Volvo S60 Vs. BMW 3 Series: A 2025 Luxury Sedan Comparison

It's time for a new year to begin, and you deserve a luxury sedan like the Volvo S60 vs. BMW 3 Series to carry you through – but which model will get your motor running? At Volvo Cars Midlothian, we do more than sell and lease premium vehicles; we equip our drivers with the information they need to choose a car they love.

If you're on the fence about your next sedan, our 2025 Volvo S60 vs. 2025 BMW 3 Series review can help. We'll review each model's specs, interiors, technology, and safety to help you find your best fit – though we must say the deck is stacked in favor of the Volvo S60, and here's why.

Volvo S60 vs. BMW 3 Series: Legacies of Luxury Enter an Electrified Future

These sedans have been staples of each automaker's lineups for years, giving drivers around the globe the supple seating, refined cabins, and reliable performance that only luxury brands can provide. Though the Volvo S60 vs. BMW 3 Series sedans have been wildly successful, Volvo Cars and BMW have their eyes on the future, and 2025 may very well be the final year for both these illustrious sedans.

Volvo Cars announced their plans to move toward a more sustainable, fully electric lineup, and BMW is expected to follow suit in coming years, meaning we'll soon be waving goodbye to the iconic Volvo S60 and the BMW 3 Series – but before we do, let's see how each car's 2025 updates can help them go out with a bang.

Volvo S60 vs. BMW 3 Series: Interior and Technology

Purchase or lease a new five-passenger Volvo S60, and you'll be sitting pretty in one of three gorgeous trims: Core, Plus, or Ultra. The Core variant comes loaded with top-level features like these, so much so that its price point (and our new Volvo specials) almost seems too good to be true:

• Panoramic roof
• Google Built-In services
• Apple CarPlay® and Bluetooth®
• 9-inch center infotainment touchscreen
• Leatherette upholstery
• Flat cargo floor with no lip for easy packing

Upgrade to a Plus or Ultra Volvo S60 trim, and you'll gain a 360-degree camera and leather upholstery. Sounds like a winning sedan! But how do the two BMW 3 Series trims compare? Take home an entry-level BMW 3 Series 330i sedan to enjoy:

• Moonroof
• 14.9-inch curved display
• BMW navigation system
• Leatherette upholstery

Volvo S60 vs. BMW 3 Series: Specs and Performance

Today's review is focused on the specific versions of the Volvo S60 vs. BMW 3 Series, primarily because BMW engineers just discontinued the plug-in hybrid version of the BMW 3 Series. You can still get a 2025 Volvo S60 Plug-In Hybrid, however!

As for the Volvo S60 and BMW 3 Series specs, these sedans are quite evenly matched. Horsepower and torque are so close that real-world performance feels indistinguishable, and their 0-60 miles per hour rates are about one second apart. As we mentioned above, the Volvo S60 vs. BMW 3 Series powertrains come with two-wheel-drive power in each brand's entry-level model but add all-wheel-drive capabilities to their upper trims.

Quick Volvo S60 vs. BMW 3 Series Specs

Volvo S60 vs. BMW 3 Series: Safety

Did you know Volvo Cars was the first automaker to introduce a Blind Spot Information System? In 2003, Volvo engineers saw a need for drivers to have better visibility and launched their signature BLIS™ safety feature. Now, every new Volvo model, including the new Volvo S60 for sale, comes equipped with this groundbreaking technology, as well as these elevated safety systems:

• Cross-Traffic Alert
• Adaptive Power Steering
• Rain-sensing windshield wipers
• Park Assist camera
• Collision Mitigation Support
• Lane-Keeping Aid
• Oncoming Lane Mitigation
• Slippery Road Alert

In comparison, the BMW 3 Series offers many of the same safety features you might find on a lower-quality vehicle, but we didn't find any outstanding safety innovations inside its cabin. Its emergency braking assist and pre-collision systems are the car's claim to protective fame, and while the 2025 BMW 3 Series does get new paint colors and a restyled steering wheel, the vehicle does not stack up on safety.

Test-Drive the Luxe Volvo S60 at Volvo Cars Midlothian

We sincerely hope our BMW 3 Series vs. Volvo S60 review has helped you choose the automaker that's best for your lifestyle. We expect that model is the 2025 Volvo S60 – Volvo Cars Midlothian has your test-drive keys ready and waiting! Call or visit today to learn more about this car's three stunning trims, explore ways to finance or lease a new Volvo S60, or compare this model to our other regal Volvo options.

Frequently Asked Questions

How does the safety of the Volvo S60 compare to the BMW 3 Series?

The BMW 3 Series does many things well, but in a Volvo S60 vs. BMW 3 Series safety comparison, the Volvo sedan wins without a doubt. Both cars come with the expected offerings – collision mitigation, lane-keeping aids, and backup cameras – but only the Volvo S60 takes occupant protection to new levels with its Slippery Road Alert and Whiplash Injury Protection System.

Which has better fuel economy: the Volvo S60 or the BMW 3 Series?

The 2025 BMW 3 Series gets slightly better fuel economy in both RWD or AWD powertrain configurations, but the Volvo S60 hovers just behind with an EPA-estimated 30 MPG (Combined) in FWD² and 28 MPG (Combined) with AWD on board.³ These sedans have similar 0-60 rates: Two-wheel drive Volvo S60 vs. BMW 3 Series models reaching 60 mph in 6.4 and 5.6 seconds, respectively.

What are the performance differences between the Volvo S60 and the BMW 3 Series?

The primary performance differences between the Volvo S60 vs. BMW 3 Series are in horsepower, torque, and MPG. The new BMW 3 Series produces higher engine power and a little better fuel economy than its Volvo Cars rival, though it may be worth noting that the Volvo S60 is rated for up to 2,000 pounds of towing when properly equipped, and the BMW 3 Series is not.

¹Lifetime warranty on parts is limited, non-transferable and only applies to the original purchaser. Part must be installed at an authorized Volvo dealer. See http://volvo.custhelp.com/app/answers/detail/a_id/9411/~/volvo-lifetime-parts-%26-laborwarranty for further details. Excludes consumable parts due to normal wear. See dealer for details. Non-transferable.

²EPA estimated range is 30 MPG combined (B5 FWD). Your actual range will vary for many reasons, including but not limited to, driving conditions, how and where you drive, how you maintain your vehicle, battery-package/condition, and other factors. See https://www.fueleconomy.gov/

³EPA estimated range is 28 MPG combined (B5 AWD). Your actual range will vary for many reasons, including but not limited to, driving conditions, how and where you drive, how you maintain your vehicle, battery-package/condition, and other factors. See https://www.fueleconomy.gov/

⁴Preliminary EPA-estimated figures are for comparison purposes only. Your actual mileage will vary, depending on speed, driving habits, trip length and driving conditions; actual mileage may be lower.

⁵When properly equipped.