![A red Volvo S60 on a country road](/https/www.telegraph.co.uk/content/dam/motoring2/2015/12/01/1-Volvo-S60-main-image_trans_NvBQzQNjv4BqZgEkZX3M936N5BQK4Va8Rd8oAmGZYX8Vqbq2hlobTFc.jpg?imwidth=680)
2016 Volvo S60 review
![A red Volvo S60 on a country road](/https/www.telegraph.co.uk/content/dam/motoring2/2015/12/01/1-Volvo-S60-main-image_trans_NvBQzQNjv4BqZgEkZX3M936N5BQK4Va8Rd8oAmGZYX8Vqbq2hlobTFc.jpg?imwidth=680)
Volvos have always been solid and safe, but the team behind the latest S60 were told to make it sporty as well.
It certainly looks the part, thanks to its sleek shape and a steeply angled rear window that flows into an abruptly cut off rear end.
However, the S60 is still available with the latest safety technology, and with prices starting at just over £20,000, it's considerably cheaper than German rivals.
- Latest deals: Check Volvo S60 lease prices
Space 6/10
Fine for four, but boot is smaller than rivals’
![The boot of a Volvo S60](/https/www.telegraph.co.uk/content/dam/motoring2/2015/12/01/2-Volvo-S60-space-1_trans_NvBQzQNjv4BqpVlberWd9EgFPZtcLiMQf1X_50byq9Ah3wJAV0YS_Ms.jpg?imwidth=350)
Four adults will have plenty of head and legroom, but the shape of the rear seats makes life uncomfortable for a fifth person.
In-car stowage is more impressive, thanks to door bins front and rear, a decent sized glovebox and cubbies between the front seats, although the space behind the dashboard - a Volvo trademark - isn’t particularly useful.
While the S60’s boot is easily big enough for a weekend’s luggage, the Audi A4, BMW 3-series and Mercedes C-class all offer more space.
Comfort 7/10
You have to choose your model with care
![The rear passenger seats in a Volvo S60](/https/www.telegraph.co.uk/content/dam/motoring2/2015/12/01/3-Volvo-S60-comfort-1_trans_NvBQzQNjv4BqpVlberWd9EgFPZtcLiMQf1X_50byq9Ah3wJAV0YS_Ms.jpg?imwidth=350)
The front seats are comfortable and supportive, plus they get lumbar adjustment as standard. The one thing that lets the driving position down is the fact there's no rest for your left foot.
Go for the R-Design specification, and the S60 also thumps over bumps and potholes. Fortunately, other models have softer suspension and are generally pretty forgiving.
The D4 diesel engine is even more impressive, staying smooth and quiet at all times. Its a much better option than the other diesels, which transmit vibration into the car and sound boomy on the motorway.
Dashboard layout 7/10
Some lovely touches, but too many fiddly controls
![The dashboard and steering wheel of a Volvo S60](/https/www.telegraph.co.uk/content/dam/motoring2/2015/12/01/4-Volvo-S60-dashboard-layout-1_trans_NvBQzQNjv4BqpVlberWd9EgFPZtcLiMQf1X_50byq9Ah3wJAV0YS_Ms.jpg?imwidth=350)
Most of the controls in the S60 are angled towards the driver to make them easy to reach. And Volvo offers neat, customisable instruments that let you choose what information is displayed and the prominence it’s given.
Human-shaped buttons, which allow you to direct airflow to different parts of your body are another inspired touch.
Unfortunately, the buttons and knobs for the stereo, vehicle settings and satnav are nowhere near as user-friendly; they’re small, confusingly arranged and rather distracting to use while driving.
At least the dashboard looks refreshingly different and is built from materials that feel classy.
Easy to drive 7/10
Make sure you avoid the weakest engine
The D2 diesel engine forces you to change gear a lot, just to keep up with traffic. And this is made all the more frustrating by Volvo’s manual gearbox, which has a long and vague shift action.
We’d recommend upgrading to the D4 diesel, which is much stronger than the D2. And the optional automatic gearbox on this model is also worth considering; it changes gear intelligently, whereas the auto that’s available with the D2 is rather slow-witted.
The S60’s steering is light enough to make parking easy, and there are no major blind spots to worry about.
Fun to drive 4/10
Plenty of rivals are better here
![A Volvo S60 on a country road](/https/www.telegraph.co.uk/content/dam/motoring2/2015/12/01/3-Volvo-S60-comfort-2_trans_NvBQzQNjv4Bq5yQLQqeH37t50SCyM4-zeANk0otr_6CEXAcpOBSblM8.jpg?imwidth=350)
Unless you opt for the R-Design specification - and accept the uncomfortable ride that this brings - the S60 doesn’t feel particularly well controlled when you turn into a corner at speed.
Vague steering further undermines confidence, so the Audi A3 saloon and BMW 3-series are both a lot more fun to drive.
Reliability 9/10
Volvo has an excellent customer satisfaction record
This is clearly an S60 strength, because it finished eighth out of 116 cars in the 2013 JD Power customer satisfaction survey.
Volvo also matches Audi in offering a warranty that lasts for three years or 60,000 miles, whichever comes first. However, BMW is slightly more generous here, covering the 3-series for three years, no matter how many miles you do.
Fuel economy 9/10
Up with the class leaders if you have a manual gearbox
The D2 and D4 diesel models both average over 70mpg in official Government tests, which puts them in line with the most efficient versions of the BMW 3-series. However, those figure do fall slightly if you specify an automatic gearbox, whereas the 3-series is just as efficient with an auto as it is with a manual.
On the other hand, the S60 is more efficient than the Audi A4 and the Mercedes C-class, whichever gearbox you choose.
Affordability 9/10
Attractively priced and affordable to run
The S60 is priced to undercut most of its German rivals. And while it doesn’t hold its value as well, it should still cost you less than an Audi A4, BMW 3-series or Mercedes C-class; only Audi’s A3 saloon makes a cheaper private buy.
Servicing and insurance bills are also comparatively low. And the S60’s low list prices combine with competitive CO2 emissions to make it a relatively affordable company car choice.
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Safety 8/10
Available with some very sophisticated driver aids
![An illustration of City Safety, where a Volvo S60 can recognise pedestrians and cyclists ahead. It is part of the optional Driver Support Pack](/https/www.telegraph.co.uk/content/dam/motoring2/2015/12/01/8-Volvo-S60-safety-2_trans_NvBQzQNjv4BqgsaO8O78rhmZrDxTlQBjdMrCYOIHjH5ODDpJLCunRBI.jpg?imwidth=350)
Independent crash test specialists Euro NCAP are still to assess the S60, but they gave the estate version of the car (the V60) their maximum five-star rating.
Just bear in mind that the rival BMW 3-series scored even better for adult occupant, child occupant and pedestrian protection.
The list of standard safety features on the S60 includes six airbags, a system that reduces the likelihood of a skid, and a City Safety system that stops you running into the car in front in stop-start traffic.
And you can add an optional Driver Support Pack, which brings systems that warn if there’s a vehicle in your blind spot and help you stay in lane, as well as a more sophisticated version of City Safety, which recognises pedestrians and cyclists.
Standard spec 9/10
Cheapest model comes very well equipped
![The multimedia display screen in a Volvo S60](/https/www.telegraph.co.uk/content/dam/motoring2/2015/12/01/9-Volvo-S60-standard-spec-1_trans_NvBQzQNjv4Bq5yQLQqeH37t50SCyM4-zeERf_Wk3V23H2268P_XkPxc.jpg?imwidth=350)
The entry-level S60 is the Business Edition. Designed to tempt company car drivers, it comes with climate and cruise control, a digital radio, rear parking sensors, a Bluetooth hands-free phone connection and satellite-navigation.
The pricier SE specification adds automatic windscreen wipers and flashier interior and exterior trim. But, strangely, you lose the digital radio and satnav system.
Alternatively, if you want your S60 to look and feel sportier there’s the R-Design spec, which brings larger wheels, more aggressively styled bumpers and front sports seats. It returns the Business Edition’s digital radio, too, but satnav remains a cost option.
Finally, Volvo offers Lux versions of both the SE and the R-design, with leather upholstery, an electrically adjustable driver’s seat and more powerful, Xenon headlights.
Our favourite version
D4 Business Edition, list price £24,545
Options you should add: Geartronic automatic gearbox (£1550) and metallic paint (£625)
The verdict 7/10
For all the talk of a newfound sportiness, the S60 remains very ordinary to drive compared with Audi’s A3 saloon or BMW’s 3-series. Instead, the S60 is a safe and stylish choice, and if you choose the D4 diesel engine, it’s a quiet, powerful and fuel-efficient one, too.