Compare the2026 Toyota Prius Plug-In HybridVS 2025 Volvo S60

The Toyota Prius Plug-In Hybrid offers an optional Panoramic View Monitor and it also offers an optional rear camera washer to make backing always safe, regardless of road dirt or grime, while the Volvo S60 doesn’t offer a camera washer, requiring manual cleaning.

Both the Prius Plug-In Hybrid and the S60 have standard driver and passenger frontal airbags, front side-impact airbags, side-impact head airbags, front and rear seatbelt pretensioners, front wheel drive, height adjustable front shoulder belts, four-wheel antilock brakes, traction control, electronic stability systems to prevent skidding, crash mitigating brakes, post-collision automatic braking systems, daytime running lights, lane departure warning systems, blind spot warning systems, rearview cameras, rear cross-path warning, driver alert monitors and available around view monitors.

The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration does 35 MPH front crash tests on new vehicles. In this test, results indicate that the Toyota Prius Plug-In Hybrid is safer than the Volvo S60:

New test not comparable to pre-2011 test results. More stars = Better. Lower test results = Better.

The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration does side impact tests on new vehicles. In this test, which crashes the vehicle into a flat barrier at 38.5 MPH, results indicate that the Toyota Prius Plug-In Hybrid is safer than the Volvo S60:

New test not comparable to pre-2011 test results. More stars = Better. Lower test results = Better.

Toyota’s powertrain warranty covers the Prius Plug-In Hybrid 1 year and 10,000 miles longer than Volvo covers the S60. Any repair needed on the engine, transmission, axles, joints or driveshafts is fully covered for 5 years or 60,000 miles. Coverage on the S60 ends after only 4 years or 50,000 miles.

There are over 4 times as many Toyota dealers as there are Volvo dealers, which makes it much easier should you ever need service under the Prius Plug-In Hybrid’s warranty.

A reliable vehicle saves its owner time, money and trouble. Nobody wants to be stranded or have to be without a vehicle while it’s being repaired. Consumer Reports rates the Prius Plug-In Hybrid’s reliability 13 points higher than the S60.

J.D. Power and Associates’ 2025 Initial Quality Study of new car owners surveyed provide the statistics that show that Toyota vehicles are better in initial quality than Volvo vehicles. With 58 fewer problems per 100 vehicles, JD Power ranks Toyota higher than Volvo.

J.D. Power and Associates’ 2025 survey of the owners of three-year-old vehicles provides the statistics that show that Toyota vehicles are more reliable than Volvo vehicles. J.D. Power ranks Toyota fourth in reliability, above the industry average. With 80 more problems per 100 vehicles, Volvo is ranked 26th.

From surveys of all its subscribers, Consumer Reports’ March 2025 Auto Issue reports that Toyota vehicles are more reliable than Volvo vehicles. Consumer Reports ranks Toyota third in overall reliability. Volvo is ranked 15th.

As tested in Consumer Reports the Toyota Prius Plug-In Hybrid is faster than the S60 B5 2.0 turbo 4-cylinder:

On the EPA test cycle the Prius Plug-In Hybrid running on electricity gets better mileage than the S60 running on electricity:

On the EPA test cycle the Prius Plug-In Hybrid running its gasoline engine gets better mileage than the S60 running its gasoline engine:

The Prius Plug-In Hybrid SE can travel with zero emissions on electricity, only, on a full charge for 44 miles. The S60 T8 has to start its internal combustion engine after only 41 miles.

To lower fuel costs and make buying fuel easier, the Toyota Prius Plug-In Hybrid uses regular unleaded gasoline. The S60 requires premium, which can cost on average about 84.9 cents more per gallon.

In its Green Vehicle Guide, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) rates the Toyota Prius Plug-In Hybrid higher (6 out of 10) than the Volvo S60 (4 to 6). This means the Prius Plug-In Hybrid produces up to 12.1 pounds less smog-producing pollutants than the S60 every 15,000 miles.

The Prius Plug-In Hybrid has a standard continuously variable transmission (CVT). With no “steps” between gears, it can keep the engine at the most efficient speed for fuel economy, or keep it at its peak horsepower indefinitely for maximum acceleration. The S60 doesn’t offer a CVT.

The front and rear suspension of the Prius Plug-In Hybrid uses coil springs for better ride, handling and control than the S60, which uses transverse leafs springs in the rear. Coil springs compress more progressively and offer more suspension travel for a smoother ride with less bottoming out.

For better maneuverability, the Prius Plug-In Hybrid SE’s turning circle is 2.7 feet tighter than the S60’s (34.4 feet vs. 37.1 feet). The Prius Plug-In Hybrid XSE/Nightshade’s turning circle is 1.7 feet tighter than the S60’s (35.4 feet vs. 37.1 feet).

The Toyota Prius Plug-In Hybrid may be more efficient, handle and accelerate better because it weighs about 300 to 900 pounds less than the Volvo S60.

The Prius Plug-In Hybrid is 7 inches shorter than the S60, making the Prius Plug-In Hybrid easier to handle, maneuver and park in tight spaces.

The Prius Plug-In Hybrid is 5.3 inches narrower on average than the S60, making the Prius Plug-In Hybrid easier to handle and maneuver in traffic.

The front grille of the Prius Plug-In Hybrid uses electronically controlled shutters to close off airflow and reduce drag when less engine cooling is needed. This helps improve highway fuel economy. The S60 doesn’t offer active grille shutters.

Because it has more passenger and cargo room, the EPA rates the Prius Plug-In Hybrid a Mid-size car, while the S60 is rated a Compact.

The Prius Plug-In Hybrid has .6 inches more front headroom, .1 inches more front legroom and .7 inches more rear legroom than the S60.

The Prius Plug-In Hybrid XSE Premium’s standard easy entry system glides the driver’s seat back when the door is unlocked or the ignition is switched off, making it easier for the driver to get in and out. The S60 doesn’t offer an easy entry system.

To shield the driver and front passenger’s vision over a larger portion of the windshield and side windows, the Prius Plug-In Hybrid has standard extendable sun visors. The S60 doesn’t offer extendable visors.

The Prius Plug-In Hybrid has a standard heated steering wheel to take the chill out of steering on extremely cold winter days before the car heater warms up. A heated steering wheel costs extra on the S60.

The Prius Plug-In Hybrid is equipped with both FM and AM stereo radios, offering access to more content and better coverage than the S60, which solely provides FM radio. With AM radio, you can enjoy a wider variety of stations featuring news, talk shows, sports commentary, native language programing, automated traffic guidance, and emergency broadcasts. AM waves travel further and penetrate buildings and obstacles more effectively than FM signals, especially at night. Having both FM and AM stereo radios the Prius Plug-In Hybrid offers a more comprehensive listening experience compared to only FM in the S60.

HD Radio boasts several benefits over conventional radio: superior sound quality with clearer and consistent FM broadcasts, CD-quality audio, and Multicast Channels offering up to four streams from a single station, adding programming choices. Cars like the Prius Plug-In Hybrid equipped with HD Radio provide an improved in-car entertainment experience. The S60, devoid of this technology, foregoes these benefits. Selecting the Toyota Prius Plug-In Hybrid empowers drivers to enjoy a more immersive and enjoyable listening experience while on the go.

The Prius Plug-In Hybrid has a 115-volt a/c outlet on the center console, allowing you to recharge a laptop or run small household appliances without special adapters that can break or get misplaced. The S60 doesn’t offer a house-current electrical outlet.

The Prius Plug-In Hybrid XSE Premium’s optional Advanced Park can parallel park or back into a parking spot by itself, starting, stopping and changing direction automatically. The S60 Plus/Ultimate/Polestar’s automatic parking system requires operating the brakes and transmission to safely park.

Consumer Reports® recommends the Toyota Prius Plug-In Hybrid, based on reliability, safety and performance. The Volvo S60 isn't recommended.

Motor Trend selected the Prius Plug-In Hybrid as their 2024 Car of the Year. The S60 has never been chosen.

A group of representative automotive journalists from North America selected the Prius as the 2024 North American Car of the Year. The S60 has never been chosen.

The Toyota Prius outsold the Volvo 60 Series by almost three to one during 2024.