Volvo S60 vs Subaru Forester
What's the difference?

Volvo S60

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2024 price

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Subaru Forester

$43,490 - $55,990

2026 price

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Maserati Quattroporte

Mazda 6

Mercedes-Benz A-Class

Mercedes-Benz A35

Mercedes-Benz AMG GT

Mercedes-Benz C-Class

Mercedes-Benz C43

Mercedes-Benz C63

Mercedes-Benz CLA

Mercedes-Benz CLA-Class

Mercedes-Benz CLS-Class

Mercedes-Benz E-Class

Mercedes-Benz E53

Mercedes-Benz EQS

Mercedes-Benz GLC-Class

Mercedes-Benz S-Class

Summary

2024 Volvo S60

2026 Subaru Forester

By Emily Agar

By Marcus Craft

Safety Rating

Engine Type

Turbo 4, 2.0L

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Fuel Type

Premium Unleaded/Electric

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Fuel Efficiency

1.4L/100km (combined)

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Energy consumption

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Electric range

90 km

Battery capacity

18.80 kWh

Seating

Likes

Elegant proportions and styling
Feature-laden
Superb on-road driving experience

Nice interior
Refined on-road
Suitably capable off-road

Dislikes

Sedate cabin compared to rivals
Works best as a four-seater
Not a lot of storage options

Sluggish acceleration
Needs all-terrain tyres
Intrusive driver alert system

2024 Volvo S60 Summary

Sedans have long been supplanted by SUVs as the family favourite but they still have their charms for those drivers who like something that feels more dynamic on the road.

Enter the limited edition Volvo S60 Recharge Black Edition which sees the return of a plug-in hybrid powertrain for Volvo’s only sedan.

I’ve been family-testing the PHEV variant to see just how practical a sedan is for the modern family, and whether it's rivals, the Audi A4, BMW 3 Series and Mercedes-Benz C200 have anything to worry about.

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2026 Subaru Forester Summary

The sixth-generation of Subaru’s Forester has landed and while the new hybrid versions constitute the biggest news of this batch, the petrol-only variants should not be ignored.

The five-seat mid-size SUV has a 2.5-litre four-cylinder 'boxer' engine, Subaru’s well-regarded 'symmetrical all-wheel drive' system and some new changes inside and out.

So, does the top-spec Touring offer the best value-for-money in the petrol Forester line-up?

Read on.

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Deep dive comparison

2024 Volvo S60 2026 Subaru Forester

Verdict

The Volvo S60 Recharge Black Edition proves sedans can still be sexy and an excellent family car, providing your family is on the smaller side. I only have one kid, so it's perfect for our activities and gear. It’s wonderful to drive and has a great features list but it's not without its quirks.

My son thinks it looks cool, and we enjoyed bellowing out a few renditions of the original Batman theme song this week. He has had a lot of comfort in the back seat, too.

Verdict

The MY26 Subaru Forester packs plenty of punch in terms of standard features, a roomy and functional interior and overall driveability. Sure, it’s not the most exciting vehicle to drive on- or off-road but to get stuck on that is to miss the point entirely. This is a decent all-rounder with a solid background and an AWD system that long ago set the gold standard for vehicles of this type.

In a tough mid-size SUV market segment aimed more at those intent on driving through car parks rather than adventuring through national parks, the Forester offers greater versatility than most and should not be ignored.

Volvo S60 vs Subaru Forester What's the difference?

Summary

Deep dive comparison

Verdict

Verdict

Volvo S60 vs Subaru Forester
What's the difference?