The Car Connection Expert Review
Likes
- Great styling
- Fantastic cabin
- Loads of safety tech
- Decent infotainment
- Plenty of power
Dislikes
- No plug-in wagon
- Somewhat limited lineup
- Tight rear seat
- Sedan’s itty-bitty trunk
Buying tip
features & specs
With modern styling and a ton of features, Volvo’s 60-Series sedans and wagons remain downright appealing choices.
What kind of vehicle is the 2025 Volvo S60? What does it compare to?
The 2025 Volvo S60 is a compact luxury sedan, while the V60 is its wagon companion with either rugged styling in Cross Country form or zippy acceleration in Recharge trim. Compare these cars to the BMW 3-Series and Audi A4.
Is the 2025 Volvo S60 a good car?
Volvo’s 60-series sedans and wagons are lovely vehicles, with a calming demeanor, lots of tech, and decent power. They’re not as sporty as BMW’s best, but most drivers would probably be just as happy with the way these cars look and ride. They’re a 7.2 on the TCC scale. (Read more about how we rate cars.)
What's new for the 2025 Volvo S60?
Not much. Volvo renamed the top trim level from Ultimate to Ultra, and added new dark nappa leather upholstery to that trim’s available Black Edition package. Also, the S60 lost its attractive fabric upholstery option. The V60 Cross Country is largely unchanged other than the shift to Ultra for the loaded-up model, though.
Sold as the S60 sedan and V60 wagon, these models share most styling cues inside and out. They’re attractive, relatively conservative cars with a stunning interior that’s so pretty we don’t mind the fact that small-item storage is, well, minuscule.
Most versions are powered by a 247-hp 2.0-liter turbo-4 that pairs well with an 8-speed automatic transmission and either front or all-wheel drive. V60 models have a high-riding suspension good enough for deep snow but not serious off-roading.
The S60 and V60 Recharge plug-in hybrid models have 40 miles of range on a full charge and, with 455 hp, these cars are downright fast. These models aren’t as polished as BMW’s top M cars, but they’re reasonably priced and definitely low-guilt thanks to their ability to be used as emissions-free commuters. If only Volvo blessed U.S. dealers with a V60 Cross Country Recharge, which would hit a nice intersection between practicality and performance.
No matter what’s underhood, the S60 and V60 have a comfortable, if somewhat confining, cabin. Great front seats and lovely materials are assets, but the low roof that gives them such sleek styling cuts into headroom.
A terrific safety record and the widely available Pilot Assist system that lets drivers go hands-off for short stints are big selling points, too. So long as you’re not planning to haul a big family and their gear, these are fantastic highway cruisers.
How much does the 2025 Volvo S60 cost?
The S60 range starts at around $44,000 for the base Core trim level. But we’d spend the extra $3,000 for the Plus trim with Pilot Assist, or we’d jump all the way up to a $52,000-or-so V60 Cross Country Plus.
All models have an Android-based infotainment system with a 9.0-inch touchscreen and Apple CarPlay/Android Auto compatibility.
Where is the 2025 Volvo S60 made?
In South Carolina.
2025 Volvo S60 Styling
The Volvo S60 and V60 wear some of the most attractive lines you’ll find on a compact sedan or wagon.
Is the Volvo S60 a good-looking car?
For sure. They’re the kind of cars that will garner a second — or even a third — glance. We rate these cleanly styled cars at an 8 out of 10, with one point above average for exterior style and two for their particularly pretty interiors.
The 2025 S60 and V60 are largely the same up front, where they have a wide grille emblazoned with a big Volvo badge. Small headlights feature a spear that jabs toward the grille, but there are few other distractions here. From the rear, the C-clamp taillights in the S60 provide a big visual punch. More subtle are the vertical taillights in the pretty V60 models.
The V60 Cross Country has a crossover-like ride height and unpainted fender flares that lend a rugged look, but nobody will confuse them for Jeep Wranglers.
Inside, the look is restrained and elegant. You’ll find few buttons and knobs anywhere, so most controls are accessed via the vertical 9.0-inch touchscreen. Nothing about this interior overwhelms, though we wish Volvo offered more interior trim and color combinations.
2025 Volvo S60 Performance
The 2025 Volvo S60 isn’t generally a thrill ride, though it’s a competent compact sedan or wagon.
The 2025 Volvo S60 is generally a sedate cruiser, earning a 7 on the TCC scale thanks to its good acceleration and comfortable ride.
Is the Volvo S60 4WD?
All but the base S60 sedan comes with all-wheel drive. That model is front-wheel drive.
How fast is the Volvo S60?
It can be pretty peppy. Most S60 sedans and the V60 Cross Country use a 247-hp turbo-4 that Volvo calls B5. This powertrain benefits from a 48-volt starter-generator mild-hybrid system that helps provide a small boost of power from a stop to reduce turbo lag. The standard 8-speed automatic transmission does its job unobtrusively, though there are no paddle shifters.
Recharge versions are very fast. They swap in a turbocharged and supercharged version of the 2.0-liter turbo-4 plus a big battery pack and electric motor for a combined output of 455 hp. They run to 60 mph in the low four-second range. Polestar Engineered versions have a stiff suspension with adaptive dampers. They can be a bit harsh on rough pavement, so consider your local roads carefully.
Otherwise, these cars ride well enough if not quite as composed as some rivals. They may look best with big wheel options, but they ride best with the extra bit of sidewall afforded by smaller wheel options.
No S60 or V60 has great steering feel in the way BMW’s current lineup does, unfortunately. There’s good heft and weight to the tiller, but they feel a bit disconnected.
Braking is good all around, with particularly good response and feel from the Brembos fitted to the top V60 Recharge Polestar Engineered.
2025 Volvo S60 Comfort & Quality
The S60 and V60 score for style, not space.
Volvo’s 2025 V60 and S60 have pretty cabins and comfortable front seats, but rear-seat riders will find precious little room. They score a 7 on our scale, accordingly.
All models have great front seats with standard power adjustment and heating. Optional seats wrapped in nappa leather also feature cooling, but they’re restricted to the costly Ultra trim level.
Rear-seat riders have to contend with a tight 35.2 inches of legroom, small door openings, and a low roofline. If you’re used to Volvo wagons offering up a huge back seat, you’ll need to fire up your time machine.
The same is true for cargo space. Wagons have 23.2 cubic feet, which grows to 50 cubes with the rear seatback folded. That’s far better than the sedan model’s 11.6 cubic feet, but it’s still pretty small for a wagon this large.
Even the base Core trim has lovely finishes inside, though, with good attention to detail. Work your way up the lineup and you can unlock real wood trim and, on select versions, either a synthetic fabric or a particularly nice sustainable wool upholstery. Either option is an appealing alternative to leather or synthetic leather.
2025 Volvo S60 Safety
The 2025 Volvo V60 and S60 have a terrific crash-test record.
How safe is the Volvo S60?
Even though Volvo is a bit stingy with its driver-assistance tech, the S60 and V60 have a great safety record. They easily earn an 8 out of 10 thanks to a five-star rating from the NHTSA, standard crash-avoidance features, and optional Pilot Assist.
The IIHS hasn’t fully crash-tested the latest S60 and V60, though what tests have been performed have result in top Good ratings. We’ll update this space if they finish testing these cars.
All 2025 S60 and V60 models have blind-spot monitors with steering assist and automatic emergency braking with pedestrian detection. The mid-level Plus trim level adds Pilot Assist, which includes adaptive cruise control with a terrific lane-centering system. It allows for short stints of hands-off driving — the chance to stretch your arms for a moment, for instance.
2025 Volvo S60 Features
Volvo packs a lot of features into its S60 and V60 models.
The 2025 Volvo S60 and V60 are reasonably priced compared to some luxury-brand rivals, though the automaker doesn’t offer an especially high amount of customizability. What you see is pretty much what you get, which stands in marked contrast to its lineup in the past.
We rate the range at 9 out of 10, though, thanks to a good infotainment system with a big screen, lots of standard features, great driver-assistance tech, and a solid 4-year/50,000-mile warranty with three years of maintenance.
The base S60 Core sedan costs about $44,000 with its 9.0-inch touchscreen, Apple CarPlay and Android Auto compatibility, 18-inch alloy wheels, power-adjustable seats wrapped in synthetic leather, sunroof, and basic driver-assistance and crash-avoidance tech. Volvo charge upward of $2,000 for all-wheel drive.
Which Volvo S60 should I buy?
We suggest spending the extra $3,000 for the Plus trim level, which has the Pilot Assist system and real leather upholstery.
But the real gem of this lineup is the V60 Cross Country. Figure $52,000 in Plus trim, which puts it around $2,500 more than an equivalent S60. It’s more practical, and you can add Volvo’s nifty textile fabric upholstery. There aren’t many additional options, though, aside from a heated steering wheel and Harman Kardon audio.
The Ultra trim level swaps in different front seats with cooling as well as rear-seat climate controls.
How much is a fully loaded Volvo S60?
The V60 Recharge is the top-end model at around $73,000. It’s something of an enthusiast special with its Brembo brakes, adaptive dampers, and big forged wheels. But with 40 miles of range on a full charge, it’s a palatable choice, too.
2025 Volvo S60 Fuel Economy
Volvo’s S60 and V60 can be fuel-sippers.
Is the Volvo S60 good on gas?
Indeed, though unfortunately Volvo restricts its most frugal powertrain to the S60 sedan. We rate the range at 4 out of 10 based on the regular S60, which is estimated as high as 26 mpg city, 35 highway, 30 combined with front-wheel drive, or 25/33/28 mpg with all-wheel drive. The V60 Cross Country’s taller suspension and extra heft nudge it to 24/31/27 mpg, which is still pretty good.
The S60 REcharge versions are fast and thirty at 74 MPGe combined on gas and electricity, and 31 mpg combined once the battery is depleted. The EPA test pegs them at a 40-mile range, to, which is quite good.
