GREEN CHOICE
2017
New 2022
Used 2021 2020 2019 2018 2017 2016 2015 2014 2013 2012 2011 2010 2009 2008 2007 2006 2005 2004 2003 2002 2001
GREEN CHOICE

Volvo S60

Unlock Ratings
Solid, practical, quiet, and unassuming, the Volvo S60 brings to mind the qualities you might want in a good neighbor. Capable and comfortable, if not exciting, it is an upstanding citizen of compact European sport sedans, with a lower price but less country-club status than similar models from Audi, BMW, and Mercedes-Benz. If you're looking for fun, spirited performance or styling pizzazz, however, shop elsewhere.
Alerts
There are 5 recalls on this vehicle. Learn More.
GREEN CHOICE
2017
New 2022
Used 2021 2020 2019 2018 2017 2016 2015 2014 2013 2012 2011 2010 2009 2008 2007 2006 2005 2004 2003 2002 2001

Volvo S60

Reliability
See All
Owner Satisfaction
See All
Crash and Rollover Tests
IIHS Front Moderate Overlap Good
IIHS Front Small Overlap, Driver Good
IIHS Side Crash Good
NHTSA Frontal-Crash, Driver
NHTSA Frontal-Crash, Passenger
See All

Road Test Results

Performance
Acceleration Acceleration Acceleration tests are conducted on a smooth, flat pavement straightaway at the track. Time, speed, and distance measurements are taken with a precise GPS-based device that’s hooked to a data-logging computer.
0 to 60 mph 0 to 60 mph (sec.) The time in seconds that a vehicle takes to reach 60 mph from a standstill with the engine idling.
Transmission Transmission Transmission performance is determined by shifting smoothness, response, shifter action, and clutch actuation for manual transmissions.
Braking Braking The braking rating is a composite of wet and dry stopping distances and pedal feel. Braking distance is from 60 mph, with no wheels locked.
Emergency Handling Emergency Handling Several factors go into the rating, including the avoidance maneuver speed and confidence, as well as how the vehicle behaves when pushed to its limit.
Comfort / Convenience
Ride Ride Our expert judgment of how well the suspension isolates and absorbs road imperfections and how steady it keeps the body on various road surfaces.
Noise Noise Our expert judgment of the vehicle's interior noise level in everyday driving.
Front Seat Comfort Front Seat Comfort Our judgment of how comfortable the front seat is for drivers of various heights.
Rear Seat Comfort Rear Seat Comfort Our judgment of how comfortable the rear seat is for two passengers to sit across.
Interior Fit and Finish Interior Fit and Finish An expert evaluation of the interior quality and craftsmanship.
Trunk/Cargo Area Trunk/Cargo Area Our rating is based on the amount of luggage or cargo space that a vehicle has in the trunk or cargo area.
Fuel Economy & Emissions
Fuel Economy Fuel Economy We perform our own fuel-economy tests, independent of the government's often-quoted EPA figures and the manufacturers' claims. Using a precise fuel-flow measuring device spliced into the fuel line, we run two separate circuits to represent city and highway consumption.
CR's Overall Mileage CR's Overall Mileage CR's overall mileage is a composite of measured fuel usage on a prescribed city course and highway cruising; and CR's 150-mile test trip of mixed driving, if tested. In recent road tests, we've discontinued the 150-mile trip test.
CR's City Mileage CR's City Mileage Measured fuel usage on a prescribed city course.
CR's Highway Mileage CR's Highway Mileage Measured fuel usage on a prescribed highway cruising.
Annual Fuel Cost Annual Fuel Cost The cost and amount of fuel used in 12,000 miles and is calculated from CR's overall mileage.
Greenhouse Gas Greenhouse Gas The Greenhouse Gas Rating represents the amount of carbon dioxide the vehicle emits compared to other vehicles of the same model year. This score from the EPA ranges from 1 (worst) to 10 (best).
Smog Rating Smog Rating The Smog Rating represents the amount of health-damaging and smog-forming airborne pollutants the vehicle emits compared to other vehicles of the same model year. This score from the EPA ranges from 1 (worst) to 10 (best).

Owner Reports

Worse Better
Reliability History Reliability History The reliability charts are based on responses on hundreds of thousands of vehicles from our latest Annual Auto Survey. Consumer Reports subscribers reported on any serious problems they had with their vehicles during the past 12 months that they considered serious because of cost, failure, safety, or downtime, in any of the trouble spots included in the table below. The results are presented relative to the average model that year. Extra weight is given to the more serious areas such as major engine or transmission problems. Based on this data and further analysis, we predict reliability for the latest year. N/A indicates that we did not receive a large enough sample size to provide data for a specific year. An X indicates that the vehicle was not manufactured for a specific year.
2000
2001
NA
2002
NA
2003
NA
2004
NA
2005
NA
2006
NA
2007
NA
2008
NA
2009
NA
2010
NA
2011
NA
2012
2013
2014
NA
2015
2016
2017
2018
2019
2020
2021
NA
Reliability Trouble Spots
Engine Major Engine Major Engine rebuild or replacement, cylinder head, head gasket, turbo or supercharger, timing chain or timing belt.
Engine Minor Engine Minor Accessory belts and pulleys, engine computer, engine mounts, engine knock or ping, oil leaks.
Engine Cooling Engine Cooling Radiator, cooling fan, antifreeze leaks, water pump, thermostat, overheating.
Transmission Major Transmission Major Transmission rebuild or replacement, torque converter, clutch replacement.
Transmission Minor Transmission Minor Gear selector or linkage, leaks, transmission computer, transmission sensor or solenoid, clutch adjustment, rough shifting, slipping transmission.
Drive System Drive System Driveshaft or axle, CV joint, differential, transfer case, 4WD/AWD components, driveline vibration, traction control, electronic stability control (ESC), electrical failure.
View all Reliability
Owner Satisfaction Owner Satisfaction To learn about satisfaction, CR has collected survey data from our annual survey on more than half a million vehicles. Our subscribers provide great insights into their satisfaction by answering one simple question: If they had it to do all over again, would they definitely buy or lease the same model? In addition, respondents also rate their cars in six categories: driving experience, comfort, value, styling, audio, and climate systems. N/A indicates that we did not receive a large enough sample size to provide data for a specific year. An X indicates that the vehicle was not manufactured for a specific year.
2000
2001
NA
2002
NA
2003
NA
2004
NA
2005
NA
2006
NA
2007
NA
2008
NA
2009
NA
2010
NA
2011
NA
2012
2013
2014
2015
2016
2017
2018
2019
2020
2021
Driving Experience Driving Experience Includes acceleration and handling
Comfort Comfort Includes seats, climate control, noise, and ride
Value Value Did you get what you wanted relative to the price you paid?
Styling Styling How it looks inside and out
View all Owner Satisfaction
Safety Equipment
ABS, side and head protection air bags standard. ESC standard from 2007. FCW and AEB standard from 2019. BSW, and RCTW standard from 2021.
Road Test

Solid, practical, quiet, and unassuming, the Volvo S60 brings to mind the qualities you might want in a good neighbor. Capable and comfortable, if not exciting, it is an upstanding citizen of compact European sport sedans, with a lower price but less country-club status than similar models from Audi, BMW, and Mercedes-Benz. If you're looking for fun, spirited performance or styling pizzazz, however, shop elsewhere.

A freshening for 2015 brings subtle updates and a new turbocharged four-cylinder engine that reflects the brand's future. Volvo's familiar five- and six-cylinder engines will disappear from its lineup over the next few years, and if the engine in our tested S60 T5 is any indication, they will not be missed.

Seating
2 front, 3 rear
Drive Wheels
AWD, Front
Warranty
Coverage varies among versions of this vehicle

In most cases, automotive warranties are based on the vehicle identification number (VIN), and the warranty will be valid regardless of ownership. The dealership can tell you exactly how much warranty is left.

Read more about extended warranties
Body Styles
sedan
Transmissions Available
  • 8-speed Automatic
Engines Available
  • 2-liter 4 turbo (362 hp)
  • 2-liter 4 turbo (240 hp)
  • 2-liter 4 turbo (302 hp)

Owner Reported Trouble Spots

The Reliability score is based on our latest subscriber survey of 2017 Volvo S60 owners. The owner comments describe problems respondents experienced with this vehicle.

In-car Electronics

CD or DVD players, radio, speakers, GPS, communication system (e.g., OnStar), display screen freezes or goes blank, phone pairing (e.g. Bluetooth), voice control commands, steering wheel controls, portable music device interface (e.g., iPod/MP3 player), backup or other camera/sensors.

What Owners Say

Backup or other camera/sensors

"Now on second replacement backup camera. Camera sporadically shit down, refocused itself directly on the top of the rear bumper and the ground immediately beneath but nowhere else. I could only see about 4 inches behind the car. Other times, the backup camera View continued on screen while driving forward for 200 to 600 feet. Yes, the shift lever was fully engaged in "Drive." Turning the ignition off and restarting the car helped sometimes. First replacement camera July 17, 3018. Second replacement camera January 9, 2020. Identical issues caused both replacements."

Anonymous, CA (2017 Volvo S60 T5 Inscription 2.0-L 4 Cyl turbo)
Display screen freezes up

"The radio Freezes up a min of 2 times a week."

Anonymous, VA (2017 Volvo S60 T5 Inscription 2.0-L 4 Cyl turbo)
External music device interface (e.g., smart phone, MP3 player)

"The Volvo claims a top of the line sound system, but it only plays mp3 files. The menu system is very limited and difficult to use. It is not intuitive and pretty clunky, in keeping with the overall clunkiness of the infotainment system."

Leroy D., MD (2017 Volvo S60 T6 2.0-L 4 Cyl turbo)
Phone pairing (e.g., Bluetooth)

"Internal cell phone service for volvo on call inop. Had to replace car cell reciever"

Anonymous, CO (2017 Volvo S60 Cross Country 2.0-L 4 Cyl turbo)
Routine software updates

"As I recall the 2018 models were either out or coming out, i.e. the dealer had had the car for quite a while, but had not updated the infotainment software. We complained about the frequent infotainment system lockups at the first service and the dealer finally updated the software. Like they didn't have the time to do so when it was on the lot. By the way, the infotainment system and GPS are pretty poor. Garbage compared to our 2012 VW Golf TDI. The TDI was a much better car than the Volvo, emissions issues aside of course!"

Leroy D., MD (2017 Volvo S60 T6 2.0-L 4 Cyl turbo)
Software update fixes

"Began with new sporadic issues 2019. No updates to navigation software and owners/lessees were not routinely advised. Meanwhile, the installed nav system and software became totally unsupported by Volvo. Dealer could not update from their systems so gave me erroneous printed directions on where to find replacement files and file names. I had to specially format a thumb drive, download files to the drive from my laptop, and keep the car running or drive it for 2+ hours while the files replaced my entire nav software system. This was the second year I had a nav problem. Also second new backup camera in two years."

Anonymous, CA (2017 Volvo S60 T5 Inscription 2.0-L 4 Cyl turbo)
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Fuel System

Check engine light, sensors (includes O2 or oxygen sensor), emission control devices (includes EGR), engine computer, engine computer, fuel cap, fuel gauge/sender, fuel injection system, fuel pump, fuel leaks, stalling or hesitation.

What Owners Say

Sensors (includes O2 or oxygen sensor)

"Two sensors failed on separate occasions. The second episode activated the "check engine"light. I drove to the dealership, and after checking it out, they told me that it was OK to drive the car until they got the part in."

Anonymous, NJ (2017 Volvo S60 T5 2.0-L 4 Cyl turbo)

"Complained to dealer that I was getting poor gas mileage. They asked if I could wait so they could check it out. After about 15 minutes someone told me that the O2 was defective. If I could wait an hour, and they could replace it. It took about 45 minutes to fix. It was covered by the car's warranty."

Joel J., NJ (2017 Volvo S60 T5 2.0-L 4 Cyl turbo)

"Check engine light came on. Took it to the dealer and they were able to repair in one day. Find that problem on a vehicle with so few miles unusual."

Lyle S., CA (2017 Volvo S60 T5 2.0-L 4 Cyl turbo)

Climate System

Blower (fan) motor, A/C compressor, condenser, evaporator, heater system, automatic climate control, refrigerant leakage, electrical failure.

What Owners Say

Blower (fan) motor

"Started making a strange sound. Dealer replaced blower."

Anonymous, (2017 Volvo S60 T5 Inscription 2.0-L 4 Cyl turbo)

Engine Minor

Accessory belts and pulleys, engine computer, engine mounts, engine knock or ping, oil leaks.

What Owners Say

Engine mounts

"Engine wasn’t securely anchored, causing it to thump when car turned on."

Susan G., VA (2017 Volvo S60 T5 Inscription 2.0-L 4 Cyl turbo)

Suspension

Shocks or struts, ball joints, tie rods, wheel bearings, alignment, steering linkage (includes rack and pinion), power steering (pumps and hoses, leaks), wheel balance, springs or torsion bars, bushings, electronic or air suspension.

What Owners Say

Wheel bearings

"The repair was covered under warranty. However, the dealership informed me that the driver's front tire was worn down to the threads due to me hitting a pothole. The cost for a new tire and alignment was $500+ I don't find it coincidental that it was the same wheel that had the defective bearing..."

Dan C., NY (2017 Volvo S60 T5 2.0-L 4 Cyl turbo)

Engine Cooling

Radiator, cooling fan, antifreeze leaks, water pump, thermostat, overheating.

Drive System

Driveshaft or axle, CV joint, differential, transfer case, 4WD/AWD components, driveline vibration, traction control, electronic stability control (ESC), electrical failure.

Body Integrity

Squeaks, rattles, wind noises, loose or cracked seals and/or weather-stripping, air and water leaks.

Exhaust

Muffler, pipes, catalytic converter, exhaust manifold, leaks.

Power Equipment

Cruise control, clock, warning lights, body control module, keyless entry, wiper motor or washer, tire pressure monitor, interior or exterior lights, horn, gauges, 12V power plug, remote engine start, alarm or security system

Paint/Trim

Paint (fading, chalking, cracking, or peeling), loose interior and exterior trim or moldings, rust.

Transmission Minor

Gear selector or linkage, leaks, transmission computer, transmission sensor or solenoid, clutch adjustment, rough shifting, slipping transmission.

Electric System

Alternator, starter, hybrid battery and related systems, regular battery, battery cables, engine harness, coil, ignition switch, electronic ignition, distributor or rotor failure, spark plugs and wires failure.

Brakes

Antilock system (ABS), parking brake, master cylinder, calipers, rotors, pulsation or vibration, squeaking, brake failure or wear.

Engine Major

Engine rebuild or replacement, cylinder head, head gasket, turbo or supercharger, timing chain or timing belt.

Body Hardware

Power or manual windows, locks and latches, tailgate, hatch or trunk, doors or sliding doors, mirrors, seat controls, safety belts, sunroof, convertible top.

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