2024 Volvo S60

Volvo has always offered something a little different in the world of luxury cars, and the S60 is no exception. This compact luxury car has the unique styling and impressive safety ratings that Volvo is famous for in the form of a practical and comfortable sedan. It also boasts a premium interior with roomy, comfortable seats and modern tech features. The plug-in hybrid powertrain in the T8 Recharge models improves efficiency and performance, making the otherwise subtle S60 a sportier sedan without sacrificing luxury.

The Volvo S60 competes with familiar foes in compact luxury sedans like the BMW 3 Series, Mercedes-Benz C-Class, and Audi A4.

The Volvo S60 drops the high-performance Polestar Engineered model for 2024. A few other changes include a standard “Dark” exterior theme that used to be optional, and standard all-wheel drive (AWD) on the Ultimate trim. There’s a Climate Package available for the front-wheel-drive (FWD) models that now includes heated rear seats, and the Plus trim now has a standard air purifier.

Before buying an S60, check the Kelley Blue Book Fair Purchase Price to know what you should really pay. Volvo S60 resale value is a little below average for the segment.

The Volvo S60 is powered by a 247-horsepower turbocharged 4-cylinder engine matched with an 8-speed automatic transmission and front- or all-wheel drive. Volvo calls this the B5 powertrain. It delivers reasonably quick acceleration, but its performance is just okay compared to most other European luxury sedans.

The Volvo is comfortable and sportier than the average non-luxury sedan, but athletic handling isn’t its greatest strength, especially with front-wheel drive (FWD). It does feel a bit sportier with the optional all-wheel-drive (AWD) system.

Another good way to improve the driving dynamics of the S60 is to upgrade to the optional T8 plug-in hybrid powertrain with a total output of 455 horsepower. This brings a significant upgrade in performance while also delivering up to 41 miles of all-electric range.

We’ve spent hundreds of hours driving and evaluating this generation of compact luxury sedans, including the Volvo S60.

Fuel Economy

The standard B5 powertrain in the S60 gets a combined fuel economy rating of 30 mpg with FWD and 28 mpg with AWD. Those numbers are a little above average for this class. The T8 Recharge models get an all-electric range of up to 41 miles, then returns 31 mpg under gas-electric hybrid power. Both powertrains require premium gas, which is typical for a European luxury sedan. More S60 fuel economy information is available on the EPA’s website.

The inside of the Volvo S60 is spacious and luxurious. The interior design is unique, and the materials are lovely, especially with the optional Nappa leather or wool blend. The infotainment system has a bit of a learning curve, but it’s pretty intuitive once you get used to it. We love the built-in Google Maps app, giving it a tremendous onboard navigation system.

We found the back seats of the S60 plenty roomy for two adults. It has 35.2 inches of rear legroom, which is about average for this class. Cargo space, though, is only 11.6 cubic feet — less than most of its rivals.

The Volvo S60 stands out in a subtle way with its unique styling and handsome light signature. It gets more standard black trim this year, and models with “Black Edition” in the name add black badging and 19-inch black wheels.

Pilot Assist
The Pilot Assist driver assistance system is standard on all but the base Core trim of the S60. This semi-autonomous driving system combines features like adaptive cruise control, lane-keeping aid, and road sign information to make highway driving nearly effortless.

Google built-in
The Google-based infotainment system in the S60 is feature-rich and easy to use. Google Maps is built in, which is one of our favorite navigation systems. It also comes with Apple CarPlay, SiriusXM, and four USB-C ports.

Black Edition
The Black Edition models of the S60 have black exterior badging and distinct 19-inch black alloy wheels for a stylish, dark aesthetic.

Premium audio systems
A 14-speaker, 600-watt Harman Kardon premium sound system is optional on the Plus trim and standard on the Ultimate models. If you demand the best audio experience, an even better 15-speaker, 1,410-watt Bowers & Wilkins system is available for the Ultimate trim.

Standard panoramic roof
This feature opens up the cabin of the S60, giving it a more premium feel, and we love to see it standard on the S60.

T8 plug-in powertrain
The available plug-in hybrid powertrain in the Volvo S60 improves both performance and efficiency.

The standard B5 powertrain in the Volvo S60 is a turbocharged 4-cylinder engine making 247 horsepower and 258 lb-ft of torque. Front-wheel drive is standard and all-wheel drive is optional. The performance of the B5 engine is smooth and adequate for daily driving duties, but most of this Volvo’s rivals have gutsier standard engines and either rear-wheel drive or standard AWD, making them a bit more fun from behind the wheel.

The T8 Recharge models employ a plug-in hybrid powertrain that still uses a turbo 4-cylinder engine but is also supercharged and electrified. The total output is 455 horsepower and 472 lb-ft of torque — a significant performance upgrade over the B5 models.

Every S60 uses an 8-speed automatic transmission, and all hybrid models have standard AWD.

4-Year/50,000-Mile Warranty

The Volvo S60 is backed by a 4-year/50,000-mile bumper-to-bumper warranty. That’s average for a luxury car, but you also get a generous 3-year/36,000-mile complimentary maintenance plan. The T8 Recharge models come with an 8-year/100,000-mile warranty on hybrid components.

Safety

As you’d expect from the brand, safety is a strong suit of the Volvo S60. It gets a 5-Star overall safety rating from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) and the top “Good” score in every crashworthiness category from the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety (IIHS). Standard safety tech features on the S60 include automatic emergency braking, blind-spot monitoring, lane-keep assist, traffic sign recognition, and rear parking sensors. Optional safety features include the Pilot Assist semi-autonomous highway driving system, automatic parking assist, and a surround-view parking camera system.