Volvo V60 estate - MPG, running costs & CO2
The Volvo V60 is one of the last diesel cars from the brand but that shouldn’t detract from their merits
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.
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.
