Our Opinion - 2025 Volvo S60 Review The sleek, sophisticated, Scandinavian look of Volvo’s small S60 sport sedan stands out from the suffocating sameness of most new cars. Thanks to improvements in technology and rules about crash tests, driving is a lot safer now than it was a few years ago. Volvos have always relied on their safety reputation, but now they care just as much about style as they do about safety. The S60 is easy to find, but since SUVs are more popular in the US than sedans, the 2025 model year will be the last one made. The last batch of cars is available with either a boring 247-hp turbocharged four-cylinder engine or a plug-in hybrid with 456-hp, all-wheel drive, and a range of 41 miles on electricity alone. The hybrid’s appeal is limited, though, by its higher starting price of around $10,000. Because of this, we give cars like the BMW 3-series and Genesis G70 higher marks. What's New? It’s almost time for the S60 sedan’s production run to end. It comes in two trim levels: base Core and mid-level Plus. It used to be called the Ultimate, but now it’s called the Ultra. The plug-in hybrid Recharge is now called the T8 AWD plug-in hybrid (PHEV). This year, Ultra models can choose the Black Edition package, which includes black accents on the outside and wheels painted in Onyx Black or Crystal White. Core models, on the other hand, come with power-folding headrests as standard. Pros and Cons Pros Style is different. The cabin looks great and is very nice. The Quick T8 AWD plug-in hybrid. Cons Information menus that make you mad. Not as nice as the competitors. PHEV drivetrain with high-performance. Engine, Transmission, and Performance With front- or all-wheel drive and a 247-hp turbocharged four-cylinder engine, the non-hybrid S60 is more of a luxury cruiser than a performance sedan bruiser. Even though the S60’s off-road abilities impressed us, we concluded that its steering felt and driver-to-car connection could have been better than those in the best sports sedans. A test of four-cylinder engine competitors put the Volvo at the bottom of the list. This was because it was less sporty to drive than cars like the Alfa Romeo Giulia and BMW 3-series. This car is more about quietness than speed. Safety It shouldn’t be a surprise that the stylish Volvo sedan has a lot of features that help the driver. Some important parts of security are: Automatic emergency braking and a forward collision alert come as standard. Cross-traffic alerts in the back and standard blind-spot monitoring. Normal lane departure warning will help you keep your lane. Internal and External Cargo Capacity Inside the S60, Volvo is proud to show off its exceptional craftsmanship. The car is filled with high-quality materials and an unmatched level of attention to detail. Without a doubt, the design is cutting-edge, with features like jeweled switchgear and seats that are very comfortable. It has many high-end features, such as front seats that massage you, a head-up display, ambient interior lighting, and a 12.3-inch digital gauge cluster. People in the front seats will like the fact that the back seat has soft, supportive bucket seats and a lot of head and legroom. The interior cubby space is highlighted by useful door pockets, a center console with a tray that slides out, and a handy bin under the armrest. Sadly, there isn’t much room for all of these storage areas. Also, the S60’s trunk could hold five carry-on bags, while the 3-series could only hold four. Fuel Economy and Actual MPG The non-hybrid S60’s fuel efficiency is about what one would expect, with front-wheel drive models getting 26 mpg in the city, 35 mpg on the highway, and 30 mpg when driving combined in both urban and highway conditions. All-wheel-drive models get 25 mpg in the city, 33 mpg on the highway, and 28 mpg overall, which is slightly lower. When the gas engine is running alone, the plug-in hybrid achieves 74 MPGe and 31 MPG. Premium unleaded gasoline is required for every S60. As part of our extensive testing program, we drove the PHEV on our 75-mph fuel-economy route for 34 miles on electricity alone and returned 37 mpg. Infotainment and Connectivity Every S60 comes with an entertainment system that looks like a tablet and has a Google interface. The big volume knob and physical home button at the bottom of the screen are both useful, and the voice assistant that comes with the system works well. But, like way too many others, this one doesn’t have a tuning knob. You can choose to have a Bowers & Wilkins high-end audio system, but Apple CarPlay and Android Auto should come as standard. Range, Charging, and Battery Life Other cars on our test track, like the Mercedes-Benz C300 (5.3 seconds) and BMW 330i (5.2 seconds), got to 60 mph faster than the non-hybrid S60. Even though the hybrid S60 had more power, it took it longer to get to 60 mph (4.1 seconds), which was longer than the BMW M340i (3.7 seconds). Price and How to Choose You might be interested in the base Core model because of its low price, but the Plus trim comes with more features as standard, like leather seats, adaptive cruise control, and a 360-degree camera. The Climate package for the S60 includes heated rear seats, a heated steering wheel, and heated windshield washers. This package will warm your heart (or anywhere else), and people who live in colder places should definitely get it.
