The Volvo S60 does 25.6 mpg combined (22.5 city, 30.7 highway), which works out to about $1,500 a year in fuel at $3.20 a gallon and 12,000 miles. Engine choice matters more than you'd think: 2L 4-cyl Hybrid does 30.4 mpg while 2.3L 5-cyl does 21 — a difference of $566 a year. Against other 5-cyl cars it sits above the average of 21.8 mpg.
Every Volvo S60 engine, compared
Gas mileage on the Volvo S60 ranges from 30.4 down to 21 depending on which engine sits under the bonnet — a spread of $566 a year across 6 versions of the same car. Picking the right one often saves more fuel than picking a different car altogether. Yearly cost assumes 12,000 miles at $3.20 a gallon.
| Engine | Combined | City / Highway | Years | Fuel per year |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2L 4-cyl Hybrid | 28.1 / 33.7 | 2019–2025 | $1,263 | |
| 2L 4-cyl | 25.7 / 35 | 2015–2024 | $1,320 | |
| 2.5L 5-cyl | 19.8 / 28.6 | 2006–2016 | $1,677 | |
| 2.4L 5-cyl | 18.8 / 27.3 | 2001–2005 | $1,745 | |
| 3L 6-cyl | 18.2 / 26.2 | 2011–2016 | $1,811 | |
| 2.3L 5-cyl | 18 / 26 | 2002–2002 | $1,829 |
What that actually costs
The Volvo S60 burns a gallon every 25.6 miles, so 12,000 miles takes about 469 gallons a year. At $3.20 that is what the table below adds up to.
| Measure | Value |
|---|---|
| Cost per mile | $0.125 |
| Fuel per year | $1,500 |
| Fuel over five years | $7,500 |
| Against other 5-cyl cars | −$261 a year |
| EPA's own estimate | $2,811 a year |
City or highway — who is this car for
The Volvo S60 gives up 8.2 mpg the moment you leave the motorway — 30.7 out there against 22.5 in town, a 36% drop worth $456 a year. A wide gap punishes stop-and-start traffic; a narrow one means the car doesn't care where you drive it.
| Measure | Value | Reading |
|---|---|---|
| City | 22.5 mpg | $1,707 a year if you only drive in town |
| Highway | 30.7 mpg | $1,251 a year if you mostly commute |
| Gap | +8.2 mpg (36%) | Wide — this car dislikes traffic |
How the S60 changed over the years
The S60 peaked in 2025 at 31 mpg (30 city, 33 highway) and was at its thirstiest in 2011 at 21 — 10 mpg apart, or $590 a year in fuel between buying one year and the other. The 2025 car does 31. Jumps usually mark a new generation or a new engine; dips often mean a heavier body or added all-wheel drive.
| Model year | Combined | City / Highway | Engines offered | Fuel per year |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 | 30 / 33 | 1 | $1,239 | |
| 2024 | 28 / 34 | 2 | $1,259 | |
| 2023 | 28 / 34 | 2 | $1,259 | |
| 2022 | 28 / 34 | 2 | $1,259 | |
| 2021 | 25.5 / 33.5 | 2 | $1,347 | |
| 2020 | 25.5 / 33.5 | 2 | $1,347 | |
| 2019 | 26.5 / 35 | 2 | $1,302 | |
| 2018 | 25 / 36 | 1 | $1,324 | |
| 2017 | 25 / 36 | 1 | $1,324 | |
| 2016 | 21.3 / 30.7 | 3 | $1,555 | |
| 2015 | 21.3 / 30.7 | 3 | $1,555 | |
| 2014 | 19.5 / 27.5 | 2 | $1,707 | |
| 2013 | 19.5 / 27.5 | 2 | $1,707 | |
| 2012 | 19 / 28 | 2 | $1,745 | |
| 2011 | 18 / 26 | 1 | $1,829 | |
| 2009 | 19 / 28 | 1 | $1,670 | |
| 2008 | 19 / 27 | 1 | $1,745 | |
| 2007 | 19 / 28 | 1 | $1,745 | |
| 2006 | 19 / 28 | 1 | $1,745 | |
| 2005 | 19 / 27 | 1 | $1,745 | |
| 2004 | 19 / 28 | 1 | $1,745 | |
| 2003 | 19 / 28 | 1 | $1,670 | |
| 2002 | 18 / 26 | 1 | $1,829 | |
| 2001 | 18 / 26 | 1 | $1,829 |
MPG is a number. Dollars per year is the answer.
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How we count
This page rests on 37 EPA ratings of the Volvo S60 — 6 engines across 2001–2025. The mileage is EPA's laboratory figure, unchanged; the yearly bill is ours, at 12,000 miles and $3.20 a gallon, against EPA's own estimate of $2,811. Full method.
Frequently asked questions
What mpg does the Volvo S60 get?
25.6 mpg combined on average — 22.5 in the city and 30.7 on the highway, per EPA ratings across 2001–2025.
How much does a Volvo S60 cost in fuel per year?
About $1,500 at 12,000 miles and $3.20 a gallon — roughly $7,500 over five years, or 0.125 dollars a mile.
Which S60 engine is the most economical?
The 2L 4-cyl Hybrid at 30.4 mpg, against 21 for the 2.3L 5-cyl — a difference of about $566 a year.
Is the S60 good on fuel compared with similar cars?
Against other 5-cyl cars it sits above the average of 21.8 mpg, computed across 217 ratings.
Are these real-world S60 figures?
No — they are EPA laboratory ratings, the same ones printed on the window sticker, and EPA's own annual fuel estimate for the Volvo S60 is $2,811 against the $1,500 we compute at 12,000 miles. Expect a little worse in practice: the spread between the 31 and 21 mpg versions of this car is smaller than the spread between two drivers of the same one.
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