Volvo V60

Volvo V60 at a glance

Volvo positions the V60 below the larger V90 estate. All other Volvo models are listed on our Volvo brand page. The raised V60 Cross Country, with extra ground clearance and plastic wheel-arch trims, has been part of both generations.

Generations

First generation (2010-2018)

The first V60 appeared in autumn 2010 as a sportier-looking estate than the V70. Volvo built it in Torslanda and Ghent and assembled it in Malaysia. A facelift followed for the 2014 model year, and from 2015 Volvo's own 2.0-litre four-cylinder engines gradually replaced the older 1.6-litre, five-cylinder and six-cylinder units. Gearboxes were a six-speed manual, a six-speed Aisin automatic and an eight-speed Aisin automatic.

The most significant version was the V60 Plug-in Hybrid. It combined a 2.4-litre five-cylinder diesel with 158 kW (215 PS) and 440 Nm driving the front wheels with a 51 kW (70 PS) electric motor on the rear axle and a 12 kWh lithium-ion battery. Volvo quoted up to 50 km on electricity, 1.8 l/100 km and 49 g/km on the old NEDC cycle, and 6.1 seconds to 100 km/h in Power mode. Its launch price was around EUR 50,000. The first 1,000 cars sold out by September 2012, and by the end of 2015 about 19,571 had been sold in Europe, with the Netherlands taking the largest share.

The fastest first-generation cars were the V60 Polestar models: a 3.0-litre six with 257 kW (350 PS) in 2015-2016, then a 2.0-litre four with 270 kW (367 PS) for 2016-2018, both with Ohlins dampers and Brembo brakes. The Cross Country arrived in 2015 with 60 mm more ground clearance.

Second generation (2018-)

Volvo revealed the second V60 on 21 February 2018 and put it on sale in July 2018. It moved to the SPA platform shared with the XC60, S90 and XC90. The wheelbase is 56 mm longer than that of the old V70, and the boot grew from 430 to 529 litres. From 2020 the T-badged petrol engines were gradually replaced by B-badged 48V mild hybrids, and the plug-in hybrids became "Recharge". In mid-2024 Volvo Germany introduced an upgraded plug-in hybrid with an 18.8 kWh battery and up to 92 km of WLTP electric range.

Engines, gearbox and performance

All second-generation cars use an eight-speed automatic as standard or option; at launch in the Netherlands, the D3 and D4 diesels came with a manual and the Geartronic automatic cost EUR 2,000 extra (2018). The 2024 plug-in hybrids combine a 2.0-litre turbo petrol engine with a 107 kW (145 PS) electric motor. In the T6 the petrol engine has 186 kW (253 PS) and system output is limited to 257 kW (350 PS); in the T8 the petrol engine has 228 kW (310 PS) and 400 Nm.

Dimensions, space and boot

Volvo's support pages give a load floor 1,033 mm long and 1,064 mm wide with the seats up. The first-generation V60 was 1,865 mm wide without mirrors. To check how the V60 compares with an SUV of similar length, try our size comparison tool.

Fuel economy and running costs

The 2024 T6 and T8 plug-in hybrids are rated at 1.0-0.7 l/100 km and 18.7-16.3 kWh/100 km (WLTP combined) with 23-17 g/km of CO2. With a flat battery, Volvo Germany quotes 7.3-6.4 l/100 km, which is the more realistic figure for drivers who rarely charge. The earlier T6 Twin Engine of 2019 was rated at 1.7-1.8 l/100 km with up to 56 km of electric range.

German list prices in 2019 started at EUR 55,850 for the T6 Twin Engine (Momentum Pro) and at about EUR 62,000 for the T8 Twin Engine. In the Netherlands, the 2018 launch price was EUR 43,995 for the T5 Momentum, including local registration tax.

Trims and equipment

Until 2021 the trims were Momentum, R-Design and Inscription, plus the Cross Country and Polestar Engineered. From 2022 Volvo moved to Core, Plus and Ultimate; Volvo Germany listed Essential, Core, Plus and Ultra in 2024, with Plus and Ultra available in Bright (chrome) or Dark (gloss black) styling. The T8 is also offered as Polestar Engineered.

Every second-generation V60 has City Safety with automatic braking for vehicles, pedestrians, cyclists and large animals, which Volvo says can avoid collisions at speed differences up to 60 km/h. Pilot Assist supports steering, acceleration and braking up to 130 km/h.

Safety: Euro NCAP

Euro NCAP tested the second-generation V60 (D4 Momentum) in 2018 and awarded five stars: 96% for adult occupants, 84% for child occupants, 74% for vulnerable road users and 76% for safety assist. The rating covered all V60 versions; Euro NCAP now lists it as expired because of its age. The first-generation V60 was rated by ANCAP in 2011, with 15.34 of 16 points in the frontal offset test and full marks in the side and pole tests. More results are in our safety ratings.

Reliability and known issues

We have not found a sourced pattern of model-specific faults for the second-generation V60. For plug-in hybrids, ask for the charging history and check that software updates and any recall work have been done by a Volvo dealer. The first-generation plug-in hybrid was an early, complex diesel-electric design built in limited numbers, so specialist knowledge matters more than with the conventional diesels.

Rivals

The BMW and Mercedes have wider engine ranges, including diesels that Volvo no longer sells in the V60. The Volvo answers with a large boot and plug-in hybrids that drive all four wheels. Compare them side by side in our comparison tool.

Photo gallery