Volvo S60 review - Reliability and Safety

Volvo takes safety very seriously and is on a mission to ensure that there are no deaths in its cars by 2020. The S60 takes the Swedish manufacturer one step closer to that goal with a five-star safety rating from Euro NCAP, with a fantastic 96 per cent score in the adult occupant category and 84 per cent for child occupants.

The S60 comes as standard with a comprehensive suite of active safety and driver assistance equipment, although Volvo’s Pilot Assist system with adaptive cruise control, plus cross-traffic alert, rear collision mitigation and a rear parking camera is only part of the Intellisafe Pro pack, which costs around £1,650. Pilot Assist stands as one of the most intuitive systems we’ve used – its combination of lane-keep assistance and stop-go adaptive cruise makes for a very relaxing long-distance motorway experience.

The S60 is too new to have featured in our Driver Power survey, but the closely related XC60 SUV achieved a strong 16th-place finish overall out of 100 in the 2019 poll. It received good results for reliability and interior quality, while a below-average 13.7 per cent of owners reported experiencing an issue with their car. Volvo itself finished 13th overall out of 30 manufacturers, which was ahead of the prestige German brands.

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Warranty

As with all Volvo models, the S60 gets a three-year/60,000 mile warranty which is just about standard for the class. However, BMW's similar coverage has no mileage limit and Audi offers unlimited mileage in the first year. There’s a paint warranty for three years and a corrosion warranty that covers the S60 for 12 years.

Servicing

Volvo dealers offer their own service plans, so prices vary and may not compare directly to country-wide offers from rivals. Twelve months of roadside assistance is included and there’s a free software update every time you book your car in for a service.