Verdict
At RM221,888, the Volvo S60 Mk2 is the lower-cost route into a CKD compact executive sedan, with RM90 annual road tax, a 68-litre tank and a 60:40 folding rear bench. The RM282,540 Volvo S60 Mk3 costs RM60,652 more, but moves to all-wheel drive, 320 hp and 400 Nm, cutting 0-100 km/h from 9.0 to 4.4 seconds. Its plug-in hybrid system adds a 49-km EV range, while a 442-litre boot, 360-degree camera and City Safety make it the more complete Malaysian daily car.
Pick the Volvo S60 Mk2 if RM60,652 less upfront, RM90 road tax and a 68-litre fuel tank matter more than hybrid running and modern driver assistance.
Pick the Volvo S60 Mk3 if you want 4.4-second performance, all-wheel drive, up to 49 km of electric range and substantially broader safety and parking equipment.
Key differences
- Performance: Mk2 reaches 100 km/h in 9.0 seconds; Mk3 does it in 4.4 seconds.
- Petrol engine output: Mk2 makes 180 hp and 240 Nm; Mk3 makes 320 hp and 400 Nm.
- Electrification: Mk2 has no motor or EV range; Mk3 has an 87-hp, 240-Nm motor and 49 km EV range.
- Rated economy and CO2: Mk2 records 7.1 L/100 km and 164 g/km; Mk3 records 2.0 L/100 km and 46 g/km.
- Size and luggage: Mk2 is 4,628 mm long with a 380-litre boot; Mk3 is 4,761 mm long with a 442-litre boot.
- Road tax: Mk2 costs RM90 a year; Mk3 costs RM365 a year.
Mk2
- RM60,652 lower purchase price
- Lower RM90 annual road tax
- 68-litre tank and 60:40 split-folding rear seats
- 180 hp and 240 Nm leave it 4.6 seconds slower to 100 km/h
- No plug-in hybrid motor, 11.6-kWh battery or 49-km EV range
- Lacks City Safety auto braking, lane steering correction and a 360-degree camera
Mk3
- 320 hp, 400 Nm and all-wheel drive
- 49-km EV range from an 11.6-kWh battery
- City Safety, active cruise control, 360-degree camera and Park Assist Pilot
- RM60,652 higher purchase price
- RM365 annual road tax versus RM90
- 2,041 kg kerb weight versus 1,486 kg
| 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 | 320 hp✓ |
| Torque | 240 Nm | 400 Nm✓ |
| Fuel | Petrol | Petrol Plug-in Hybrid |
| Bore | 79 mm | 82 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 | 7.1 L/100 km | 2 L/100 km✓ |
| Top Speed | 225 km/h | 250 km/h✓ |
| Co2 | 164 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 | 1,486 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 | — | Continental PremiumContact 6 |
| Chassis | ||
| Assembly | Malaysia (CKD) | Malaysia (CKD) |
| Front Suspension | MacPherson Strut | Double Wishbones |
| Rear Suspension | Multi-Link | Multi-link |
| Front Wheels | 17" Alloys | 19" Five Triple-spoke Diamond Cut/Matte Black Alloys |
| Rear Wheels | 17" Alloys | 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 | Driver and Passenger, Front Side, Curtain | 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, City Safety with Full Auto Brake, Pedestrian, Cyclist and Large Animal Detection |
| Lane-keeping Assist | — | Steering Correction |
| Collision Warning | — | ✓ |
| Seatbelt Reminder | — | 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 | — |
| 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" DVD/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 | — | Full LCD Monitor |
| Parking Brake | — | Electronic |
| Warranty | ||
| Warranty Mileage Manufacturer | Unlimited✓ | 120,000 km |
| Warranty Manufacturer | 5 years | 5 years |
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.
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Mk2 vs Mk3 FAQ
Is the Volvo S60 Mk2 or Volvo S60 Mk3 better?
The Volvo S60 Mk3 is better for performance, plug-in hybrid driving and equipment: it reaches 100 km/h in 4.4 seconds, has 49 km of EV range and adds City Safety. The Mk2 is the sensible choice when purchase cost and road tax take priority.
What is the price difference?
The Volvo S60 Mk3 costs RM60,652 more than the Volvo S60 Mk2. That gap brings all-wheel drive, a plug-in hybrid system, 140 hp and 160 Nm more from the petrol engine, plus a larger boot and more driver-assistance hardware.
Which S60 has the better safety and parking equipment?
The Volvo S60 Mk3 does. It adds City Safety automatic braking with pedestrian, cyclist and large-animal detection, collision warning, lane steering correction, rear cross traffic alert, front sensors, a 360-degree camera and Park Assist Pilot.
