2021 Volvo V60 Review

Name: 2021 Volvo V60 Review
Brand: Volvo
Price: 27367 USD

Price Estimate: $27,367 - $30,133

2021 Volvo V60 T5 Inscription Wagon Exterior Shown

2021 Volvo V60 T5 Inscription Wagon Exterior

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Is the V60 a European luxury wagon or an autobahn-ready stretched performance sedan? Turns out it's a bit of both. It's got legitimate performance capability, even if it's less sophisticated than its European rivals in some of its dynamic nuances. Wagon utility means it's a good substitute for a compact SUV.

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Volvo V60 model years

Volvo V60 for Sale

Volvo V60 types

Wagon
T8 Polestar Engineered

2021 Volvo V60 Review

byReese Counts^{Vehicle Test Editor
Reese Counts has worked in the automotive industry since he started as an intern at Edmunds in 2015. He has written or edited thousands of car-related articles and tested and reviewed hundreds of vehicles over the course of his career. Reese is a vehicle test editor at Edmunds and has also contributed to Autoblog. Reese has also been featured on Yahoo! Finance, Engadget and AOL reviewing cars and covering automotive technology, auto shows and more. Reese learned to drive in his father's C4 Chevrolet Corvette and now owns his grandfather's 1999 Mercedes-Benz C43 AMG. A love for cars runs deep in his family.}

Pros

Increased cargo and rear passenger space over predecessor
Exceptionally comfortable front seats
Sleek exterior and interior design
Long list of advanced safety features

Cons

Ride is fairly stiff, even with the adaptive suspension
Infotainment isn't as intuitive as rival systems
Limited interior storage space
No wireless charging or rear USB ports

What's new

Most features from last year's Premium package are now standard
Part of the second V60 generation introduced for 2019

Overview

The 2021 Volvo V60 is one of the last of its kind, at least in America. For the past few decades, tastes have shifted from wagons to minivans to SUVs, with most automakers dropping wagons from their lineups. That said, wagon fans are a passionate bunch, and what would Volvo be without a long-roof car or two in its lineup?

Cost to Drive^{Cost to drive estimates for the 2021 Volvo V60 T5 Momentum 4dr Wagon (2.0L 4cyl Turbo 8A) and comparison vehicles are based on 15,000 miles per year (with a mix of 55% city and 45% highway driving) and energy estimates of $3.77 per gallon for premium unleaded in Virginia.}

Monthly estimates based on costs in Virginia

$169/mo

$155/mo

Avg. Midsize Car

Calculate my fuel costs

The V60 is essentially a wagon version of Volvo's excellent S60 sedan. It's handsome and well appointed, and it includes an extensive list of standard safety features. It might not have the utility of something like Volvo's XC60 SUV, but the smaller size makes it feel more engaging on the road. And if you're looking for something really sporty, the Volvo V60 Recharge Polestar Engineered plug-in hybrid should help satisfy that itch.

There isn't really much on the road that competes directly with the Volvo V60. The Audi A4 Allroad is close in size and price to the V60, but its taller ride height and standard all-wheel drive make it a closer rival to the V60 Cross Country, a model we review separately. The Mercedes-Benz E-Class Wagon is larger and significantly more expensive, as is Volvo's own V90 wagon. And if you're willing to make the leap to a crossover, check out the similar XC60 SUV.

Edmunds Expert Rating

Our Verdict^{The Edmunds Vehicle Testing Team evaluates a fresh batch of vehicles every week, pairing objective assessments at our test track with real-world driving on city streets, freeways and winding roads. The data we gather results in our Expert Ratings. They’re based on 30-plus scores that cover every aspect of the automotive experience.}

Good

7.8

out of 10

edmunds TESTED

Rated for you by America's best test team.

Performance

8/10

How does the V60 drive? Acceleration is respectable from a standstill. The long wagon body feels well balanced and planted in turns, even when taken at higher speeds. Body motions are kept under control, giving the V60 one of its primary advantages: SUV-like utility with sport-sedan handling confidence. Around town, the brake pedal can be a little tricky to press for consistently smooth stops. In the Comfort drive mode, the V60's gear shifts are smooth and crisp.

Comfort

7.5/10

How comfortable is the V60? The V60 delivers better-than-average comfort with front seats that are very supportive and satisfying after many hours. It also offers more supportive rear seats than competitors. The main drawback is the stiff ride that transmits more vibrations into the cabin than other luxury vehicles.

The interior remains pleasantly quiet up to highway speeds, where some faint wind noise can be heard around the windshield. When pushed hard, the engine can also emit some coarse sounds. The climate control operates just as you'd expect, but it's more complicated than we like since all functions are run through the touchscreen. The rear seat fan can be noticeably loud too.

Interior

8/10

How’s the interior? The attractive interior is a model of simple yet elegant Scandinavian design, but there are some drawbacks in terms of operation. Some controls have unconventional icons, and many basic functions require you to use the touchscreen. The infotainment system also takes some getting used to but eventually begins to make sense.

To its credit, the V60 provides plenty of room for all passengers and offers the driver a wide range of adjustments to ensure an optimal position. The sloping roofline offers better outward visibility than we'd expect, but it also forces taller passengers to stoop slightly to get in and out of the car.

Technology

7.5/10

How’s the tech? The infotainment system is visually striking, but it's not intuitive at first. Some options and features require the user to swipe right or left to access the menus, and there's no obvious prompt to indicate those functions are there. The absence of physical buttons and knobs means basic operations like climate control must be performed via the touchscreen, which seems needlessly complicated. Thankfully, some voice commands make control easier.

Volvo's reputation for safety is present in the advanced safety features, but the frontal collision warning and automatic braking have a tendency to be overly sensitive and alarming when they trigger unexpectedly.

Storage

7.5/10

How’s the storage? The V60 offers a best of both worlds' blend: the utility of an SUV with the handling and general size of a sedan. The luggage area behind the rear seats is decently useful, even though some rivals offer slightly more space. With the seats folded, there's 50.9 cubic feet of storage space available.

The V60 has enough bins and storage spots to put your personal effects. Child seats are easy to install, and there's plenty of space for a rear-facing infant seat even behind taller front-seat occupants.

Fuel Economy

7/10

How’s the fuel economy? After nearly 1,000 miles with the V60, we averaged 21.2 mpg. On our local mixed-driving evaluation loop, the V60 averaged 22.5 mpg, a bit lower than we expected.

Both figures fall short of the EPA-estimated fuel economy of 25 mpg combined (21 city/31 highway) and could indicate difficulty hitting these targets in real-world driving.

Value

8/10

Is the V60 a good value? In terms of pricing, the V60 is on the expensive side among similarly equipped rivals. In return, you get an interior that is beautifully designed with high-quality materials and sturdy construction. It's refined and luxurious to justify the cost.

Warranty duration is about average for the industry and other wagons, but lifetime coverage for parts and labor give the V60 an advantage. And free scheduled maintenance for three years is included.

Wildcard

8/10

The V60 attempts to straddle both camps of luxury and performance. It mostly succeeds with engine power and adept handling, but it falls behind with less sophisticated steering, braking and driver engagement. It's got interior luxury down pat, however; this is one of the more handsome and classy cabins you'll find in the segment.

For those who want the versatility and convenience of an SUV but hanker for sedan-like driving dynamics, the V60 is an excellent choice. We would like it, though, if the suspension could smooth over bumps more gently.

Which V60 does Edmunds recommend?

We recommend going for the Momentum trim. Yes, it is the base trim, but it comes with a good number of standard features, and most optional features are available.

2021 Volvo V60 models

The 2021 Volvo V60 is a five-seat wagon based on the Volvo S60 sedan. It's available in four trim levels: Momentum, R-Design, Inscription and Polestar Engineered. There's also the V60 Cross Country, which is reviewed separately on Edmunds.

Momentum
The Momentum trim might be the base version, but it's well equipped and available with a number of options. Standard features include:

Turbocharged four-cylinder engine (250 horsepower)
Front-wheel drive and eight-speed automatic transmission
LED headlights and foglights
Roof rails
Keyless entry with push-button start
Power tailgate
12.3-inch touchscreen display
Apple CarPlay and Android Auto smartphone integration
10-speaker audio system
Leather upholstery
Power-adjustable front seats

Since it's a Volvo, the V60 comes with a number of standard safety features such as:

Blind-spot monitor with rear cross-traffic alert (warns you if a vehicle is in your blind spot during a lane change or while reversing)
Forward collision mitigation (applies the brakes automatically to stop the vehicle to avoid or minimize a collision)
Lane departure warning (alerts you if the vehicle begins to drift out of its lane)
Lane keeping assist (steers the V60 back into its lane if it begins to drift over the lane marker)
Rear parking sensors

Options on the Momentum include:

Premium package

Navigation
Garage door opener
Power-folding rear headrests
Front parking sensors

Advanced package

Head-up display
Adaptive cruise control (adjusts speed to maintain a constant distance between the vehicle and the car in front)
360-degree camera (gives you a top-down view of the V60 and its surroundings for tight parking situations)
Wireless device charging pad

Climate package

Heated front seats
Heated wiper blades
Heated steering wheel

R-Design
The R-Design adds a sporty flair to the V60. Besides the Momentum's features, standard equipment includes:

Gloss black R-Design grille, mirror caps and window trim
18-inch R-Design wheels
Sport front seats
Sport steering wheel
Ambient interior lighting
Four-zone automatic climate control
Harman Kardon audio system
Standard Premium package

Inscription
The Inscription sits parallel to the R-Design in Volvo's lineup, opting for luxury touches instead of sporty ones. In addition to the Momentum's features, the Inscription includes:

Chrome grille and window trim
Upgraded interior trim
Ambient interior lighting
Four-zone automatic climate control
Harman Kardon audio system
Standard Premium package

V60 Recharge Polestar Engineered
The V60 Recharge Polestar Engineered model has been modified and tuned by Volvo's performance division. It comes with a plug-in hybrid powertrain (415 hp) and all-wheel drive. It can also provide up to 22 miles of all-electric range, according to the EPA. Other upgrades include:

Adjustable Öhlins dampers
Sport-tuned suspension
19-inch Polestar Engineered wheels
Brembo brakes with gold calipers
Gloss black exterior trim
Gold seat belts
Standard Advance package
Standard Climate package

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Reliability Ratings by RepairPal

3.5/5Above Average

#30 out of 68 among Luxury Midsize Cars

RepairPal Reliability Ratings are based on the actual cost, frequency, and severity of unscheduled repairs and maintenance on make/model data for select 2008-2022 vehicles. The reliability of a specific vehicle may vary depending on its maintenance and driving history, model year, trim, and features.

Cost

^{The average total annual cost for unscheduled repairs and maintenance across all model years of the Volvo V60 from 2008-2022.}

$684/yr

vs. $607/yr
for Average Luxury Midsize Car

Frequency

^{The average number of times this model is brought into the shop for unscheduled repairs and maintenance in a single year. RepairPal calculates this metric by tracking millions of unique vehicles over multiple years to determine an average number of visits per year (omitting small routine visits, e.g., oil changes).}

1.27x/yr

vs. 1.36x/yr
for Average Luxury Midsize Car

Severity

^{The probability that a repair will be a major issue, meaning the repair costs 3x the average annual repair cost for all models. This threshold will be higher for vehicles that have higher labor rates and parts costs (such as a premium brand).}

6.7%

vs. 10.5%
for Average Luxury Midsize Car

powered by RepairPal ^{Based on RepairPal reliability data as of 8/23/2023. Ratings are provided by RepairPal and Edmunds is not responsible for their accuracy.}

Consumer reviews

Read what other owners think about the Used 2021 Volvo V60.

5 (62%)

4 (25%)

3 (13%)

2 (0%)

1 (0%)

4.5

8 reviews

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Most helpful consumer reviews

I bought the cheapest V60 in the US and I love it!

Mosswagon, 08/09/2019

2019 Volvo V60 T5 Momentum 4dr Wagon (2.0L 4cyl Turbo 8A)

Since you can only get the (non-cross country) V60 by special order I can't imagine most people are trying to buy the base model in this luxury segment. The starting price for 2019 on the T5 Momentum was $38,900. I fell in love with the cloth (City Weave) seats only offered on this trim so it wasn't a hard decision. You don't need all the bells and whistles. I saved over $5,000 … skipping the Advanced and Multimedia packages. Volvo's navigation is unnecessary now that Apple Carplay and Android Auto allow for Google maps and I honestly don't mind the smaller 8" digital display for the driver. The base stereo wasn't that bad compared to the mid-level HK either. The default auto braking system when backing into traffic was a little startling at first - especially in city traffic. But I had no problem reducing the sensitivity through the touch screen. Then again, I’m the type of guy who really enjoys going through the manual and clicking through every feature until I am familiar with the system. I actually love how many things are customizable. A lot of journalists complain about the HVAC controls in the touch screen however I use the voice command system to adjust the temp. with no issues. This was in the running with the top trim Subaru Outback and VW Alltrack. The Alltrack was a little more tossable in the corners even with its lifted ride height. I really was surprised by how much fun it was to drive - so much so that we test drove it twice! The VW was definitely the runner-up simply for its driving dynamics. The Outback’s CVT was a deal breaker - not mention it’s hideous looking (subjective, I know). The only thing I really enjoyed about the Subaru was how big it felt on the inside - especially the back seats. In the end we chose the base Volvo for a few thousand more. It’s more comfortable, quiet, and luxurious inside. The egress and ingress is what you’d expect compared to a CUV but I don’t have any issues putting my kid in his rear-facing child seat. The cargo is big enough for our family’s needs. I totally get why people hate on the new Volvo touch screen. Having the HVAC on the screen is definitely not my preference but the Volvo voice command system is great. We test drove a lot of CUVs and wagons (Outback, Alltrack, TourX, Hybrid Rav4, etc) and the Volvo screen was by far the most responsive - especially with the new chip update. Luckily there is still a button for max defrost. Would I prefer more physical buttons? Sure. But have you seen the body lines on the V60 wagon? It’s a worthy trade-off. In the end, it’s by far the most beautiful car I’ve ever owned. I’ve never looked back at my car in the parking lot until owning this V60. ** UPDATE ** Still love this wagon! If I had to find a minor complaint it would be the city fuel economy. Most of my driving is around town and not on the freeway. The sticker said 24mpg city but I've been lucky to get 20mpg over more than a year. That's pretty bad for a four cylinder engine right? Otherwise this is still the best looking wagon on the market and I still love the City Weave seats.

15 Day European Vacation on Volvo (V60 R On Order)

Paul P., 07/31/2019

2020 Volvo V60 T5 R-Design 4dr Wagon (2.0L 4cyl Turbo 8A)

Last of European Car Companies to offer R/T air and lodging for their Overseas Delivery Program. Order custom options with 8% off MSRP and drive with full coverage and registration for 15 days as an additional incentive. FYI, the T6 is not available for 2020 contrary to info stated. T5 has a Polestar Option ($1166) which adds 28 HP to the base 250 turbo and bumps ft lbs to 317 from …

V60Cross Country

Tim M, 07/25/2019

2019 Volvo V60 T5 Momentum 4dr Wagon (2.0L 4cyl Turbo 8A)

First 2500 miles, the T5 Cross Country is quick and responsive. Physically, it's about the size of the XC70 but has more back seat room. You loose a little cargo room, but the kids are happier. The infotanment is an IPad, if you can't use it, give up on tech. By far the easiest system. Grown clearance is close to most crossovers It's fun to drive

Long Live Wagons!

JAR, 10/30/2022

2020 Volvo V60 T5 Momentum 4dr Wagon (2.0L 4cyl Turbo 8A)

This is the fourth Volvo I have owned, I love that it provides me with the driving stability of a car but the capacity to haul stuff like an SUV, perhaps even better because the low ground clearance makes putting things in the trunk area or getting them out extremely easy, I also love to know I drive a vehicle that not many people chose, so it makes me unique. The most important factor …

We have a limited number of reviews for the 2021 Volvo V60, so we've included reviews for other years of the V60 since its last redesign.

See all 8 reviews of the Volvo V60

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2021 V60 Highlights

Type:

Wagon

Trim:

T5 Momentum

Base MSRP Excludes Destination Fee	$40,950
Engine Type	Gas
Combined MPG	27 MPG
Cost to Drive	$169/month
Seating	5 seats
Cargo Capacity All Seats In Place	23.2 cu.ft.
Drivetrain	front wheel drive
Warranty	4 years / 50,000 miles

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Safety

Our experts like the V60 models:

Blind Spot Information System (BLIS): Warns if another vehicle is lurking in your blind spot, and cross-traffic alert lets you know if something is approaching as you back out.
City Safety Collision Avoidance: Warns if a collision with a vehicle, pedestrian, cyclist or animal is imminent and applies the brakes if the driver doesn't react in time.
Run-Off Road Mitigation: Scans the road to detect if the vehicle may run off the road and automatically tightens the seat belts in preparation.

NHTSA Overall Rating

The National Highway Transportation Safety Administration offers independent analysis.

Frontal Barrier Crash Rating
Overall4 / 5
Driver5 / 5
Passenger4 / 5
Side Crash Rating
Overall5 / 5
Side Barrier Rating
Overall5 / 5
Driver5 / 5
Passenger5 / 5
Combined Side Barrier & Pole Ratings
Front Seat5 / 5
Back Seat5 / 5
Rollover
Rollover5 / 5
Dynamic Test ResultNo Tip
Risk Of Rollover9.9%

IIHS Rating

The Insurance Institute of Highway Safety uses extensive crash tests to determine car safety.

Small Overlap Front Driver-Side Test
Good
Small Overlap Front Passenger-Side Test
Good
Moderate Overlap Front Test – Original
Good
Moderate Overlap Front Test – Updated
Not Tested
Side Impact Test – Original
Good
Side Impact Test – Updated
Not Tested
Roof Strength Test
Good
Rear Crash Protection / Head Restraint
Good

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2021 Volvo V60 Review

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2021 Volvo V60T5 R-Design Wagon

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2021 Volvo V60T5 Inscription Wagon

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2021 Volvo V60T8 Polestar Engineered Wagon

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Certified 2021 Volvo V60T8 Polestar Engineered Wagon

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Certified 2021 Volvo V60T8 Polestar Engineered Wagon

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2021 Volvo V60 Review

Pros

Cons

What's new

Overview

Cost to DriveCost to drive estimates for the 2021 Volvo V60 T5 Momentum 4dr Wagon (2.0L 4cyl Turbo 8A) and comparison vehicles are based on 15,000 miles per year (with a mix of 55% city and 45% highway driving) and energy estimates of $3.77 per gallon for premium unleaded in Virginia.

Edmunds Expert Rating

Performance

Comfort

Interior

Technology

Storage

Fuel Economy

Value

Wildcard

Which V60 does Edmunds recommend?

2021 Volvo V60 models

Reliability Ratings by RepairPal

Cost

Frequency

Severity

Most helpful consumer reviews

I bought the cheapest V60 in the US and I love it!

15 Day European Vacation on Volvo (V60 R On Order)

V60Cross Country

Long Live Wagons!

2021 V60 Highlights

Safety

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Certified 2021 Volvo V60
T8 Polestar Engineered Wagon

Certified 2021 Volvo V60
T8 Polestar Engineered Wagon

Cost to Drive^{Cost to drive estimates for the 2021 Volvo V60 T5 Momentum 4dr Wagon (2.0L 4cyl Turbo 8A) and comparison vehicles are based on 15,000 miles per year (with a mix of 55% city and 45% highway driving) and energy estimates of $3.77 per gallon for premium unleaded in Virginia.}