Latest news with #S60
Motor 1
4 days ago
- Automotive
- Motor 1
Volvo Superfan Explains Why They're 'One Of the Best Cars' Under $5K For Teens. He Might Be Onto Something
A Volvo S60 owner says his vehicle is 'one of the best cars for teens' under $5,000. That's TikToker @majkic06 , who shows off a Volvo S60 from the 2000s. A series of on-screen text overlays accompany several glamour shots of the shiny vehicle in Majkic's viral post. The clip, which has accrued more than 84,000 views on the platform, highlights the car's interior and exterior. Furthermore, the Volvo owner writes: 'This is one of the best cars for teens under $5,000. Five-cylinder engine. Very safe as Volvos always are. Lots of tuning potential. Reliable. Looks great.' As they rattle off these selling points of the vehicle, images of the car's 2.4-liter turbocharged engine and tires are displayed. Moreover, the S60's interior appears to be plush, with shiny, black leather seats. Majkic highlights this point in another TikTok post, giving props to the Swedish manufacturer. "Back when car interiors were simple, nice, and long-lasting.' Are Used Volvos Worth It? When it comes to used vehicle reliability, a few manufacturers' names almost always come to mind. Toyota and its luxury counterpart, Lexus, consistently dominate used reliability lists. Even if Consumer Reports says fellow Japanese automaker Subaru now holds the top reliability crown , Toyotas are renowned road warriors. Honda and Mazda also receive high marks for great used car investments. However, the Scandinavian brand isn't often included on this list. But does Majkic have a point? Should a teenager looking for a used car, who doesn't want to skimp on a sumptuous interior, consider purchasing a Volvo S60? That answer seems contingent upon who you ask. Rerev, a car buying advice website, listed the 2001, 2004, and 2006 Volvo S60 model years as some of the worst examples to buy used. This was due to a number of potential issues they could run into. First: The outlet said that these Volvos run into airbag problems—though the outlet did clarify that this is primarily an issue for second-generation S60s. Moreover, the outlet referenced steering issues that are sometimes associated with these vehicles. In addition to airbag concerns, reports that early Volvo S60 cars had recalls for steering linkages. Purportedly, control arms on these model cars needed to be fixed by the manufacturer for proper handling. If left unaddressed, some drivers reportedly lost complete control of their Volvo S60 while on the road. That doesn't exactly bode well for any commuter, let alone a teen who is newly getting behind the wheel. Used Volvos: Common Problems Consumer Reports also says the first-generation Volvo S60 was slapped with two other recalls. One for the car's hydraulic brakes system, which can experience a loss of fluid. Obviously, that's a safety concern. Additionally, the Independent Auto Assessment Group (IADA), a network of vehicle appraiser specialists, wrote that equipment was mislabeled on the 2006 Volvo S60. It appears this pertains to the tire PSI numbers printed on the driver-side door jamb sticker. Inflating the wrong air values could ultimately 'result in a tire failure, increasing the risk of a crash,' according to the recall notice. also writes that Volvo S60 vehicles from various model years experience 'various transmission issues.' The outlet highlighted that 2001-2009 S60s, along with 2014 iterations, may be prone to shifting problems. Furthermore, these same cars will have rough shifts between first and second gear. Consequently, this makes driving in stop-and-go traffic "bothersome.' RepairPal, a repair estimate site, recommends installing the latest Volvo software module when servicing transmissions on these model years. Strut mount failure, along with premature headlamp burnout are other common issues associated with these cars. Volvo Devotees Many drivers have also decried Volvos at-large for having air conditioning issues. Additionally, engine overheating and infotainment glitches can make navigating apps a pain for some drivers. Despite these criticisms, there are others who've applauded the Swedish car brand's offerings. RepairPal, for instance, slapped the first-generation S60 with a 3.5 out of 5 repairability rating. According to the website, this is an above-average score when compared to other vehicles in the same class. More recent offerings have also received favorable marks. MotorTrend tested a 2020 Volvo S60 for 20,000 miles and it ruled the car as a trustworthy ride, as Majkic lauded in the viral TikTok. Buying a Used Volvo Before making any used car purchase, Volvo S60 or not, buyers should make several considerations. First: Ensuring a car hasn't been in any major accidents is crucial. This helps to rule out any frame damage on the vehicle, which could affect performance and safety. This mitigates the possibility of other components prematurely wearing out, too. Second, finding a vehicle that's been promptly maintained is a good rule of thumb. Locating cars with service records can help with that. It helps to buy a car that hasn't been bought and sold too many times. Ideally, finding one that belonged to its original owner would be best. If you can tick all of these aforementioned boxes, then a used car without an egregious mileage count can be a great buy. However, like any used car, you should always set aside money for additional expenditures. Transmission flushes, oil changes, and part swaps will be necessary. Not to mention a set of tires, if the tread on the used car you're buying is looking thin. So factor that cost when making a decision. And it should be mentioned that Volvo parts come at a premium. Mechanic Base, a forum for car repairs, reminds drivers that Volvos are luxury vehicles that come outfitted with expensive parts. Since they're manufactured in Sweden, importing these components can cost more than U.S.-made cars. Or commuter brands that typically retail for less than Volvo's lineup. Commenters React One user who replied to Majkic's video agreed that the Swedish brand is often overlooked. 'Volvos are too slept on, it's crazy,' they penned. And when it comes to the TikToker's commentary about it being a great car for teens, they have a point. Young drivers are more prone to speeding, which makes this car's reputation for high safety ratings more appealing for folks buying a first car for their kids. And like Majkic says in another clip, while his Volvo won't be winning street drag races against a BMW 330i, it could 'ram' the car off the road and survive. Someone else who responded to his video wrote that they, too, were fans of the Volvo S60's cabin. 'I like old interiors, none of the silly cameras and driver assist,' they commented. Which was a sentiment echoed by another writer who said they preferred the old Volvo inside to newer models. 'Love the old Volvo interiors, tried a new EX90 today, lovely seats, the rest was just a soulless interior with an iPad glued to the dashboard.' One TikTok user wrote, 'I had an S60 years ago, the most comfortable car I've ever owned.' There were some folks, however, who said that the car could do better on gas mileage. But RepairPal projects that owners will spend around $750 per year in maintenance costs. We've reached out to Volvo and @majkic06 for comment. More on Volvo Volvo's Smart New Seatbelt Adapts to Your Body The Volvo XC70 Is Coming Back Get the best news, reviews, columns, and more delivered straight to your inbox, daily. back Sign up For more information, read our Privacy Policy and Terms of Use . 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Yahoo
5 days ago
- Automotive
- Yahoo
Volvo's little-used U.S. assembly plant is $1.4 billion migraine
The sprawling U.S. assembly plant that Volvo Cars powered up in the summer of 2018 signaled a bold ambition to expand into the world's second-largest auto market. But seven years later, Volvo has failed to capitalize on the $1.4 billion investment. Sign up for Automotive News' daily podcast series featuring interviews with industry leaders, insiders and our journalists. The 2.3 million-square-foot factory in Ridgeville, S.C., about an hour northwest of Charleston, was designed to turn out 150,000 vehicles annually. According to Automotive News Research & Data Center estimates, Volvo built 20,000 vehicles there last year — 13 percent of its capacity. Production of the S60 sedan ended a year ago, leaving just two electric crossovers: the Volvo EX90 and Polestar 3. 'Auto assembly plants require a utilization rate of at least 50 percent to break even,' analyst Jeff Schuster said. Volvo's industrial predicament can be traced to poor product decisions and a mistimed bet on electric vehicles. The factory was challenged from the start as Volvo struggled to find skilled production talent in a largely rural area of South Carolina. There also has been churn in plant leadership. Given the factory's sustained losses, coupled with a more recent slump in Volvo's global sales and financial performance, some question whether the Swedish automaker has the financial firepower to persist with its U.S. manufacturing effort. 'Volvo can minimize the damage by cutting shifts and slowing the lines, but it doesn't reduce the fixed costs,' Schuster said. If Volvo is having second thoughts about U.S. production, it's not showing them. Volvo is 'fully committed' to the South Carolina plant, a spokeswoman said in a statement. She described the industrial operation as a 'key strategic advantage' in Volvo's plan to 'build where we sell.' To boost factory utilization, Volvo is considering building a higher-volume model, potentially the midsize XC60 hybrid crossover, in the U.S. 'We want to bring in something rather fast, and something selling in good numbers, so something midsize core is a good guess,' Volvo Cars CEO Hakan Samuelsson said in mid-May. However, that would require pouring several hundred million dollars more into the factory. 'The question Volvo has to ask internally is: If we do this, is it the right plan that gets the plant to where it needs to be in volume?' Schuster said. 'Or, do we cut our losses now?' It's a valid question as a global sales slide taxes Volvo's balance sheet. The automaker, which is majority-owned by China's Geely Holding, reported a 60 percent plunge in first-quarter operating income. Volvo has lost more than two-thirds of its value since its 2021 initial public offering and has become a target for short sellers. In May, the company announced a corporate restructuring to cut expenses by 1.5 billion Swedish crowns ($140 million). The automaker will jettison about 15 percent of its salaried workforce. President Donald Trump's 25 percent tariff on imports creates an existential crisis for Volvo, which ships in 90 percent of the vehicles it sells in the U.S. Yet, it also gives Volvo a reason to keep the lights on in South Carolina. Samuelsson sees Trump's tariffs as an opportunity to revive production in the U.S. Globalization is being 'dismantled,' Samuelsson said April 3 during the automaker's annual general meeting. 'To get around these high 25 percent import tariffs, we need to look at localizing more, increasing the volumes in the factory, and getting the volumes up to get the cost down,' Samuelsson said. Analyst Sam Fiorani suggested that it would be prudent for Volvo to make the additional investment and build the 'right products' in South Carolina, rather than walking away from its U.S. manufacturing investment so early. 'With the current tariff climate, Volvo could find it challenging to continue in the U.S. profitably without domestic production,' said Fiorani, vice president at AutoForecast Solutions. Production in South Carolina began with the third-generation S60 in a market that was shifting away from sedans. Automotive News estimated that the factory made nearly 40,000 sedans at the peak in 2019. The S60 'was the wrong vehicle for the market,' Schuster said. 'Not that there isn't a market for sedans, but you're not going to get the volume required to get up to capacity.' Volvo had planned to build the XC90 large crossover — a vehicle more in tune with the U.S. — in Charleston in 2021. But that plan got derailed when Volvo pivoted toward an all-electric strategy to capitalize on post-pandemic demand and government backing of zero-emission vehicles. Last year, Volvo began building the battery-powered EX90 at the U.S. plant, followed by the Polestar 3. That bet also proved to be wrong once early demand for EVs fizzled. Volvo eventually backed off its EV-or-bust strategy to instead lean on its more practical plug-in hybrid models. 'Volvo established the plant with a plan to grow as the market and the brand transitioned to electric vehicles,' Fiorani said. 'But the EV market has not developed to the level the automaker planned for.' Have an opinion about this story? Tell us about it and we may publish it in print. Click here to submit a letter to the editor. Sign in to access your portfolio
Miami Herald
09-05-2025
- Automotive
- Miami Herald
Volvo Recalls More Than 413,000 Cars Due to Backup Camera Issue
According to new documents released by the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA), Swedish luxury brand Volvo is recalling more than 413,000 vehicles due to a software defect that renders several models across its lineup noncompliant with a federal safety standard. The massive recall specifically affects 413,151 vehicles across Volvo's range, including 2023–2025 model year S60 sedans made between June 24, 2022, and June 21, 2024, and 2023–2025 V60 wagons produced from May 12, 2022, to June 28, 2024. Also included are 2023–2025 model year V60 Cross Countrys made from May 16, 2022 to April 18, 2025, 2022–2025 S90s produced between June 8, 2021 and January 25, 2025, 2022–2025 V90 Cross Country vehicles assembled from June 1, 2021 to April 10, 2025, as well as a handful of 2022 model year V90s that rolled out of the factory on October 14, 2021. Some of Volvo's well-known SUVs and crossovers are also affected in this recall, including 2021–2025 XC40s produced between September 8, 2020, and April 18, 2025, 2022–2025 model year XC60s that rolled out between May 20, 2021, and April 11, 2025, 2023–2025 XC90s made from May 20, 2022, to April 11, 2025, as well as 2022–2025 model year iterations of the fully electric C40 that were made between October 19, 2021, and April 15, 2025. The root of the issue stems from a software fault in cars equipped with Google-built-in infotainment systems, which prevents the image from appearing on the infotainment screen when the affected vehicles are put in reverse. As a result, the affected vehicles with the defect do not comply with Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard (FMVSS) No. 571.111, Section 6.2.6, which is the 2018 legislation that requires all vehicles sold in the US after the 2018 model year to be equipped with operable backup cameras. Volvo says that the problem can arise when a "fault code" is triggered under certain conditions, which would result in the backup camera being unable to function while one is driving. They also note that other safety functions on affected cars such as the park assist warnings, rear automatic braking and cross traffic alert will still be functional if the vehicle is equipped with them, however, the center displays will show an image with text that says "Camera is temporarily not available" when the issue occurs. According to an NHTSA document, Volvo knew about the issue as far back as April 2021, when it received the first reports that indicated this issue. Since then, the Swedes have received 57 reports of similar failures. An investigation into the problem was launched on March 26, 2025, ultimately leading to the recall as of April 30. Fortunately, Volvo has not received any reports of injuries, fatalities, or crashes related to this defect. Affected vehicles will receive a software update during a dealership visit or through an over-the-air update on select Volvos. Volvo dealers have already been notified of the issue, and owners should expect a letter in the mail beginning on June 24. Volvo's recall underscores how much technology and software are built into the latest and greatest cars from today's manufacturers, and how much a "little glitch" or a tiny change or update can wildly affect today's cars. Over in China, Xiaomi made loyal owners livid when they took away their horsepower through an over-the-air software update, much like how a new version of iOS would trigger reactions on social media from people complaining about how it made their iPhones slow. Specifically speaking about backup cameras, Stellantis recalled 49,000 Alfa Tonales and Dodge Hornets over faulty backup camera issues just last month. Although it may seem like this is a recurring technology issue that gets worse when it happens again and again, it should be noted that backup cameras are federally mandated out of a need to reduce fatalities resulting from cars backing up. Copyright 2025 The Arena Group, Inc. All Rights Reserved.
Yahoo
07-05-2025
- Automotive
- Yahoo
Volvo Reveals XC70 PHEV, a Potential New U.S. Model
Volvo has revealed the XC70 mid-size SUV, which the brand is touting as its first "extended-range plug-in hybrid," and it'll go on sale in China later this year. The XC70 has an estimated pure-EV range of 124 miles on China's CLTC standard, though if it comes to the U.S., we expect the EPA figure would be lower. It's possible that the XC70 is the PHEV Volvo's CEO hinted at in a recent Automotive News report about the brand adding hybrid production to the U.S. Volvo has revealed the XC70, a new mid-size plug-in hybrid SUV that earns a massive pure-EV range estimate, at least for China. The XC70 is built on Volvo's new Scalable Modular Architecture (SMA) platform, which is designed specifically to accommodate extended-range plug-in hybrid models. Volvo According to Volvo, the new model earns a pure-EV range estimate of 124 miles on the optimistic CLTC standard, though EPA estimates are typically lower. The automaker confirmed that the XC70 will go on sale in China later this year, though it is considering expanding to other markets. Car and Driver reached out to Volvo for confirmation of the new model coming here and will update this article when we receive a response. A High-Volume Hybrid as a Tariff Response Even without a confirmation, the XC70 could be a silver bullet for Volvo. As automakers continue looking for respite from the Trump administration's tariffs, many are eyeing potential production changes. In the case of Volvo, CEO Håkan Samuelsson has said he wants to increase production at the automaker's Ridgeville, South Carolina, facility, according to a report by Automotive News. Volvo Specifically, Samuelsson wants the automaker to add production of a high-volume hybrid to the facility. "It has to be a car with mild-hybrid and plug-in versions to really bring up the volumes," the CEO told AN Europe. ADVERTISEMENT Advertisement While Samuelsson hinted that it could be either the XC60 Hybrid or the XC90 Hybrid, that interview happened before Volvo drew back the curtain on the XC70. "A wagon or a sedan is not very likely. I think if you look at what the bestsellers are in the U.S., they are often some kind of SUV," Samuelsson said. Volvo That said, the existing XC60 and XC90 models are just as likely to make the move over to the South Carolina facility. The Ridgeville plant was home to the S60 mid-size sedan until production of that model ended last year. Now, the plant is focused solely on the production of Volvo's EX90 electric SUV, but it still has the tooling required for cars built on the S60's SPA platform, which happens to underpin both the XC60 and XC90. Samuelsson told AN that he plans to travel to the U.S. soon to speak with dealers about which vehicle makes the most sense to add. Total sales for the two models were neck and neck in 2024, with the XC90 accounting for around 500 more sales in the U.S. than the XC60. You Might Also Like
Yahoo
10-04-2025
- Automotive
- Yahoo
Report: Tariffs Claim Volvo S90 Sedan as the First Automotive Victim
The will be removed from the automaker's U.S. lineup due to tariffs on imported vehicles, according to a report from . The S90 is currently produced in China, and the Trump administration applied a 125 percent tariff on China-made goods, including cars, on April 9. With the also being discontinued following the 2025 model year, the departure of the S90 would mean Volvo would no longer offer sedans in the U.S. The tariffs enacted by the United States on imported cars are expected to shake up the automotive industry, and the Volvo S90 might just be the first model to disappear from our shores as a result. According to a report from Automotive News, Volvo plans to stop sales of the S90 sedan, currently built in China, in the U.S. The rumor comes a day after the Trump administration applied a 125 percent tariff on China-made goods, including cars. Automotive News cites "a person familiar with Volvo's plans" who said that Volvo will cancel U.S. orders of the S90 next year, likely making 2025 the sedan's final model year. The S90 is a niche product in the United States, selling just 1364 units last year according to Automotive News estimates. (Volvo doesn't break out sales by model in its official U.S. sales report.) The source explained that the model's low sales volume means Volvo would rather just remove the S90 from the lineup rather than deal with the tariffs. Instead, Volvo will reportedly center its attention on its top-selling models. The strongest sellers are, unsurprisingly, its SUVs: the XC40, XC60, and XC90. If the S90 does leave Volvo's U.S. lineup, the company would no longer offer a sedan in the U.S., since the S60 is also being discontinued after the 2025 model year. Volvo did reveal the ES90 earlier this year, but the electric sedan is set to be built in China, casting doubt on its U.S. arrival. Other Volvo models are also at risk, such as the EX30, which is initially being brought over from China while Volvo ramps up production at a facility in Ghent, Belgium, for U.S. imports. We have reached out to Volvo regarding the future of the S90 sedan in the United States and will update this story when we've heard back. The S90 likely won't be the only casualty of the tariffs—despite the Trump administration implementing a 90-day pause on most of its so-called reciprocal tariffs, the 25 percent automotive tariffs remain in place. Volvo is also reportedly considering scaling up production at its factory in South Carolina to contend with the tariffs. According to a memo to retailers from Volvo seen by Automotive News, the company is debating adding another model to its U.S. production facility, which currently builds the electric EX90, S60, and Polestar 3. The factory reportedly has a capacity of 150,000 cars per year. Volvo sold just over 125,000 cars in the United States last year. You Might Also Like Car and Driver's 10 Best Cars through the Decades How to Buy or Lease a New Car Lightning Lap Legends: Chevrolet Camaro vs. Ford Mustang!
