Volvo V60 estate - MPG, running costs & CO2

Volvo has made waves by announcing it would only launch electrified (mild-hybrid, plug-in hybrid or battery electric) models from 2019 and that the Swedish brand is targeting 50% EV sales by 2025. There’s a very good chance you’re looking at the last Volvo to be launched with a conventional diesel engine – the company has already announced the S60 saloon won’t be getting one.

There’s still a place for the diesel in the V60, though, particularly if you have a high annual mileage and often head out on the motorway, where extra fuel efficiency starts to pay dividends.

Volvo V60 MPG & CO2

The entry-level V60 diesel B4 (D) is fitted with a 2.0-litre engine, returning up to 55.3mpg and emitting from 135g/km of CO2, depending on trim level. The V60 is popular with company-car drivers and these figures result in the B4 (D) sitting in a middling Benefit-in-Kind (BiK) band. The raised height and four-wheel drive of the V60 Cross Country limits its fuel economy to 48.6mpg, with CO2 emissions from 153g/km.

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Despite their significant power differences, the B3, B4 and B5 petrol models with front-wheel drive and the same automatic gearbox all share a top fuel economy figure of just over 40mpg and CO2 emissions from 152 to 170g/km. The B6 is worse, mostly owing to its four-wheel drive, returning up to 36.2mpg and emitting 175g/km, and every petrol V60 sits in a high BiK band.

If you want to run a petrol V60 company car, the T6 Recharge and V60 T8 Twin Engine plug-in hybrid have the lowest CO2 emissions of less than 60g/km, and therefore the lowest BiK bands, but they also costs quite a bit more to buy. Thanks to a battery pack and electric motors, both have a zero-emission driving range of up over 30 miles, resulting in an official fuel-efficiency figure of 113-156.9mpg.

Every non-hybrid Volvo V60 will cost £150 a year to tax, but spending more than £40,000 (including options) will incur a surcharge of £325 in years two to six, bringing the total to £475 in that period. Hybrid versions cost £10 a year less to tax.

Insurance groups

In entry-level B3 Momentum form, the V60 falls into insurance group 26, the same group as the B4 (D) diesel engine. The Recharge T6 plug-in hybrid sits in group 31.

Warranty

Volvo offers a fairly typical three-year or 60,000-mile warranty, which matches the VW Passat, but BMW and Mercedes do slightly better by removing the mileage limit.

Servicing

Volvo models typically need servicing once a year, and fall under the Volvo Service Promise, a set of guarantees that include a personal service advisor to assist with any questions, a car health check and free software upgrades. Cars serviced by Volvo are also given complimentary annual roadside cover. Volvo has also launched Care by Volvo – a subscription service with a flat monthly fee that includes the car itself and costs like servicing, making payments as simple as a mobile phone contract.