Compare the2025 Kia Niro Plug-In HybridVS 2025 Volvo S60

When descending a steep, off-road slope, the Niro Plug-In Hybrid’s standard Downhill Brake Control allows you to creep down safely. The S60 doesn’t offer Downhill Brake Control.

Both the Niro Plug-In Hybrid and the S60 have standard driver and passenger frontal airbags, front side-impact airbags, driver knee 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, daytime running lights, lane departure warning systems, blind spot warning systems, rearview cameras, rear cross-path warning, driver alert monitors and available front parking sensors.

The Niro Plug-In Hybrid comes with a full 5-year/60,000-mile basic warranty, which covers the entire truck and includes 24-hour roadside assistance. The S60’s 4-year/50,000-mile basic warranty expires 1 year or 10,000 miles sooner.

Kia’s powertrain warranty covers the Niro Plug-In Hybrid 6 years and 50,000 miles longer than Volvo covers the S60. Any repair needed on the engine, transmission, axles, joints or driveshafts is fully covered for 10 years or 100,000 miles. Coverage on the S60 ends after only 4 years or 50,000 miles.

There are almost 3 times as many Kia dealers as there are Volvo dealers, which makes it much easier should you ever need service under the Niro Plug-In Hybrid’s warranty.

J.D. Power and Associates’ 2024 Initial Quality Study of new car owners surveyed provide the statistics that show that Kia vehicles are better in initial quality than Volvo vehicles. J.D. Power ranks Kia fourth in initial quality, above the industry average. With 79 more problems per 100 vehicles, Volvo is ranked 31st, below the industry average.

J.D. Power and Associates’ 2024 survey of the owners of three-year-old vehicles provides the long-term dependability statistics that show that Kia vehicles are more reliable than Volvo vehicles. J.D. Power ranks Kia above average in long-term dependability. With 3 more problems per 100 vehicles in the first three years of ownership, Volvo is rated below average.

From surveys of all its subscribers, Consumer Reports’ March 2025 Auto Issue reports that Kia vehicles are more reliable than Volvo vehicles. Consumer Reports ranks Kia 6 places higher in reliability than Volvo.

On the EPA test cycle the Niro Plug-In Hybrid running on electricity gets better mileage than the S60 T8 running on electricity (113 city/102 hwy vs. 74 city/73 hwy MPGe).

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

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

The Niro Plug-In Hybrid offers a standard sequential manual gearbox (SMG). With no clutch pedal to worry about and a fully automatic mode, an SMG is much more efficient than a conventional automatic but just as easy to drive. The S60 doesn’t offer an SMG or a conventional manual transmission.

The front and rear suspension of the Niro 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 Niro Plug-In Hybrid’s turning circle is 2.3 feet tighter than the S60’s (34.8 feet vs. 37.1 feet).

The Kia Niro Plug-In Hybrid may be more efficient, handle and accelerate better because it weighs about 450 to 950 pounds less than the Volvo S60.

The Niro Plug-In Hybrid is 1 foot, 2.1 inches shorter than the S60, making the Niro Plug-In Hybrid easier to handle, maneuver and park in tight spaces.

The front grille of the Niro 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.

The Niro Plug-In Hybrid has 9.1 cubic feet more passenger volume than the S60 (105.1 vs. 96).

The Niro Plug-In Hybrid has 3.1 inches more front headroom, .1 inches more front shoulder room, 2.3 inches more rear headroom, 4.6 inches more rear legroom and .9 inches more rear shoulder room than the S60.

The Niro Plug-In Hybrid SX’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 improve rear visibility by keeping the rear window clear, the Niro Plug-In Hybrid has a standard rear wiper. The S60 doesn’t offer a rear wiper.

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

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

To quickly and conveniently keep personal devices charged without cables tangling and wearing out, the Kia Niro Plug-In Hybrid has a standard wireless phone charging system (Qi) in the center console. Wireless charging costs extra on the S60.

Insurance will cost less for the Niro Plug-In Hybrid owner. The Complete Car Cost Guide estimates that insurance for the Niro Plug-In Hybrid will cost $2475 to $10080 less than the S60 over a five-year period.

The Niro Plug-In Hybrid will cost the buyer less in the long run because of its superior resale value. The IntelliChoice estimates that the Niro Plug-In Hybrid will retain 53.34% to 55.27% of its original price after five years, while the S60 only retains 40.81% to 45.27%.

Consumer Reports® recommends both the Kia Niro Plug-In Hybrid and the Volvo S60, based on reliability, safety and performance.

The Kia Niro outsold the Volvo 60 Series by over two to one during 2024.