Used Volvo S60 cars for sale

Occupying a niche between mainstream and premium competitors, the Volvo S60 is a high-quality, comfortable vehicle that offers excellent value for money. This executive saloon was first launched in 2000, with the same focus on safety that has made the manufacturer popular with families for decades. The S90 boasts sleek exterior and interior design and smooth, powerful performance.

Volvo S60 updates and facelifts

The Mk2 arrived in 2010, offering a choice of petrol and diesel engines and four trim levels, including the celebrated R-Design.

The Mk3 S60 reached British showrooms in 2019. Recognising the general trend against diesel power, Volvo offered the T5 petrol engine at launch, which was soon joined by the T8 plug-in hybrid. This edition soon started picking up awards, including the Executive Car of the Year title at the Scottish Car of the Year Awards in 2019.

The Volvo S60 has rivals in the prestige and mainstream markets. Premium rivals include the Audi A4, BMW 3 Series and Mercedes-Benz C-Class in terms of style and power. The S60’s practicality rivals mainstream competitors such as the Volkswagen Passat and Mazda 6. The S60 has had a range of trim levels over the years, but two key grades are Pure and Ultimate. You will also find R-Design and Inscription trims on the used market.

In 2013 the Mk2 S60 received an update, which brought design revisions, cleaner engines and more safety kit. The Mk3 has also undergone some changes since launch. In 2020, the T5 petrol engine was replaced by the B5, which includes mild hybrid technology for better economy. The T8 PHEV was also renamed the S60 Recharge Plug-in Hybrid, but no mechanical changes were made until 2021 when the 86bhp electric motor was replaced with a 143bhp unit.

Practicality and style of the car

Choose a Mk2 Volvo S60, manufactured between 2010 and 2018, and you’ll benefit from a boot space of 380 litres. This is extended to 436 litres in petrol editions of the post-2019 Mk3. The boot offers plenty of room for two suitcases, a bulky buggy or pram. There’s also a hatch between the rear seats, providing additional space for long items. Plug-in hybrid versions of the S60 have a 390-litre load capacity.

All Volvo S60 models can pull an unbraked weight of up to 750kg, but the braked capacity differs depending on your engine choice. Select the B5 mild hybrid petrol engine for up to 1,800kg or the T8 Recharge PHEV for a maximum capacity of 2,000kg. That’s plenty to tow a large caravan or horsebox.

Running costs

Occupying groups 34–43 out of 50 for insurance, the Volvo S60 saloon compares favourably to the Mercedes-Benz C-Class for premiums.

Road tax differs depending on the variant you choose. Vehicles with a list price of under £40,000 are charged at the flat rate of £180 per year. Those over £40,000 are charged at £560–£570 for the first five years from the date of the first tax renewal. Thereafter, tax drops to the standard rate for the engine type.

How a used Volvo S60 drives

Volvo S60 Mk2 variants dating from 2014 onwards offer a choice between the D4 178bhp 2.0-litre four-cylinder diesel engine and four petrol options. These include the T3 150bhp and T4 180bhp 1.6-litre units, a T5 2.0-litre producing 240bhp and a T6 all-wheel drive 3.0-litre petrol engine with an output of 304bhp. These all come with eight-speed automatic transmission.

The T6 is the quickest, accelerating from 0-62mph in as little as 5.9 seconds, and it has a combined fuel economy of up to 44.1mpg. The T3 and T4 provide the most efficiency, offering up to 51.4mpg and 50.4mpg respectively on the combined cycle; the T5 peaks at 35.8mpg. The diesel takes you from 0-62mph in 7.4 seconds and returns a combined economy of up to 74.3mpg.

The Mk3 launched in 2019 with the T5 2.0-litre turbocharged petrol engine, which delivers 248bhp and 350Nm of torque, taking you from 0-62mph in 6.5 seconds. It’s paired with an eight-speed auto gearbox and front-wheel drive, and it returns a respectable 39.8mpg on the combined cycle. In 2021, this engine was updated to include mild hybrid technology and was renamed B5. It features the same setup but delivers a very slightly reduced 0-62mph time of 6.7 seconds and an increase in fuel economy to 41.5–42.2mpg.

The T8 Twin Engine Plug-in Hybrid (later renamed the T8 Recharge Plug-in Hybrid) has a 2.0-litre petrol engine producing 314bhp and an all-wheel drivetrain. Original versions include an 86bhp electric motor for a total output of 400bhp and 430Nm of torque. This gets you from 0-62mph in an impressive 4.4 seconds. The 11.8kWh battery delivers an electric-only range of 30–34 miles.

From 2021, T8 editions are fitted with an 18.8kWh battery and 145bhp electric motor, resulting in 449bhp and 709Nm. These variants can reach 62mph from a standstill in 4.6 seconds and offer an extended zero-emissions range of up to 55 miles, making them more eco-friendly. Overall efficiency ranges from 134.5–403.0mpg depending on whether you’re primarily driving in town or on the motorway, and how much electric-only power you use.

Engines and official MPG

Please refer to the table below for a comprehensive list of engines and their official MPG figures. 

2010 - 2018

Engine	Official NEDC MPG
1.6D DRIVe Start/Stop	65.7 mpg
2.0 D4	74.3 mpg
2.0 D4 Geartronic	67.3 mpg
D2	65.7–74.3 mpg
D2 Geartronic	65.7–67.3 mpg
D2 Powershift	65.7–72.4 mpg
D3	53.3–72.4 mpg
D3 Geartronic	47.9–67.3 mpg
D4	65.7–72.8 mpg
D4 AWD Geartronic	65.7 mpg
D4 Geartronic	52.3–65.7 mpg
D5	53.3–62.8 mpg
D5 Geartronic	44.8–47.9 mpg
T3	50.4–51.4 mpg
T3 Geartronic	48.7 mpg
T3 Powershift	39.8–41.5 mpg
T3 Start/Stop	42.8–51.4 mpg
T4	44.1–50.4 mpg
T4 Geartronic	48.7 mpg
T4 PowerShift	39.8 mpg
T4 Start/Stop	35.8–44.1 mpg
T4 Start/Stop PowerShift	38.2–39.8 mpg
T5	35.8 mpg
T5 PowerShift	34.0–34.9 mpg
T6	28.5 mpg
T6 AWD	28.5 mpg
T6 AWD Geartronic	28.5 mpg
T6 Geartronic	44.1 mpg

2018 - onwards

Engine	Official WLTP MPG
B5	41.5–42.2 mpg
T5	39.8 mpg
T8	166.2–403.0 mpg
T8 Polestar Engineered	134.5–403.0 mpg

Features you can expect in a Volvo S60

Interior

The Volvo S60’s seats are comfy and supportive, even on long drives. There’s generous headroom throughout the cabin, meaning even six-foot rear passengers won’t be uncomfortable. Legroom is plentiful, accommodating four adults with a fifth in the middle rear seat on shorter journeys. It’s worth noting that the transmission tunnel reduces foot room for the centre rear seat, but three children can fit comfortably in the back on long journeys.

There’s no doubt that the Volvo S60 rivals its German competitors for quality and style. The Swedish brand’s trademark floating console takes centre stage on the dash of the Mk2 model (2010–2018), and it’s angled towards the driver for optimal user-friendliness. You’ll also get a five-inch colour display for infotainment on base variants, or a seven-inch screen with integrated sat nav higher up the range.

Opt for the Mk3 (2019 onwards) and you’ll enjoy the same level of quality thanks to leather upholstery, meticulous finishes and metallic accents. Infotainment is delivered via a nine-inch central touchscreen with portrait orientation. Google is integrated directly into the system, offering drivers instant access to Google Maps for navigation. Ten speakers provide crystal clear audio, or you can choose the Ultimate trim for a Dolby Pro Logic II stereo with 13 speakers including an integrated subwoofer.

Technology

Whichever edition of the Volvo S60 you choose, you’re sure to find plenty of comfort and convenience features on board. The Mk2 S60 (2010–2018) offers cruise control and climate control as standard, helping make for a more relaxing drive.

Step up to the SE trim to add Bluetooth for music streaming and telephony functions, and rear parking sensors. If you’re considering a Mk3 model (2019 onwards), the list of technologies is even more extensive. All trims boast front and rear parking sensors to make manoeuvres easier, as well as a reversing camera for better rear visibility. You’ll also benefit from heated front seats, which take the edge off cold winter mornings.

Safety

In its 2018 Euro NCAP test, the Volvo S60 achieved a full five-star rating, with scores of 96% for adult occupant protection and 84% for child occupant protection. Executive saloon cars generally score highly for safety, but the S60 beats the Mercedes-Benz C-Class’s 93% for adult protection. The S60 also has ISOFIX attachment points on the outer rear seats for transporting children safely.

You’ll find front collision warning as standard on all Mk3 models, which helps to reduce the risk of low-speed frontal collisions, as well as lane-keeping assist to prevent you drifting from your lane. The driver alert warning detects signs of fatigue and advises you to take a break. S60 models also get a full suite of airbags and WHIPS, a whiplash protection system.

Trims available on the Volvo S90

Volvo S60 Pure

The entry-level Pure trim feels like a top-spec model. It boasts 19-inch alloy wheels, a hands-free electric tailgate and LED headlights. There are also heated and leather-upholstered front and rear seats, a heated steering wheel, four-zone climate control and keyless entry. The 10-speaker audio system and media functions are controlled via a nine-inch multimedia touchscreen. Technology includes sat nav with Google Maps, a rear-view camera and front and rear parking sensors.

Volvo S60 Ultimate

Upgrade to Ultimate trim for Pilot Assist, which features adaptive cruise control to give the car a degree of autonomous driving capability. You’ll also get surround-view parking cameras, active headlights, which can help you see around corners at night, and a 13-speaker Dolby Pro Logic II surround sound system. A panoramic sunroof and dark-tinted privacy glass are fitted too.

Search our stock of used Volvo S60 cars for sale.