“This is a sensible car. Good safety features and performance but not at all flashy.”
2016 Volvo S60: What's New, Specs & Features
Last updated August 4, 2026
The biggest change for the 2016 Volvo S60 is the new long-wheelbase Inscription, which adds roughly 3 inches of rear-seat legroom. Volvo also expands the lineup with the raised, all-road Cross Country and a new T5 R-Design.
About the 2016 Volvo S60
2nd generation S60 (2011-2018 U.S. market), after the 2014 refresh; 2016 is a lineup-expansion year with the new Inscription and Cross Country variants.
Volvo positioned the 2016 S60 as an elegant, safety-focused sport sedan with Scandinavian design, supportive seats, and a wide spread of personalities. At its core, it is a compact luxury sedan for drivers who want comfort and confidence first, but still want responsive turbo power and clean, understated styling. What set it apart from many rivals was Volvo’s safety emphasis, distinctive seat comfort, and the unusually broad range that stretched from efficient Drive-E models to the longer Inscription, rugged Cross Country, and high-performance Polestar.
The 2016 S60 range covers several distinct roles, from the straightforward T5 luxury sedan to the roomier Inscription and the raised, all-wheel-drive Cross Country. The T6 models emphasize stronger performance, while the limited-production Polestar stands out with 345 horsepower, all-wheel drive, Öhlins shocks, and Brembo front brakes. Upper Platinum trims add features such as adaptive cruise control, premium audio, and enhanced automatic emergency braking.
What changed, by category
Structural
The new S60 Inscription uses a wheelbase that is 3 inches longer, creating roughly 3 inches of additional rear-seat legroom. The new S60 Cross Country raises ground clearance to 7.9 inches and adds all-wheel drive for rough roads and bad weather.
Styling
The Cross Country adds a honeycomb grille, black fender extensions, and front and rear skid-plate styling. A new T5 R-Design brings the regular front-wheel-drive S60 a sportier exterior, cabin, and suspension setup, while other S60 models receive minor wheel and color updates.
Tech
Proximity keyless entry changes from standard to optional on the T5 Premier.
2016 Volvo S60 specs and features by trim
| Feature | |||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Engine | 4-Cyl, Drive-E, 2.0T / 5-Cyl, Turbo, 2.5 Liter | 4-Cyl Drive-E Sprchg 2.0T | 4-Cyl, Drive-E, 2.0T / 5-Cyl, Turbo, 2.5 Liter | 4-Cyl, Drive-E, 2.0T | 4-Cyl Drive-E Sprchg 2.0T | 6-Cyl, Turbo, 3.0 Liter | 6-Cyl, Turbo, 3.0 Liter / 4-Cyl, Drive-E, Turbo, Supercharged, 2.0 Liter | 6-Cyl, Turbo, 3.0 Liter / 4-Cyl, Drive-E, Turbo, Supercharged, 2.0 Liter | 4-Cyl, Drive-E, 2.0T / 5-Cyl, Turbo, 2.5 Liter | 4-Cyl, Drive-E, 2.0T / 5-Cyl, Turbo, 2.5 Liter | 5-Cyl, Turbo, 2.5 Liter |
| Transmission | Auto, 8-Spd Geartronic / Auto, 6-Spd Geartronic | Auto, 8-Spd Geartronic | Auto, 8-Spd Geartronic / Auto, 6-Spd Geartronic | Auto, 8-Spd Geartronic | Auto, 8-Spd Geartronic | Auto, 6-Spd Adv QuickShft | Auto, 6-Spd Adv QuickShft / Automatic, 8-Spd Geartronic w/Adaptive Shift | Auto, 6-Spd Adv QuickShft / Automatic, 8-Spd Geartronic w/Adaptive Shift | Auto, 8-Spd Geartronic / Auto, 6-Spd Geartronic | Auto, 8-Spd Geartronic / Auto, 6-Spd Geartronic | Auto, 6-Spd Geartronic |
| Drivetrain | FWD / AWD | FWD | FWD / AWD | FWD | FWD | AWD | AWD | AWD | FWD / AWD | FWD / AWD | AWD |
| Fuel Type | Gas | Gas | Gas | Gas | Gas | Gas | Gas | Gas | Gas | Gas | Gas |
| MPG City | 20–26 mpg | 23 mpg | 20–26 mpg | 26 mpg | 23 mpg | 18 mpg | 18–22 mpg | 18–22 mpg | 20–25 mpg | 20–25 mpg | 20 mpg |
| MPG Highway | 29–37 mpg | 33 mpg | 29–37 mpg | 37 mpg | 33 mpg | 27 mpg | 27–31 mpg | 27–31 mpg | 29–38 mpg | 29–38 mpg | 28 mpg |
| Horsepower | 240–250 hp | 302 hp | 240–250 hp | 240 hp | 302 hp | 345 hp | 302–325 hp | 302–325 hp | 240–250 hp | 240–250 hp | 250 hp |
| Torque | 258–266 lb-ft | 295 lb-ft | 258–266 lb-ft | 258 lb-ft | 295 lb-ft | 295–354 lb-ft | 295–354 lb-ft | 258–266 lb-ft | 258–266 lb-ft | 266 lb-ft | |
| Max Towing | 3500 lb | 3500 lb | 3500 lb | 3500 lb | 3500 lb | 3500 lb | 3500 lb | 3500 lb | 3500 lb | 3500 lb | 3500 lb |
| Trunk/Cargo | 12 cu-ft | 12 cu-ft | 12 cu-ft | 12 cu-ft | 12 cu-ft | 12 cu-ft | 12 cu-ft | 12 cu-ft | 12 cu-ft | 12 cu-ft | 12 cu-ft |
| Rear Legroom | 33.5 in | 33.5 in | 33.5 in | 33.5 in | 33.5 in | 33.5 in | 33.5 in | 33.5 in | |||
| Seats | 5 | 5 | 5 | 5 | 5 | 5 | 5 | 5 | 5 | 5 | 5 |
| Doors | 4 | 4 | 4 | 4 | 4 | 4 | 4 | 4 | 4 | 4 | 4 |
| 4-Wheel Disc Brakes | |||||||||||
| Adaptive Cruise Control | |||||||||||
| Alarm System | |||||||||||
| Automatic Emergency Braking | |||||||||||
| Automatic High Beams | |||||||||||
| Blindspot Sensors | |||||||||||
| Cruise Control | |||||||||||
| Hill Descent Control | |||||||||||
| Hill Start Assist | |||||||||||
| Lane Departure Warning | |||||||||||
| Park Assist | |||||||||||
| Rear View Camera | |||||||||||
| Alloy Wheels | |||||||||||
| Auto-Dimming Exterior Mirrors | |||||||||||
| Fog Lights | |||||||||||
| HID Headlights | |||||||||||
| Heated Mirrors | |||||||||||
| Heated Windshield | |||||||||||
| Power Moonroof | |||||||||||
| Power Folding Exterior Mirrors | |||||||||||
| Power Mirrors | |||||||||||
| Rear Spoiler | |||||||||||
| Front DVD Entertainment System | |||||||||||
| Navigation System | |||||||||||
| Premium Audio | |||||||||||
| Rear DVD Entertainment System | |||||||||||
| Smartphone Interface | |||||||||||
| Aluminum Interior Trim | |||||||||||
| Auto-Dimming Interior Mirror | |||||||||||
| Dual-Zone Climate Control | |||||||||||
| Heated Front Seats | |||||||||||
| Heated Rear Seats | |||||||||||
| Heated Steering Wheel | |||||||||||
| Integrated Garage Door Opener | |||||||||||
| Leather Seats | |||||||||||
| Power Steering | |||||||||||
| Proximity Keyless Entry | |||||||||||
| Rear Window Shades | |||||||||||
| Remote Keyless Entry | |||||||||||
| Wood Interior Trim | |||||||||||
Frequently asked questions
What is the biggest change to the 2016 Volvo S60?
The biggest change is the new S60 Inscription. Its wheelbase is 3 inches longer than the regular S60’s, providing roughly 3 inches of extra rear-seat legroom.
How is the 2016 Volvo S60 Cross Country different from the regular S60?
The S60 Cross Country is a raised, all-road version of the sedan. It has 7.9 inches of ground clearance, all-wheel drive, hill-descent control, black fender extensions, and skid-plate styling.
Was the 2016 Volvo S60 fully redesigned?
No, the 2016 S60 was not fully redesigned. It remained part of the second generation and followed the 2014 refresh, with the main updates focused on new Inscription, Cross Country, and T5 R-Design variants.
Which Volvo S60 trims joined or left the lineup for 2016?
The T5 Cross Country Platinum, T5 Inscription Premier, T5 Inscription Platinum, and T5 R-Design joined the lineup for 2016. The T5 Platinum, T5 Premier Plus, and T6 Premier Plus were dropped.
Did the regular 2016 Volvo S60 change much from 2015?
No, the regular S60 received only modest updates. Most of the change came from expanded trim coverage, minor wheel and color revisions, and proximity keyless entry becoming optional rather than standard on the T5 Premier.
2016 Volvo S60 Reviews
What owners are saying about the 2016 Volvo S60.
4.2
2016 Volvo S60
(300 reviews)
“A very enjoyable buying experience, a very traditional, very classic and very safe car. Volvo is one of my favorite car brands”
“Car is well built and will last for years and years with limited maintenance problems. Car is beautifully designed. Car is priced very well.”