Volvo V60 Review 2024

Volvo V60 At A Glance

5/5
Honest John Overall Rating
While you're making a statement by buying a Volvo V60 over a German rival, it doesn't represent too much of a compromise. The interior's lovely, with loads of space and it's a relaxing (rather than sporty) drive.

+Smart design inside and out, comfortable, strong engine range including powerful PHEV.

-Not thrilling to drive, hybrids are great but expensive.

New prices start from £32,410
Insurance Groups are between 25–43
On average it achieves 82% of the official MPG figure

The Volvo V60 is the most recent in a long line of Volvo estates, but modern Volvos are designed to take on premium rivals like the Audi A4, BMW 3 Series Touring and Mercedes-Benz C-Class Estate. As is the way with modern Volvos, it blends traditional values of practicality and safety but adds in a distinctive sense of style and quality, as well as plenty of latest generation technology. The range also reflects Volvo’s commitment to electrifying its powertrains, with just one diesel option alongside petrol and hybrid options. Composed, understated, comfortable and practical, the V60 is a very appealing medium estate.

The Volvo V60 doesn't shout about its abilities. In many ways, it's just a Volvo V90 that's shrunk in the wash, as a left-field alternative to an Audi A4 or BMW 3 Series. It has the same sense of Scandinavian style - inside and out - as the V90, and it's loaded with technology, including all the safety kit you'd expect in a modern Volvo. 

There are a number of different variants to reflect your personality, from the sporty R-Design to the gentrified Cross Country. The former is trying a little too hard to be an Audi, while the latter is very good - if expensive. Most buyers will find one of the regular Momentum or Inscription models offer the best compromise.

The interior is lovely - a superb contrast of twee materials (you can spec wood if you like) and up-to-date technology. There's a large portrait screen in the centre of the dash on all models. This offers access to the superb infotainment system, with a clear navigation screen which works well on the portrait screen (showing the road ahead rather than fields to your side).

Volvo seats are known for their comfort and you can easily spend long periods of time in the V60 without complaining of any aches or pains. There's a useful amount of space inside, thanks to longer dimensions than rivals - meaning six-footers can squeeze into the rear seats relatively comfortably.

At 529 litres, the boot's one of the biggest in its class, while dropping the rear seats increases this to 1441 litres. Every V60 features an electric rear tailgate, while a wide opening with no lip helps when loading bulky items.

Unlike many of its rivals, the V60 has an engine range with just a single diesel option, alongside three petrol options and two hybrid models, and although it’s not really a sporty car (unless you go for the expensive Polestar model) you can choose from a number of versions with strong performance.

It's not really a car that likes to be hustled along like the BMW 3 Series - the steering's quite light and it's at its best being driven in a relaxed manner.

What makes the Volvo V60 really stand out is its safety kit. Volvo says that no one should be killed or seriously injured in one of its new cars from 2020, and the V60's standard safety equipment reflects that. This includes Volvo's Pilot Assist autonomous driving technology, which can provide steering inputs at speeds up to around 80mph, as well as accelerate or brake.

The semi-autonomous City Safety system is also available, with radar and cameras allowing the V60 to avoid low-speed collisions by automatically applying the brakes. Volvo tells us it's the only system on the market that's capable of recognising pedestrians, cyclists and animals. 

Ask Honest John

What can I replace my Volvo V40 with?

"I'm looking to change my current Volvo V40 1.6 automatic, which has been a great drive, economical and with low tax. I've looked for newer models but can't seem to find anything beyond 2020. Could you suggest a used car which might have similar qualities, either a Volvo or something else? I don't mind something similar sized or maybe an upgrade to something larger. "
The Volvo V40 was discontinued in 2019 but not replaced directly, with the XC40 effectively taking its place in the range. You could look at the slightly larger V60, the latest generation of which was introduced in 2018 and is still on sale today.
Answered by David Ross

Should I use premium diesel for a Volvo V60?

"I have a 2017 Volvo V60 D3 2.0-litre diesel. I am just wondering (given this is not a performance car) if there is any point paying the 10 per cent-plus premium for say Shell V-Power fuel over the standard diesel fuel and if so what would these be and is it worth it? "
As premium diesel doesn't feature a higher octane rating it wouldn't offer any more performance. However it features detergents designed to shift deposits of soot and carbon that builds up in an engine's fuel system over time. Whether it's worth it or not depends on how long you intend to keep the car.
Answered by Lawrence Allan

Is it worth having my Volvo Polestar optimised?

"I have a Volvo V60 T4 and I am considering having it Polestar optimised. It’s quite expensive for what appears simply to be a remapping of the ECU i.e. half an hour with a laptop. I don’t know anyone who has had experience of it and wondered whether you did or had a considered view on its benefits. "
Volvo does specify some sort of automatic transmission response improvement with the Polestar optimisation, so it's possible it goes beyond a simple engine output remap. Regardless, you're paying the extra as the Polestar upgrade won't invalidate whatever warranty you might have left on the car, whereas aftermarket remaps generally do.
Answered by Lawrence Allan

Should I sell my used car, given that values are rising?

"I purchased an ex-demo Volvo V60 in March. It is now worth about £5,000 more than I paid for it and I am wondering whether to sell it. Of course, anything similar would be even more expensive from a dealer but I am wondering whether I need to have £30,000 locked up in a car or whether I could perhaps cash in and spend perhaps half the money on an older less expensive vehicle. I like estate cars so perhaps a Skoda Octavia Estate. Comfort and reliability are prime considerations, so I would be reluctant to compromise too far. What do you recommend? "
It's a difficult quandary and probably comes down to how happy you are having that kind of money 'invested' in a car and whether you'd rather have it in the bank or spent elsewhere. Anything half the value of your Volvo will represent a compromise – it's unlikely to be as well equipped, for example, and will be an older car that needs more maintenance. How would you feel about having to make an outlay every year to get it through the annual MOT test, for example? That said, a used Skoda Octavia Estate would be a very sensible purchase. A budget of £15,000 will get you a 2018 model in mid-spec SE Technology or SE L trim. One thing to bear in mind is that the majority of used estate cars will have diesel engines - assuming you're not covering a huge amount of motorway miles in your retirement, we'd recommend hunting out a petrol.
Answered by Andrew Brady
More Questions

What does a Volvo V60 cost?