MotorTrend will often get a loaner vehicle of a particular model and review how well it performed when they had it. This time, they received a 2019 Volvo S60, and they put it to the test for one entire year. Along with the vehicle, they also receive any warranties that the automaker offers.

As they tested it out, they paid attention to its performance in various situations and how well its safety features behaved in certain circumstances. The reviewing author also explained how much maintenance he needed to take during his time testing it out. Let’s see how much it cost to maintain it during that one year. 

One year’s worth of services for the Volvo S60

During the year MotorTrend had the vehicle, the S60 went in for routine maintenance as scheduled. Because Volvo’s free maintenance plan covers the first three visits at 10, 20, and 30,000 miles, they never had to hand over a dime. Volvo took care of that. 

When you compare it to other vehicles, the Volvo saved a substantial amount of money. For example, their 2018 Alfa Romeo Giulia cost them a total of $465.55 for maintenance during the year they tested it. 

The story was the same for the 2017 Audi A4 2.0 Quattro, except the price was even higher. For all the oil changes and inspections performed with the Audi sedan, they paid a total of $561.36 in maintenance fees. 

The 2019 Genesis G70 had the same plan as Volvo, where maintenance was covered for a limited number of visits. However, MotorTrend testers had to take the vehicle in for an unscheduled visit with very low mileage on the car. 

They had to have the transmission and transmission control unit replaced. While it didn’t cost them any money, it was still somewhat jarring to have a major repair like that done so early on. 

The unexpected dealer visits that came up during that year

MotorTrend made three unscheduled stops at the dealer while they had the Volvo S60 in their possession. Two of the three times were for the same problem. 

The check engine light warned of an issue happening with the emissions tubes. They took it into the dealer who could replace them with parts they had on hand. A few months later, the same warning light showed up, and back to the dealer, it went. Again, they replaced the tubes, and MotorTrend got back on the road within a couple of hours. 

The last visit was for a problem they had closing the sunroof. It started making some unusual noises, and then it just wouldn’t close. The issue took a good portion of one day to resolve. In the end, though, none of these visits cost MotorTrend any money. 

Was the Volvo S60 a good vehicle?

Despite the unforeseen problems cropping up, the editors felt the Volvo sedan was a pretty good vehicle based on its performance during the year they had it. 

The S60 had over 19,000 miles logged onto it. It went on two cross-country trips on two different occasions, plus it went through some icy conditions in New Mexico on a separate occasion. Each time the S60 handled itself well while delivering a comfortable ride. 

Powering up MotorTrend’s T6 model was a 2.0-liter turbocharged four-cylinder producing 316 hp and 295 lb-ft of torque. The author liked the energetic appeal it had, even after he drove it for a year. 

The Pilot Assist Tech suite, Volvo’s line of driver’s assistance features, really impressed the author. But, unfortunately, it doesn’t come standard on the Volvo S60. However, you can get it with the Advanced Package that will cost $2,500, which is well worth it. 

The Volvo maintenance plan covered all the regular scheduled visits you would have for the first three years or the first 36,000 miles of ownership. Long-term costs to maintain after that wouldn’t likely cost very much every year.