Volvo V60 Review & Prices

Volvo pulled the V60 from the UK market for a brief period of time, but it’s back on sale and as good as it’s ever been. It’s big and practical, like any proper estate car, while managing to be sleek, stylish and great to drive too; a proper alternative to the venerable BMW 3 Series Touring and Mercedes C-Class Estate.

Think of the V60 as a smooth lounge cover of a classic music hit. There’s definite familiarity to it, but with a modern twist which makes it a little more interesting to experience.

Where Volvo estates of old were enormous, plain affairs with square corners and upright rear ends, the V60 is one of the best looking of the breed. It’s a genuinely handsome car; striking headlights and a big grille that manages to avoid looking oversized while dominating the V60’s chiselled front end.

A long bonnet leads to a swoopy roofline and a rakish rear window. Vertically-oriented LED taillights flank the V60’s tailgate, a signature Volvo design feature, though they curve in and intersect the boot which add a sporty touch to the back of the big estate.

The V60 is showing its age a little inside, as the dashboard feels a little bulkier than it does in its German counterparts. That’s not to say that it’s unpleasant to look at, but even the Skoda Superb Estate and Citroen C5 X are more stylish inside, and minimalistic, airy interiors are all the rage.

A portrait-oriented touchscreen sits in the dashboard with vertical air vents either side of it, another staple Volvo feature, and it’s quick to respond to inputs - even when compared to newer systems. Some of the controls along the bottom of the screen can be a little fiddly to use, taking your concentration away from the road more than they should.

Even with its substantial dashboard and a wide centre console, the V60 manages to feel spacious inside with some useful storage pockets and cup holders in the doors and between the front seats.

The seats are supremely comfortable, with lots of support and a wide range of adjustment in the front and plenty of cushioning in the back. There’s room for three adults in the back and optional rear heated seats makes for comfortable drives in cold weather, though the Skoda Superb Estate has more legroom.

Even with a rakish rear window, Volvo has managed to bestow the V60 with a huge 519-litre boot capacity. That’s more space than you’ll find in an Audi A5 Avant or BMW 3 Series Touring, and the boot shape is usefully square. Again, there’s more space in a Skoda Superb Estate, but Skodas are often the most spacious option for any type of car.

You have a choice of engines, from the entry-level 2.0-litre mild-hybrid petrol B4 model to the 350hp T6 and 455hp T8 all-wheel drive, plug-in hybrid (PHEV) models. The B4 is fairly efficient, but the PHEV engines are not only properly quick, they’re very economical to run too.

They also have a brilliant self-charging mode which means the V60 is perfectly suited to mixed city and motorway driving. You can use the battery to get out of town and by the time you reach your destination, the engine ought to have charged the battery for you again.

With a claimed electric-only range of over 55 miles on both hybrid models, you won't have to charge the battery very often - and you can easily achieve over 40 miles if you drive sensibly.

The V60 is a relaxing car to drive around town, especially in hybrid guise. While you may not peer over traffic as you would in its XC60 sibling or any other SUV, a standard automatic gearbox and soft suspension mean you can sit in traffic with ease and with bumpy roads ironed out for you.

Motorways are a delight in the V60, with well insulated road noise, though the side mirrors do kick up a bit of wind noise. The T6 and T8 models make it a breeze getting up to speed, where the B4 can feel a little strained.

The trade off for all of that comfort is felt on a country lane, where the V60 isn’t as adept at carving through corners as its BMW and Mercedes alternatives. It’ll do it with no issue, but the V60 just feels heavier and less agile than the Germans do, especially in the hybrids which weigh over two tonnes.

Check out our new Volvo V60 deals to get your hands on a handsome, practical and comfortable family estate, or have a look at our Volvo V60 lease deals for another way of getting one on your driveway. Alternatively, browse used V60s and other used Volvos available through our network of trusted dealers. When it’s time to change, you can even sell your current car through Carwow to take the hassle out of the process.

The V60 is similarly priced to the BMW 3 Series Touring. Both cars can be had in petrol and plug-in hybrid forms, but the middle-of-the-range T6 plug-in hybrid V60 is more powerful than the BMW 330e Touring. It is a little more expensive, but it comes with more kit as standard than its Bavarian counterpart.

The V60 is more affordable than the equivalent Mercedes C-Class Estate or Audi A5 Avant with similarly powerful engines, though a Skoda Superb Estate is a far better value for money proposition than all of the German alternatives - even if it’s not as luxurious inside or stylish outside.

It’s very comfortable on long drives, but the V60 isn’t the sportiest estate you can buy

In town

Although you sit quite low to the ground in the V60, you have a clear view out. The pillars are relatively thick but not chunky enough to really obstruct your vision, and the view over your shoulder is pretty good. It makes life easy when pulling out at angled junctions or checking that the road is clear before changing lanes.

Any of the V60’s engines are up to the job of town driving, as even the entry-level mild hybrid B4 petrol engine has 197hp. Both the plug-in hybrid models have plenty of electric poke at low urban speeds, which avoids the engine from kicking in frequently.

All V60s come with an automatic gearbox – there’s no manual available - which makes for easy and relaxed driving in heavy traffic. The T6 and T8 are equally most relaxing, as they’ll travel on electricity alone for over 40 miles in the real world, so long as you’re gentle. Even if you have a lead foot, the V60 hybrids can self-charge which takes the stress out of finding a charger if the battery needs to be recharged.

Plus models come with a rear-view camera and front and rear parking sensors, so although the V60 is a long car, squeezing into parking spaces isn’t a problem. The Ultra model goes one better with a surround-view camera system, but for all models the turning circle is quite large which can make manoeuvring around town a little tricky on tighter roads.

On the motorway

This is where the V60 feels most at home. Volvo is renowned for its comfortable and supportive seats, and the ones in the V60 are brilliant on long journeys. There’s powered adjustment with a memory function on Plus cars, and the passenger gets the same if you upgrade to Ultra spec.

The ride is supremely comfortable at high speeds, and the V60 is practically undisturbed by high-speed motorway dips and bumps.

For a bit more overtaking punch than the 197hp B4, the 35-hp T6 and range-topping 455hp T8 plug-in hybrids are available. The T8 is a proper powerhouse which can get to 62mph in just 4.6 seconds, but any of the engines will briskly pull your car, kids, and the family Labradoodle up to 70mph with ease.

With a lane-assist system taking care of steering and adaptive cruise control to keep a safe distance from the car in front, Ultra-spec cars will almost drive themselves on the motorway. You should always pay attention and you have to keep your hands on the wheel, but the active cruise control system is generally bomb-proof with only the occasional moment of hesitation.

On a twisty road

Twisty roads are where the V60 falls short of its German counterparts, as the V60 has been optimised for comfort rather than sporty driving.

It’s still capable on a country lane, feeling secure and grippy on fast bends and tight corners, but the BMW 3 Series Touring is by far and away the one to choose if you value a sporty drive above all else.

The steering is just a touch too slow and it doesn’t feel hugely agile, due in part to the V60’s big steering wheel, so a bendy lane is best taken at a moderate speed.

The automatic gearbox isn’t as fast as the BMW’s fantastic ZF 8-speed unit, although the plug-in hybrids are more responsive than the B4 petrol thanks to their electric motors providing a little extra pep. It’s also worth remembering that the plug-ins both have four-wheel drive, which helps when conditions get greasy.

Roomy for people and luggage, but there are even bigger estate cars for less

Step into the Volvo’s chunky-feeling cabin and you’ll have no problem finding a comfortable driving position.

The thick-rimmed three-spoke steering wheel adjusts for height and reach, and there’s loads of adjustment for the front seat. Back pain sufferers rejoice, as adjustable lumbar support comes as standard on all V60 models.

Top-spec Ultra models come with electrical adjustment and memory function for the passenger seat as well, which is handy if you have a regular co-pilot with a preferred seating position. Whichever model you pick, both front seats are heated, as is the steering wheel, which makes cold mornings that little bit more comfortable.

Storage is plentiful, with large door bins and a decent glovebox. There’s more space under the driver’s armrest, but it’s not as well set-up for storing your bits and pieces as, say, the new Skoda Superb.

Twin cupholders sit between the front seats. They’re big enough to hold a large cup, and there’s a sliding cover to keep things neat and tidy when they’re not in use.

Space in the back seats

There’s plenty of space in the back of the V60. A six-foot-tall passenger can sit behind an equally lanky driver without feeling cramped. Even in the Ultimate model with its full-length sunroof, headroom is pretty good.

There’s a big hump in the middle of the floor, but otherwise the V60 is reasonably comfortable for three to sit on the rear bench.

Four-zone climate control is standard on the mild-hybrid petrol models, so rear-seat passengers can set their own temperature. This feature isn’t available if you choose the plug-in hybrid, but rear seat heating makes up for that.

The ISOFIX mounting points have flip-up covers and the rear doors open wide, so fitting a bulky child seat is easy - and the leg room means your seat backs might survive the journey unscathed from little shoes.

Boot space

Estate cars are all about carrying lots of luggage, and it’s a job the V60 is pretty good at. There’s slightly more space in the back than you’ll find in an Audi A5 Avant or a BMW 3 Series Touring, although the Skoda Superb Estate offers even more room at a lower price.

It’s easy to make the most of the Volvo’s 519-litre boot capacity as it's a useful square shape. Tie-down points help secure a load, and with a low floor and no lip, lifting heavy items in and out doesn’t put too much strain on your back. There’s also a handy pop-up panel which allows you to separate out the boot space as needed.

Plug-in hybrid T6 and T8 models lose some luggage space to the battery pack; space falls to 488 litres for those models. That’s still quite a bit more than you get in the equivalent BMW 330e Touring plug-in hybrid, and much better than the 360 litres of the Mercedes C300e Estate plug-in hybrid, but all of those are sidelined by the mighty Skoda Superb Estate iV plug-in hybrid and its 510-litre boot.

Both the Plus and Ultra models have hands-free opening and closing of the tailgate – if your hands are full of bags, just waggle your foot under the rear bumper.

Minimalist Scandinavian style, but alternatives’ interiors are sleeker and the infotainment is fiddly to use on the move

Volvo interiors are very stylish places to sit. Well finished, uncluttered and inviting, the V60’s cabin might be getting on a bit now, but it still appeals the moment you get behind the wheel. Look really closely and you may find the Volvo falls short of the attention to detail you’d find in an Audi or BMW, but it’s not far off. Most of what you can see or touch is of a very high quality.

Look straight ahead, and you’ll notice the 12.3-inch digital instrument cluster instead of a regular speedometer and rev counter. You can tweak the screen to prioritise different information and it’s easier on the eyes at night than most alternatives’ screens.

In the centre of the dash sits the 9.0-inch infotainment screen. The system still looks good, and it’s reasonably straightforward to use when you are not moving. The trouble is, when you do drive it’s too difficult to use without becoming distracted. The iDrive system in a BMW 3 Series Touring is easier to use on the move, because it still uses a physical controller as well as the infotainment screen. That said, the Volvo’s menu layout is simpler to navigate than a lot of more modern systems.

It’s a shame Volvo hasn’t kept the aircon as separate physical controls – they’re part of the touchscreen too, making temperature adjustments too fiddly while driving.

The system comes with Apple CarPlay compatibility, but Android Auto isn’t fitted. Much of the functionality of an Android phone is already built into the Google Automotive Services system so it’s not really an issue in the real world.

A DAB radio is included, and there are 10 speakers and a 220-watt output as standard. If you like to play your Swedish death metal really loud, Ultra-spec cars feature a Harman Kardon system with 13 speakers and a 600-watt output. Those basslines have never sounded so good…

If you worry about the cost of fuel, or want to keep your emissions right down, the best bet is the T6 plug-in hybrid. It emits just 17g/km in official tests and achieves 353.1mpg.

To get near that figure, you’ll need to recharge regularly – although the V60 T6 will go a lot further on a charge than most plug-in hybrids. Reckon on close to 57 miles, according to the official figures, and 45 miles in real life, if it’s chilly out. That’s a match for the BMW 330e Touring, but a good bit behind the 69 miles offered by the plug-in hybrid Mercedes C300e Estate.

On paper, the mild-hybrid petrol B4 won’t get near the plug-in hybrid’s official fuel economy, but of course that 353mpg figure is something of a fictional one. In real-world driving, on a long run, you’ll get more like 40-45mpg out of all of the big Volvos.

All V60 models cost over £40,000. That means that even the B4 petrol faces the ‘luxury car charge’. The plug-in hybrids, with CO2 emissions of 17-18g/km, pay £110 for the first year in VED, and £195 from the second year onwards; the high list price means that you will have to pay this extra surcharge here too.

Company car drivers looking to keep their benefit-in-kind tax bill down would be wise to choose the T6 or T8. Thanks to low emissions and a long all-electric range it will cost business drivers less in tax than any other V60.

Volvo and safety go together like pickle and herring in Swedish cuisine. So it’s no surprise that the V60 earned a five-star rating from the safety experts at Euro NCAP in 2018. The Volvo scored 96% for adult occupant protection, 84% for child occupant protection, 74% for pedestrian safety and 76% for its safety assistance systems. However, the test has become stricter since that time.

Every car has City Safety, Volvo’s name for its autonomous emergency braking system. The car’s sensors can detect pedestrians and cyclists as well as other cars.

Other safety devices include dual-stage driver and passenger airbags and full-length curtain airbags.

Among the V60’s security features are an alarm, an immobiliser, and a private locking luggage compartment.

Volvo finished well in the recent Auto Express Driver Power customer satisfaction survey, coming 13th out of 30 brands. It’s some way off the likes of Lexus near the top of the table, but there’s usually nothing major to put buyers off. We’re certainly not hearing of any significant problems with the V60.

Anything that does go wrong should be covered by Volvo’s warranty, which lasts for the basic three years and 60,000 miles. The battery in the plug-in hybrid is covered for eight years and 100,000 miles (for the original owner).