Verdict
B
Saloon · Sweden · 2000-Present
Volvo S60
Volvo S60 — spec data and generation history.
Years
2000-Present
Generations
3
Segment
Saloon
Volvo's compact executive saloon — three generations on UK roads. Mk1 P24 (2000–2009) was the long-running Ford-era car with the warbling 5-cyl T5 hot variant; S60 R (2003–2007) added 296 bhp and AWD as a halo. Mk2 P3 (2010–2018) was based on Ford's EUCD platform with the Polestar variant on top (367 bhp inline-6 at peak). Mk3 P234/SPA (2018-Present) is on Volvo's in-house SPA platform — petrol B5/B6 mild-hybrid and the T8 PHEV (up to 455 bhp Polestar Engineered). Saloon-only since Mk3 (V60 estate is its own slug); UK volume now eclipsed by the V60 estate.
What changed
Era-to-era deltas
Mk1 P24 2000-2009 → Mk2 P3 2010-2018
BHP +71 bhp (top, Polestar)
Torque +170 Nm
0-62 mph -0.7 s
Top speed +0 mph
MPG +5 mpg
Mk2 P3 2010-2018 → Mk3 P234 2018-Present
BHP +88 bhp (top, T8 Polestar)
Torque +239 Nm
0-62 mph -0.5 s
Top speed +0 mph
MPG +95 mpg (PHEV)
Generations
Click any generation for the full deep dive
2000-2009
Mk1 P24
→
S60 R (2.5 turbo) — 296 bhp, 0-62 in 5.7s.
Verdict
C
BHP
296
0–60
5.7 s
Top
155 mph
MPG
19 mpg
Used
$1,000-$11,000
- + 5-cyl warble
- + S60 R AWD halo
- − ETM throttle module
- − AW55 auto reliability
2010-2018
Mk2 P3
→
Polestar (3.0 inline-6 turbo) — 367 bhp, 0-62 in 5.0s.
Verdict
B
BHP
367
0–60
5.0 s
Top
155 mph
MPG
23 mpg
Used
$4,400-$23,000
- + Polestar inline-6 cult
- + Cross Country trim added
- − Powershift DCT issues
- − Sensus dated
2018-Present
Mk3 P234
→
T8 Polestar Engineered — 455 bhp, 0-62 in 4.5s.
Verdict
B
BHP
455
0–60
4.5 s
Top
155 mph
MPG
94 mpg
Used
$23,000-$70,000
- + SPA platform refinement
- + T8 Polestar Engineered hot PHEV
- − Sensus / Android Automotive crashes
- − No diesel from 2020
Known issues by generation
Common faults reported on each generation — useful when shopping the used market.
2000-2009 · Mk1 P24
- ETM throttle module
- Auto box solenoid (AW55)
- PCV breather
- 5-cyl turbo wear
2010-2018 · Mk2 P3
- DPF on D5 diesel
- Powershift DCT (Ford)
- AdBlue dosing
- Sensus infotainment ageing
2018-Present · Mk3 P234
- T8 PHEV battery thermal
- Sensus / Android Auto crashes
- 12V battery drain
- D-/B-series timing chain on early diesels
Rivals
BMW 3 Series · Audi A4 · Mercedes C-Class · Jaguar XE