Volvo V60

Volvo V60 (2018 – present) | Expert Rating [hide]

Summary

The Volvo V60 is a premium medium-sized estate model, the saloon version of which is called the S60. The current model arrived in the UK in the middle of 2018.

About six months after launch, the Volvo V60 range expanded with the V60 Cross Country model. This is a more rugged version of the regular V60 estate aimed at owners who want to take the car off-road.

The Volvo V60 has received consistently good ratings and numerous awards from the UK motoring media. Our unique Expert Rating aggregator has analysed 56 different UK reviews of the V60 as of November 2021, with an Expert Rating of 75% that puts it ahead of both the Mercedes-Benz C-Class Estate and Audi A4 Avant.

The V60 has received widespread praise for its design, both exterior and interior, as well as its overall comfort. However, it is not considered as rewarding to drive as the class-leading BMW 3 Series Touring.

Several reviewers have commented that the V60 Cross Country has a more comfortable ride than the already-good standard V60, while the car’s off-road ability has also been praised.

Key specifications

Body style: Mid-sized estateEngines: petrol, diesel, plug-in hybrid
Price: From £34,410 on-road

Launched: Summer 2018Last updated: Winter 2018/19
Replacement due: TBA

Image gallery

Volvo V60 R-Design

Volvo V60 Cross Country

Volvo V60 Cross Country

Volvo V60 Cross Country

Media reviews

Reviews, road test and comparisons from across the UK automotive media. Click any of the boxes to view.

The Car Expert

Model reviewed: V60 Cross CountryScore: 8.6 / 10“The Volvo V60 Cross Country adds extra versatility to an already impressive estate car. Few SUVs will tackle challenging conditions as effectively.”
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Model reviewed: Range reviewScore: 8.8 / 10“High quality, good practicality, relaxing to drive and a safety package that rivals cannot match. The V60 is a compelling proposition, and a worthy alternative to the premium German heavyweights.”
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Auto Express

Model reviewed: Score: 8 / 10“If you want a luxurious and spacious estate, the Volvo V60 offers a relaxed alternative to German rivals.”
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Model reviewed: Range overviewScore: 8 / 10“The V60 cements Volvo’s place among premium car makers – it’s a high quality, tech-packed, spacious and stylish estate that offers a different take on established rivals from Germany.”
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Model reviewed: plug-in hybrid T6 Recharge R-DesignScore: 9 / 10“Although the Volvo V60 T6 isn’t perfect, there’s plenty to love about this new plug-in version of the Swedish company’s smallest wagon. Low running costs, strong performance and plenty of style; the V60 T6 has a lot going for it.”
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Model reviewed: Polestar EngineeredScore: 6 / 10“The hybrid powertrain is too heavy to make the V60 Polestar Engineered engaging, and its four-cylinder motor isn’t all too exciting.”
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Model reviewed: T8 Twin EngineScore: 8 / 10“It’s not the last word in agility, but as the latest incarnation of the ‘fast Volvo wagon’, it fulfils its brief well – and for the time being has pretty much an entire area of the market to itself.”
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Model reviewed: V60 Cross CountryScore: 8 / 10“The Volvo V60 Cross Country has a marginally more supple ride than the regular V60, as well as some genuine off-road ability.”
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Auto Trader

Model reviewed: Range overviewScore: 8 / 10“The Volvo V60 is stylish, practical and full of up-to-the minute tech and safety kit. It excels as comfortable, classy family transport. Some versions are expensive, but running costs are reasonable and every version is well equipped.”
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Model reviewed: V60 Cross CountryScore: 8 / 10“The Volvo V60 Cross Country is an appealing alternative to both premium estate cars and SUVs. It’s very classy and practical, while its high ground clearance and standard four-wheel drive give it a rugged, capable character.”
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Autocar

Model reviewed: T8 Twin Engine Polestar EngineeredScore: 7 / 10“Polestar Engineered is an interesting concept, but also an awkward one.”
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Model reviewed: T8 Twin EngineScore: 7 / 10“The car’s thoughtful design, both inside and out, also gives it a level of primal desirability lacking in some rivals.”
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Model reviewed: T5Score: 8 / 10“It might be a bit, you know, suburban, and it won’t exactly get under your skin, but it’s certainly difficult to dislike.”
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Model reviewed: V60 Cross CountryScore: 8 / 10“There are sharper-handling family estates out there, and more mechanically refined ones too. But few can match the Volvo V60 Cross Country for its laid-back, composed aura of cool.”
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Model reviewed: D4 2.0-litre diesel automatic InscriptionScore: 8 / 10“The Volvo V60 is unbeaten for rear storage, happily eats up motorway miles and is as pleasant a place to be inside as any of its rivals. And for a mid-size estate, those are definitely the attributes to be more concerned with.”
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Model reviewed: Range reviewScore: 8 / 10“All things considered, the Volvo V60 falls short of rewriting the mid-sized estate playbook or gaining class-leader status. But it certainly comes damn close.”
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Business Car

Model reviewed: 2.0-litre petrol automatic T5 Cross CountryScore: 7 / 10“The diesel engine is a better fit for the Cross Country, from both a driving and an accounting point of view. For drivers with their heart set on petrol power, a different model in the V60 range, such as the performance-focused R-Design, would be a better choice.
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Model reviewed: 2.0-litre diesel automatic D4 Cross CountryScore: 8 / 10“The Volvo V60 Cross Country is capable of handling reasonably challenging muddy tracks without difficulty, meaning rural users can rest assured they will be okay if they take a wrong turn and end up somewhere agricultural.”
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Model reviewed: 2.0-litre diesel automatic D4 InscriptionScore: 8 / 10“Although the Volvo V60’s cause is undermined by a recalcitrant gearbox and a rather punchy ride quality, it is undoubtedly a spacious, stylish and eminently practical car. Additionally, it’s well equipped, tastefully finished and delivers strong performance with good economy.”
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Model reviewed: 2.0-litre diesel automatic MomentumScore: 9 / 10“It’s hard to find many bad things to say about the Volvo V60. Basically, if you’re after a practical, well-built and comfortable estate with plenty of room, the V60 is probably your best bet.”
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Car

Model reviewed: V60 Cross CountryScore: 8 / 10“The Volvo V60 Cross Country does away with any sporting pretensions and delivers what should be a better all-round experience for it, amplifying the easy-going, luxury experience that the standard V60 can do so well.”
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Car Keys

Model reviewed: 2.0-litre plug-in hybrid T8 Polestar EngineeredScore: 8 / 10“The Polestar Engineered package does a lot for the Volvo V60 appeal. Though rivals like the Mercedes C43 and Audi S4 may offer a bit more excitement, the Volvo has them under the cosh when it comes to efficiency — which makes it a more tantalising daily prospect.”
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Model reviewed: V60 Cross CountryScore: 9 / 10“The base V60 was a really good car anyway, and thankfully Volvo hasn’t spoilt it with the additional bodywork, raised ride height and standard four-wheel drive. If you need to go off-road quite often and need it for weaving along country lanes, then the Cross Country is a great option.”
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Model reviewed: 2.0-litre diesel automatic D4 InscriptionScore: 9 / 10“If you’re after a practical, well-built and comfortable estate car with enough room for pretty much anything you’ll ever need, then the Volvo V60 might be the car for you. German rivals may offer a more exciting drive, but the V60 trounces its competitors everywhere else – making this a serious option when considering your next family car.”
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Carbuyer

Model reviewed: Range overviewScore: 8.8 / 10“The Volvo V60 estate is a stylish, practical and comfortable all-rounder that majors on relaxation rather than driving thrills.”
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Model reviewed: V60 Cross CountryScore: 8.6 / 10“The characterful Volvo V60 Cross Country is stylish, comfortable and can tackle terrain more extreme than most will ever need it to.”
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Carwow

Model reviewed: V60 Cross CountryScore: 8 / 10“The Volvo V60 is a comfortable and practical 4×4 estate car that has a cool interior and a big boot, but the infotainment system is fiddly to use when driving.”
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Model reviewed: Range overviewScore: 8 / 10“The Volvo V60 is a spacious estate car that’s also very comfortable. The luxurious interior looks lovely but some trim pieces feel below par and the infotainment’s a little unintuitive.”
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Company Car Today

Model reviewed: V60 Cross Country“The compromises are fairly small financially for the extra visual appeal, four-wheel drive security and additional kit, which makes the Volvo V60 Cross Country a most appealing addition.”
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Model reviewed: Range reviewScore: 8.3 / 10“Volvo’s excellent form continues with the new V60, which is the Swedish brand’s best chance yet of breaking the monopoly of premium German wagons.”
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Daily Mail

Model reviewed: V60 Cross Country“A comfortable, smartly-appointed vehicle that is a perfect load-lugger, with a big boot for active families, whatever the weather.”
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Daily Mirror

Model reviewed: 2.0-litre diesel automatic D4 Cross Country“Apart from the fact that it’s more comfortable than the standard Volvo V60, the simpler car would be the one for me. I’d leave the Cross Country for drivers needing off-road capacity.”
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Evo

Model reviewed: Range reviewScore: 7 / 10“Volvo’s latest V60 is a brilliant estate car, but rather less entertaining to drive than it could be.”
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Model reviewed: Range overview“The cabin is tastefully appointed, well-constructed, quiet, and as we’ve come to expect from Volvos, the seats are among the best on the market for spending hours at a time in, aided by a wide range of adjustment in the seats and steering wheel.”
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Green Car Guide

Model reviewed: Polestar EngineeredScore: 9 / 10“The Polestar Engineered Volvo V60 is still a very good all-round car, offering performance as well as the ability to drive up to around 30 miles on zero-emission electric power, it’s also practical in Estate form, and has all-wheel-drive traction.”
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Model reviewed: 2.0-litre plug-in hybrid automatic T8 Twin Power R-Design PlusScore: 9 / 10“The Volvo V60 T8 Twin Engine is one of the best plug-in hybrids that we’ve tested: it delivers an impressive all-electric range, it’s great to drive with lots of performance, it has all-wheel drive, and it’s a practical estate.”
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Model reviewed: 2.0-litre diesel automatic D4 InscriptionScore: 7 / 10“The Volvo V60 Plug-in Hybrid isn’t on sale yet, but we would lay bets on the Plug-in Hybrid being a better driving experience than the diesel powertrain.”
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Honest John

Model reviewed: Range reviewScore: 10 / 10“The interior is lovely – a superb contrast of twee materials (you can spec wood if you like) and up-to-date technology.”
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Model reviewed: V60 Cross Country“Only around 10% of Volvo V60 sales are expected to be the Cross Country. That’s a shame, as we think it’s possibly the highlight of the range. Not everyone will need its off-road capability, admittedly, but we like its chunky looks, and the way its suspension copes with broken roads is impressive.”
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Motors.co.uk

Model reviewed: Range overviewScore: 8 / 10“It’s quite fair to say that the Volvo V60 is one of the best-looking estates there is, and makes its key rivals from Audi, BMW and Mercedes all look rather bland. The V60 is also a car to appeal to those who want to get to their destination in complete comfort, rather than as fast as possible.”
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Parkers

Model reviewed: Range reviewScore: 9.2 / 10“Stylish, comfortable and spacious wagon satisfies heart and head”
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The Sun

Model reviewed: Range review“The Volvo V60 is a contender for the best-looking family car money can buy.”
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Model reviewed: V60 Cross Country“Perhaps the greatest achievement of the Volvo V60 Cross Country is that it drives almost exactly like a normal V60. You would expect that longer suspension to cause it to wallow in corners. But if it does, I couldn’t tell — and I drove both cars back-to-back.”
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The Sunday Times

Model reviewed: 2.0-litre petrol automatic T5 Inscription“The Volvo V60 is one of the best thought-out, and most accommodating estate cars of this size.”
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Model reviewed: D4 2.0-litre diesel automatic Inscription ProScore: 8 / 10“Roomy, practical and good-looking.”
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Model reviewed: V60 Cross CountryScore: 7 / 10“A niche proposition but could be right up your country lane.”
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The Telegraph

Model reviewed: V60 Cross CountryScore: 8 / 10“For the time being the Volvo V60 Cross Country has the market to itself, but that isn’t the only reason why it’s probably the best of these go-anywhere estates. It isn’t perfect, but its flaws aren’t really deal-breakers and its blend of style, space and comfort is immensely appealing.”
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Model reviewed: V60 Cross CountryScore: 8 / 10“Comfortable, long-legged and tough, the Volvo V60 Cross Country is safe, strong family transport for all the best reasons and in virtually all weather conditions. Why would you want an SUV?”
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Model reviewed: D4 2.0-litre diesel automatic Inscription ProScore: 8 / 10“Competent, comfortable and handsome family estate based on Volvo’s big-car architecture. What marks it out are the safety systems and the fact that this is probably the best installation of Volvo’s range of 2.0-litre petrol and diesel engines. Unshowy and expensive but, like its predecessors, the V60 is likely to grow on you.”
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Top Gear

Model reviewed: Range reviewScore: 8 / 10“The V60 is a sensible, safe Volvo, just as you’d expect. The estate car of choice if comfort means more to you than handling.”
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Model reviewed: V60 Cross CountryScore: 8 / 10“Added capability and comfort makes this probably the most compelling of all the Volvo V60 models.”
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What Car?

Model reviewed: V60 Cross CountryScore: 8 / 10“Like the regular V60, the Cross Country is a spacious family holdall with an interior that’s a joy to travel in. However, not only is it more comfortable, it can cope with a bit of light off-roading, too. Just remember that the regular V60 will be cheaper to buy and run.”
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Model reviewed: Range reviewScore: 8 / 10“Tidy handling, beautifully built, with a comfortable ride. And did we mention it’s blooming roomy? The Volvo V60 is a great estate car.”
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Which?

Model reviewed: 2.0-litre petrol/electric plug-in hybrid T6 Twin EngineScore: 6.9 / 10“The Volvo V60 Twin Engine introduces plug-in hybrid tech to the well-liked estate. The distinctly Scandinavian design carves its own niche, getting the balance almost spot on, but it misses the mark slightly for practicality as those sleek lines and tapered roofline impact its load-lugging ability.”
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Model reviewed: V60 Cross CountryScore: 6.7 / 10“If you regularly need to traverse muddy fields or rough tracks, you’ll be glad of the V60 Cross Country’s four-wheel drive and extra ground clearance. However, in normal road use, it’s hard to justify the premium over the standard V60 estate.”
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Model reviewed: Range reviewScore: 6.6 / 10“Upmarket, practical and safe.”
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Safety rating

Overall rating: 5 stars
Date tested: December 2018

96%

ADULT OCCUPANT

84%

CHILD OCCUPANT

74%

VULNERABLE ROAD USERS

76%

SAFETY ASSIST

Read full Euro NCAP review

Eco rating

No eco rating

The Volvo V60 has not yet been lab tested by Green NCAP. This is a new initiative, launched in 2018 as a sister organisation to Euro NCAP. As yet, very few new cars have been tested for environmental impact by Green NCAP, and inevitably the testing programme was halted in early 2020 by the coronavirus pandemic.

Security rating

Independent vehicle theft and security ratings from Thatcham Research

Rating: Superior | Good | Basic | Poor | Unacceptable
Relay Attack: Fail

Date: 2019

The Volvo V60 automatically received a Poor rating from Thatcham because it failed a relay attack test, which measures the security of a car’s keyless entry and/or keyless start system. The Volvo S60 and V60 are susceptible to thieves intercepting the car’s keyless signal and using it to steal the car.

Awards

Trophies, prizes and awards that the Volvo V60 has received

2019

• UK Car of the Year Awards – Best Estate
• News UK Motor Awards – Family Car of the Year
• Towcar of the Year Awards – Winner, Caravan Weight 1,500 – 1,700kg category

2018

• Carbuyer Awards – Compact Executive Car of the Year
• News UK Motor Awards – Family Car of the Year
• Parkers New Car Awards – Best Large Family Car
• carwow Awards – Practicality Award
• Scottish Car of the Year – Estate Car of the Year

Similar cars

If you’re looking at the Volvo V60, you might also be interested in these alternatives

Audi A4 Avant | BMW 3 Series Touring | Mazda 6 Tourer | Mercedes-Benz C-Class Estate | Peugeot 508 SW | Skoda Superb | Subaru Levorg | Subaru Outback | Volkswagen Passat Estate

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Keyword: Volvo V60