2024 Volvo S60 Expert Review
Reviewed by Bob Hernandez
The 2024 Volvo S60 is the smaller and more affordable of the Swedish brand's two sedans. Slated for discontinuation after the 2024 model year, the S60 is available in mild hybrid and plug-in hybrid variants. Volvo offers, and will continue to offer, a wagon the related V60 wagon. Compact luxury competitors include the BMW 3 Series and Audi A4.
What's New
The third-generation S60 received significant updates for 2023 that included exterior and interior styling revisions, more technology, and a makeover of the sedan's trim level structure. For 2024, changes consist of:
- Standard metallic exterior paint and Dark theme on all 2024 S60s; the Bright theme has been retired
- Vapour Grey Metallic exterior color replaces Black Stone
- The Black Edition is no longer optional for Core and B5 AWD models—only for the S60 FWD and Recharge
- Black Edition models feature standard open-grid Nappa leather seating upholstery
- The Climate package for B5 FWD models adds heated rear seats but deletes the air purifier, which is now standard on Plus and Ultimate trims
- The Ultimate trim level is no longer available for B5 FWD models
- S60 Polestar Engineered has been discontinued
What We Think
If the Mercedes C-Class and BMW 3 Series are too trendy for your tastes, consider the Volvo S60. We've always been fans of the third-gen car's capacious cabin and distinctive interior and exterior design. As a Recharge plug-in hybrid, it delivers the best of two worlds, supplying satisfying quickness alongside 40 miles of electric range and strong efficiency numbers.
The most efficient models—the S60 PHEVs—are the least affordable and come with less passenger and cargo space to accommodate the bigger battery. Regardless of powertrain, infotainment menus are needlessly complex and unintuitive. And although it can hustle, we wouldn't characterize the S60 as sporty—at a minimum, better tires would go a long way to improve performance. That said, the 2024 S60's benefits outweigh its shortcomings, making it an easy recommendation.
Performance and MPGs
Powertrain choices remain unchanged from last year. All 2024 S60 are equipped with an eight-speed automatic transmission, and with the B5's 2.0-liter turbo four-cylinder, the S60 develops 247 hp and 258 lb-ft of torque. Fuel economy ratings are best for FWD examples at 26/35 mpg city/highway and 477 miles of range in combined city and highway driving. The B5 AWD S60 gets slightly worse 25/33 mpg city/highway and 445 miles of range.
With no B6 model anymore, the next step up is the S60 Recharge T8. A plug-in hybrid, the 2024 S60 Recharge adds a bigger battery pack, rear e-motor, and more boost from the turbo. Output jumps to 455 hp and 523 lb-ft of torque, and every Recharge is AWD. Efficiency for the 2024 version should equal the 2023, which saw 74 mpg-e combined, 530 miles of total range, and 40 miles of all-electric range.
How Quick Is the 2024 S60?
Volvo pegs the B5 FWD's 0-60-mph time at 6.4 seconds and 0.2 second quicker with the B5 AWD. For top speed, though, you want the Recharge T8 plug-in hybrid. A 2023 version we tested reached the 60-mph threshold in an impressive 4.0 seconds. That's a second quicker than the rival 2023 BMW 330e PHEV and just 0.1 second off the pace of the manual-equipped 2023 Toyota Supra 3.0 sports car.
Safety Ratings and Features
NHTSA gives the 2024 S60 B5 FWD and AWD models the agency's highest grade, a five-star overall safety rating, but has not rated the T8 plug-in hybrid. In IIHS testing, the last two model years have not earned the institute's highest ratings because they have yet to undergo updated tests. The last S60 to get IIHS' Top Safety Pick+ rating was the 2022 model.
Lane keeping, evasive steering, and rear parking sensors are standard, as are monitoring for blind spots, rear cross traffic, and road signs. The 2024 S60 Plus unlocks standard adaptive cruise control as well as front and side parking sensors.
Cargo Space and Interior Room
Front legroom in the S60 compares favorably to the 2024 Audi A4 and BMW 3 Series. The Volvo falls short in relative trunk volume despite being longer and wider than its rivals.
2024 Audi A4
41.3/35.7 inches
12.0 cubic feet
2024 BMW 3 Series
42.0/35.2 inches
17.0 cubic feet
Technology
A 9.0-inch central touchscreen, Apple CarPlay and Android Auto compatibility, 10-speaker audio, 12.0-inch gauge cluster display, powered front seats, and ambient lighting are standard technology on the 2024 S60 Core base model.
Moving up to the Plus trim unlocks a 360-degree camera. The S60 Ultimate gets a 14-speaker Harman Kardon sound system, head-up display, heated front seats, and a powered front passenger seat.
Trim Levels and Pricing
The 2024 Volvo S60 is available with three trims this year: Core, Plus, and Ultimate. Front-wheel drive is offered only on the two lowest trims, where available all-wheel drive commands a $2,300 premium.
- 2024 Volvo S60 Core B5 FWD - $43,095
- 2024 Volvo S60 Core B5 AWD - $45,395
- 2024 Volvo S60 Plus B5 FWD - $46,045
- 2024 Volvo S60 Plus B5 AWD - $48,345
- 2024 Volvo S60 Ultimate B5 AWD - $50,845
- 2024 Volvo S60 Recharge Core T8 AWD - $53,045
- 2024 Volvo S60 Recharge Plus T8 AWD - $55,995
- 2024 Volvo S60 Recharge Ultimate T8 AWD - $58,495
Pricing of 2024 Volvo S60 models is accurate at time of writing
