive seats. They're designed to contour perfectly to your body, which makes them safe and comfortable at the same time, plus sportier trims like R-Design have even more side bolstering to hold you in place.

Tech and features

The V60 gets Volvo's nine-inch portrait-oriented touchscreen infotainment system, which uses Google-developed software as its foundation.

It means that it's incredibly easy to use, with simple navigation and fast response times. It's not the most feature-packed system (BMW's iDrive probably takes that prize), but at least you get smartphone connectivity with Apple CarPlay and Android Auto.

All versions of the V60 feel pretty premium – dual-zone climate control with an air quality monitoring system, a 12.3-inch digital instrument cluster, rear parking sensors, and a powered boot lid are all standard.

The minimalist interior is also a great place to be – besides a few toggles for engine power, volume and track selection on the centre console and dashboard, there's not a lot to write about, and that's part of the appeal of owning a V60. It all feels very... premium.

As is always the case, higher trim levels and optional extras unlock better levels of kit, with features like semi-autonomous driving, a 360-degree parking camera and sound systems developed by Bowers & Wilkins or Harman/Kardon all available.

A lot rides on the model year you select, too. For example, when Volvo replaced its Momentum, Inscription and R-Design trims with Core, Plus and Ultimate, the V60 got a heating for the steering wheel and seats across all models, too.

Engines and power

Although Volvo has offered a range of engine options in the V60 over the years, one thing has remained consistent – they're all 2.0-litre units. The diesels were short-lived, with Volvo moving away from diesels shortly after the V60 went on sale.

The core engines were quickly replaced with mild hybrids for a small but noticeable boost to fuel economy.

Diesel options range from 150hp to 197hp, while petrol offerings cover a broader spectrum from 163hp up to the 300hp 'B6'.

That's before you get into the plug-in hybrids (PHEVs), which all have at least 340hp and a 0-62mph time of 5.4 seconds or under.

If you have the option to charge at home, we would certainly recommend any of the PHEVs, which balance impressive performance with the potential to significantly reduce your running costs. We tried the 455hp Volvo V60 Ultimate T8, and its 4.6-second 0-62mph time blew us away.

It picks up the pace instantly, but it does so in a composed way – after all, it's a premium estate, not one for the yobs. None of this 'throw you into the back of your seat' nonsense.

Petrol models are hard to recommend given their near-30mpg fuel economy figures in real-world tests, but the diesels remain attractive even if they're only available used. More on fuel economy below.

Handling and ride comfort

Driving a Volvo V60 feels somewhere between sporty and comfortable – it's not quite as firm as a BMW, but there's enough rigidity for you to feel like you're in control of the car.

Some of the larger wheels can make it feel fidgety over poor surfaces, so stick to smaller rims with more rubber (to absorb the bumps) if you can.

The steering isn't the most engaging, and that could be partly due to the V60 being front- (or all-)wheel-drive. It means the front wheels are always trying to put the power down and change your direction at the same time. This car's rival, the BMW 3 Series, feels more fun to drive, but the V60 is still very predictable and enjoyable in everyday scenarios.

Boot space

The 519-litre boot is strong, and in true Volvo fashion, it trumps all of its key rivals – the BMW 3 Series Touring, Mercedes C-Class Estate, Audi A4 Avant and that car's successor, the Audi A5 Avant – even if only by a few litres.

It's very nearly 100 litres more than you get in the V60's saloon sibling, the S60, but more importantly, it does away with the saloon's narrow boot opening in favour of the much more practical hatchback style.

In terms of usability, the V60's boot has a flat floor and is square-shaped for maximum practicality, with plenty of tie-downs and pop-up panels for securing whatever you're carrying.

Rear seats

Rear passenger space isn't a strong point of the V60, but all similarly sized estates face a similar predicament – whether to maximise boot space or passenger space.

It's more than acceptable for two adults, but the transmission tunnel does effectively remove all legroom for a third, middle passenger. Again, not a problem that's unique to the V60, but one worth noting.

Storage solutions

Volvo designs its cars for families – being safe and luxurious are just happy byproducts. It means there's plenty of in-cabin storage, split across the centre console, door bins, cup holders and other clever options and accessories like grocery nets and dog dividers.

In fact, Volvo's so proud that it boasts of the 23+ litres of storage space in the cabin alone – that's the size of small EV's froot (front boots).

Towing

The V60 makes for the perfect tow car, picking up the coveted Tow Car Awards 2023 prize for best overall tow car.

That was for the T6 model, which can tow up to 2,000kg. Some less powerful mild hybrids are limited to 1,800kg, so check the specific configuration of your preferred car if towing is important to you.

Safety

Safety is a given with any Volvo, and the V60 benefits from that exceptional brand reputation.

Shortly after it went on sale, it got a five-star Euro NCAP safety rating, with Volvo proudly stating that its City Safety with Autobrake feature is standard across the range.

Take a look at the online configurator and you'll see an endless list of safety features, from active systems designed to prevent accidents to built-in designs like anti-whiplash front seats to reduce the impact of any unfortunate events.

Fuel economy

For the most part, V60s were sold with petrol (or mild hybrid petrol) engines, and so fuel economy isn't a strong point.

Many drivers are likely to see 30-40mpg in day-to-day driving. The diesels are lighter on fuel, for sure, but Volvo, like many drivers, has turned its back on the black pump.

If fuel economy is important to you, consider one of the PHEV options. Earlier models have an 11.6kWh battery for a claimed 31-mile electric-only range, but we'd suggest picking up a V60 built after September 2021 for the larger 18.8kWh battery (and 56 miles of range).

Reliability

There have been no major reports of reliability issues with the V60, which is a pretty standard response for any of Volvo's cars. The three-year/60,000-mile warranty is below average, though.