Used Volvo S60 Buying Guide
The S60 is Volvo’s compact executive saloon, a quietly handsome rival to the BMW 3 Series that has always prioritised comfort and safety over sportiness. Used buyers can choose from three generations: the curvy original (2000-2009), the sleeker second car (2010-2018) and the current third generation (2019 onwards), which went petrol-and-hybrid-only in the UK. It suits drivers who want executive-car refinement without following the German herd.
Engines and trims
Second-generation cars are the used mainstay, and diesels rule: the economical D2, five-cylinder D3 and D4, the strong D5, and from 2013-2014 the excellent four-cylinder D4 Drive-E, which combines brisk pace with impressive economy. Petrol T3-T6 versions are rare in the UK. Trims ran ES, SE, SE Lux and R-Design, with Business editions plentiful from fleet sales.
The third generation dropped diesel entirely for the UK, offering the T5 petrol, B4 and B5 mild hybrids and the T8 (plus Polestar Engineered) Recharge plug-in hybrid, in Momentum, R-Design and Inscription trims, later Plus and Ultimate. A B4/B5 suits most buyers; the T8 offers serious pace and low commuting costs if you can charge at home. First-generation cars are now cheap older buys — the D5 diesel and T5 petrol are the ones with a following, and tidy examples are increasingly appreciated as modern classics rather than mere transport.
What to check before buying
On older five-cylinder diesels, listen from cold for injector knock and check for smoke and hesitancy — injector and EGR issues surface at higher mileages, and short-trip cars invite DPF trouble on anything with a filter. Every diesel and Drive-E engine here is belt-driven, so timing belt history is non-negotiable on older or higher-mileage examples. First-generation cars deserve age-related checks: suspension bushes, subframe corrosion, electric niggles and tired automatic gearboxes without fluid-change evidence.
On second-generation cars, confirm the City Safety system shows no faults and the electric handbrake (where fitted) operates cleanly. On third-generation cars, test the Sensus touchscreen for lag and freezes and check for completed software updates. T8 and Polestar Engineered examples need a hybrid battery health check, proof of regular charging and confirmation of remaining battery warranty. On all generations, favour cars with a thick service file — many S60s were high-mileage fleet machines, which is fine only when the maintenance record backs it up. Check tyre brands and wear patterns too: mismatched budget rubber and feathered fronts hint at penny-pinching ownership, while uneven rear wear on Mk2 cars can point to tired suspension bushes needing attention.
Running costs
A D4 Drive-E is the economy standout, capable of excellent real-world figures on a commute, while the newer B4/B5 mild hybrids suit mixed use. The T8 Recharge is cheap to run only with regular home charging and carries Volvo’s typical eight-year/100,000-mile high-voltage battery warranty. Insurance spans modest groups for small diesels up to high groups for the Polestar Engineered. Independent Volvo specialists keep servicing affordable across all generations, and parts supply is strong even for the oldest cars.
Verdict
The S60 is a comfortable, safe and slightly leftfield executive saloon that rewards buyers who shop on history rather than badge. A documented Mk2 D4 is superb value; a Mk3 B5 or charged-at-home T8 makes a fine newer buy. Avoid neglected short-trip diesels and it’s an easy car to live with.
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