Comparison: Turning circle Volvo S60/V60 vs. competitors 2025

Over the generations, the S60/V60 has been on a diet, shedding turning circle meters with the nimbleness of a cat. The first generation, spanning from 2000 to 2009, maintained a consistent turning circle of 11.80 meters—not exactly compact, but then again, who was prancing around city streets back then? Come 2010 and the second generation waltzed in, trimming the fat to a sleeker 11.30 meters. But it's the latest iteration, the third generation from 2018 onwards, that truly takes the cake—with a turning circle of just 11.00 meters. Indeed, a testament to Volvo's commitment to making their vehicles less like cumbersome mammoths and more like sprightly gazelles.

In the grand ballroom of Volvo models, the S60/V60 finds its place with the grace of a seasoned dancer. When compared to its siblings, it’s evident that the S60/V60 doesn’t just move; it grooves. Take the Volvo EX30, which pirouettes with an even sharper turning circle of 10.60 meters—ah, the advantages of being the newer, smaller sibling. Yet, the S60/V60 shares its 11.00 meter figure with the V60 and its Plug-in Hybrid variant, indicating a lineage of models designed to navigate the urban jungle with ease. Other Volvos, like the XC90 with its larger 12.10 meters, could learn a thing or two from our agile protagonists.

How does the S60/V60 compare to the automotive aristocracy it finds itself pitted against? It's like watching different schools of ballet competing for the limelight. The Jaguar XF spins a wider circle at 11.50 meters, despite its longer length and wheelbase, suggesting that size doesn't always dictate agility. Meanwhile, the Hyundai Grand Santa Fe and the BMW X5 both stretch and reach turning circles of 11.20 and 12.10 meters, respectively, with the Hyundai managing a slightly smaller radius despite its comparable dimensions. The dance, it seems, is not just about the moves but how well you execute them: the S60/V60 proves to be a commendable performer, balancing between the grace of compact dimensions and the necessity of maneuverability in its urban ballet.