Verdict
The Mk3 is a major step up in pace and daily technology: its 320 hp petrol unit, 87 hp motor and 11.6 kWh battery bring a 49 km EV range, while 400 Nm arrives from 1,200 rpm and 0-100 km/h takes 4.4 seconds. The Mk2’s 180 hp, 240 Nm 1.6-litre is far less urgent at 9.0 seconds, but its RM90 annual road tax versus RM365 matters if you cannot charge regularly. The newer car also adds all-wheel drive, a 442-litre boot and far stronger driver assistance.
Pick the Volvo S60 Mk2 Facelift if lower annual road tax, a 68-litre fuel tank and a 5-year unlimited-mileage warranty with free service matter more than outright performance.
Pick the Volvo S60 Mk3 if you can charge at home and want 49 km of EV driving, 4.4-second acceleration, all-wheel drive and substantially newer safety and cabin technology.
Key differences
- Performance: Mk2 has 180 hp, 240 Nm and a 9.0-second 0-100 km/h time; Mk3 has 320 hp, 400 Nm and takes 4.4 seconds.
- Electrified driving: Mk2 is petrol-only; Mk3 is a plug-in hybrid with one 87 hp/240 Nm motor, an 11.6 kWh battery and 49 km EV range.
- Running costs: Mk2 road tax is RM90 yearly and rated economy is 6.8 L/100 km; Mk3 road tax is RM365 yearly and rated economy is 2.0 L/100 km.
- Driveline and gearbox: Mk2 is front-wheel drive with a six-speed Powershift dual-clutch; Mk3 is all-wheel drive with an eight-speed Geartronic automatic.
- Practicality: Mk2 measures 4,628 mm long with a 2,776 mm wheelbase and 380-litre boot; Mk3 is 4,761 mm, 2,872 mm and 442 litres.
- Safety technology: Mk2 autonomous braking operates up to 50 km/h and has no lane-keeping assist; Mk3 adds steering correction, collision warning and…
Mk2 Facelift
- RM90 annual road tax versus RM365.
- 68-litre fuel tank versus 60 litres.
- Five-year unlimited-mileage warranty, including free service and Volvo on Call.
- 180 hp and 240 Nm leave it 4.6 seconds slower to 100 km/h.
- No plug-in system or 49 km EV range.
- No lane-keeping assist, front parking sensors, 360-degree camera or head-up display.
Mk3
- 320 hp, 400 Nm, all-wheel drive and a 4.4-second 0-100 km/h time.
- 49 km EV range from an 11.6 kWh battery.
- 442-litre boot, active cruise control, 360-degree camera and Park Assist Pilot.
- RM365 annual road tax, against RM90 for the Mk2.
- At 2,041 kg, it is 490 kg heavier than the Mk2.
- 60-litre fuel tank, 8 litres smaller than the Mk2’s.
| Price & overview | ||
|---|---|---|
| Price | RM221,888✓ | RM282,540 |
| Body type | Sedan | Sedan |
| Segment | Compact Executive | Compact Executive |
| Assembly | CKD | CKD |
| Ownership | ||
| Road tax / year | RM90✓ | RM365 |
| Powertrain | ||
| Engine Tech | 16-valve DOHC direct injection with turbocharger, variable valve timing | 16-valve DOHC direct injection with turbocharger, supercharger, variable valve timing |
| Capacity | 1,596 cc | 1,969 cc |
| Horsepower | 180 hp at 5,700 rpm | 320 hp at 5,700 rpm✓ |
| Torque | 240 Nm at 1,600 rpm | 400 Nm at 1,200 rpm✓ |
| Cylinder Arrangement | Inline 4 | Inline 4 |
| Fuel | Petrol | Petrol Plug-in Hybrid |
| Bore × Stroke | 79 mm × 81.4 mm | 82 mm × 93.2 mm |
| Compression Ratio | 10 | 10.3 |
| Number of Motors | — | 1 |
| Motor Horsepower | — | 87 hp✓ |
| Motor Torque | — | 240 Nm✓ |
| Battery Capacity | — | 11.6 kWh |
| EV Range | — | 49 km✓ |
| Charging Rate (AC) | — | 3.7 kW |
| Drivetrain | ||
| Transmission | Dual-clutch Automatic (Dry) | Conventional Automatic |
| Transmission Name | 6 Speed Powershift | 8-Speed Geartronic |
| Gears | 6 | 8 |
| Transmission Manufacturer | Getrag | Aisin |
| Driveline | Front Wheel Drive | All Wheel Drive |
| Performance & Efficiency | ||
| 0-100 km/h | 9 seconds | 4.4 seconds✓ |
| Rated Economy | 6.8 L/100 km | 2 L/100 km✓ |
| Top Speed | 225 km/h | 250 km/h✓ |
| Co2 | 159 g/km | 46 g/km✓ |
| Dimensions | ||
| Length | 4,628 mm | 4,761 mm |
| Width | 1,865 mm | 1,850 mm |
| Height | 1,484 mm | 1,431 mm |
| Wheelbase | 2,776 mm | 2,872 mm |
| Weight | 1,551 kg | 2,041 kg |
| Fuel Tank | 68 litres | 60 litres |
| Doors | 4 | 4 |
| Seats | 5 | 5 |
| Boot Space | 380 litres | 442 litres✓ |
| Front Tyre | 215/50R17 | 235/40R19 |
| Rear Tyre | 215/50R17 | 235/40R19 |
| Spare Tyre | — | N/A, Tyre Repair Kit |
| Factory Tyres | Michelin Primacy 3 ST | Continental PremiumContact 6 |
| Chassis | ||
| Assembly | Malaysia (CKD) | Malaysia (CKD) |
| Front Suspension | MacPherson Strut | Double Wishbones |
| Rear Suspension | Multi-Link | Multi-link |
| Front Wheels | 17" Balder Alloy | 19" Five Triple-spoke Diamond Cut/Matte Black Alloys |
| Rear Wheels | 17" Balder Alloy | 19" Five Triple-spoke Diamond Cut/Matte Black Alloys |
| Steering | Rack and Pinion (Electric Power Steering) | Rack and Pinion (Electric Power Steering) |
| Crash Safety Ratings | ||
| EuroNCAP | 5 stars — Equivalent to Volvo V60 with 6 airbags and stability control | — |
| ANCAP | 5 stars — Equivalent to Volvo V60 with 6 airbags and stability control | — |
| Safety | ||
| Airbags | 6 (Driver and Passenger, Front Side, Front and Rear Curtain) | 6 (Driver and Passenger, Front Side, Front and Rear Curtain) |
| ABS/EBD | ✓ | ✓ |
| Stability Control | ✓ | ✓ |
| Alarm | ✓ | ✓ |
| Immobilizer | ✓ | ✓ |
| Airbag Disable Function | ✓ | ✓ |
| Child Safety Lock | Electric for rear doors | Electric for rear doors |
| Seat Belts | 5 Three-point | 5 Three-point |
| Blind Spot Info System | ✓ | ✓ |
| ISOFIX | Available on outer rear seats | Available on outer rear seats |
| Autonomous Braking System | Yes, up to 50 km/h | Yes, City Safety with Full Auto Brake, Pedestrian, Cyclist and Large Animal Detection |
| Lane-keeping Assist | No | Steering Correction |
| Collision Warning | — | ✓ |
| Seatbelt Reminder | Front Seats Only | For All Seats |
| Safety Notes | — | Rear Cross Traffic Alert (RCTA) |
| Lighting | ||
| Headlamps | Dynamic Bi-Xenon Projectors | LED Projectors with Auto High Beam |
| Taillamps | LED Combination | LED Combination |
| LED Daytime Running Lights | ✓ | ✓ |
| Front Foglamps | ✓ | ✓ |
| Rear Foglamps | ✓ | ✓ |
| Wing Mirror Turn Indicators | ✓ | ✓ |
| Cabin | ||
| Front Seats | Power Adjustable 8-Way, Memory for Driver | Power Adjustable Front Seats with Driver's Memory Function |
| Rear Seats | 60:40 Split-Folding, Power-folding Headrests | — |
| Front Air-con | Dual-zone Automatic Climate Control | Dual-Zone Automatic Climate Control |
| Rear Air-con | Rear Vents | Rear Vents |
| Sunroof | — | Panoramic, Front Tilt and Slide |
| Power Sockets | 1 Front, 1 Rear | 1 Front, 1 Rear, 1 Boot |
| Interior Lighting | Map Lights and Ambient Lights | Map Lights and Ambient Lights |
| Cup Holders | 2 Front, 2 Rear | 2 Front, 2 Rear |
| Audio | 7" Sensus CD/MP3 Player with 8 Speakers | 9" Sensus Connect with Android Auto, Apple CarPlay, Harman Kardon Premium Sound with 14 Speakers (600 W) |
| Convenience | ||
| Power Windows | Four Windows, Auto Up and Down with Anti-Pinch | Four Windows, Auto Up and Down with Anti-Pinch |
| Engine Start | Keyless Push Button | Keyless Knob Twist |
| Locks | Keyless Operation | Keyless Operation |
| Auto Start/Stop | — | ✓ |
| Auto Headlamps | ✓ | ✓ |
| Auto Wipers | ✓ | ✓ |
| Cruise Control | Passive Cruise Control | Active Cruise Control |
| Tiptronic | ✓ | — |
| Paddle Shift | — | ✓ |
| Steering Audio Control | ✓ | ✓ |
| Steering Tilt | ✓ | ✓ |
| Steering Telescopic | ✓ | ✓ |
| Boot Operation | Remote Control Activated | Remote Control Activated |
| Parking Sensor Front | — | 4 Sensors |
| Parking Sensor Rear | 4 Sensors | 4 Sensors |
| Reverse Camera | — | Yes, with 360 Surround View Camera |
| Auto Parking | — | Park Assist Pilot with Parallel and Perpendicular Parking |
| Folding Wing Mirrors | ✓ | ✓ |
| Bluetooth | ✓ | ✓ |
| Navigation | — | ✓ |
| Head-up Display | — | ✓ |
| Hill Start Assist | ✓ | ✓ |
| Instrument Cluster | Electroluminescent Analogue | Full LCD Monitor |
| Parking Brake | Electronic | Electronic |
| Warranty | ||
| Warranty Mileage Manufacturer | Unlimited✓ | 120,000 km |
| Warranty Manufacturer | 5 years | 5 years |
| Warranty Notes | 5 years free service, inclusive of maintenance parts, plus 5 years Volvo on Call | — |
Specs shown for the selected variant of each car. ✓ marks the better figure where lower/higher is objectively better. Road tax: West Malaysia, private registration.
Used cars for sale
Mk2 Facelift vs Mk3 FAQ
Is the Volvo S60 Mk2 Facelift or Volvo S60 Mk3 better?
The Volvo S60 Mk3 is the better car on performance, safety assistance, cabin equipment and boot space. Choose the Mk2 Facelift only if its much lower RM90 road tax, larger fuel tank and unlimited-mileage warranty package suit your ownership priorities.
What is the price difference?
The Volvo S60 Mk3 costs RM282,540, which is RM60,652 more than the RM221,888 Volvo S60 Mk2 Facelift. The gap brings plug-in-hybrid hardware, all-wheel drive, 320 hp, a 49 km EV range and newer driver-assistance equipment.
Can the Volvo S60 Mk3 be driven on electric power alone?
Yes. The S60 Mk3 plug-in hybrid has an 11.6 kWh battery, one 87 hp electric motor and a quoted 49 km EV range. The S60 Mk2 Facelift has no electric motor, battery or EV range.
