Compare the2022 Honda Accord HybridVS 2022 Volvo S60

In the past twenty years hundreds of infants and young children have died after being left in vehicles, usually by accident. When turning the vehicle off, drivers of the Accord Hybrid are reminded to check the back seat if they opened the rear door before starting out. The S60 doesn’t offer a back seat reminder.

The Honda Accord Hybrid has standard driver and front passenger side knee airbags mounted low on the dashboard. These airbags helps prevent the driver and front passenger from sliding under their seatbelts or the main frontal airbags; this keeps them better positioned during a collision for maximum protection. Knee airbags also help keep the legs from striking the dashboard, preventing knee and leg injuries in the case of a serious frontal collision. The S60 doesn’t offer a front passenger side knee airbag.

Both the Accord Hybrid and the S60 have standard driver and passenger frontal airbags, front side-impact airbags, driver knee airbags, side-impact head airbags, front 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, rearview cameras, driver alert monitors, available blind spot warning systems, rear parking sensors and rear cross-path warning.

The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration does 35 MPH front crash tests on new vehicles. In this test, results indicate that the Honda Accord Hybrid is safer than the Volvo S60:

New test not comparable to pre-2011 test results. More stars = Better. Lower test results = Better.

The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration does side impact tests on new vehicles. In this test, which crashes the vehicle into a flat barrier at 38.5 MPH and into a post at 20 MPH, results indicate that the Honda Accord Hybrid is safer than the Volvo S60:

New test not comparable to pre-2011 test results. More stars = Better. Lower test results = Better.

Honda’s powertrain warranty covers the Accord Hybrid 1 year and 10,000 miles longer than Volvo covers the S60. Any repair needed on the engine, transmission, axles, joints or driveshafts is fully covered for 5 years or 60,000 miles. Coverage on the S60 ends after only 4 years or 50,000 miles.

There are almost 4 times as many Honda dealers as there are Volvo dealers, which makes it much easier should you ever need service under the Accord Hybrid’s warranty.

J.D. Power and Associates’ 2021 Initial Quality Study of new car owners surveyed provide the statistics that show that Honda vehicles are better in initial quality than Volvo vehicles. J.D. Power ranks Honda 17th in initial quality. With 46 more problems per 100 vehicles, Volvo is ranked 29th.

From surveys of all its subscribers, Consumer Reports’ January 2021 Auto Issue reports that Honda vehicles are more reliable than Volvo vehicles. Consumer Reports ranks Honda 13 places higher in reliability than Volvo.

On the EPA test cycle the Accord Hybrid gets better mileage than the S60 running its gasoline engine:

To lower fuel costs and make buying fuel easier, the Honda Accord Hybrid uses regular unleaded gasoline. The S60 requires premium, which can cost 20 to 55 cents more per gallon.

In its Green Vehicle Guide, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) rates the Honda Accord Hybrid higher (7 out of 10) than the Volvo S60 (5 to 7). This means the Accord Hybrid produces up to 8 pounds less smog-producing pollutants than the S60 every 15,000 miles.

The Accord Hybrid has a standard continuously variable transmission (CVT). With no “steps” between gears, it can keep the engine at the most efficient speed for fuel economy, or keep it at its peak horsepower indefinitely for maximum acceleration. The S60 doesn’t offer a CVT.

The front and rear suspension of the Accord 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.

The Accord Hybrid offers an available driver-adjustable suspension system. It allows the driver to choose between an extra-supple ride, reducing fatigue on long trips, or a sport setting, which allows maximum control for tricky roads. The S60’s suspension doesn’t offer adjustable shock absorbers.

The Accord Hybrid’s drift compensation steering can automatically compensate for road conditions which would cause the vehicle to drift from side to side, helping the driver to keep the vehicle straight more easily. The S60 doesn’t offer drift compensation steering.

The Honda Accord Hybrid may be more efficient, handle and accelerate better because it weighs about 400 to 1050 pounds less than the Volvo S60.

The front grille of the Accord 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 Accord Hybrid uses computer-generated active noise cancellation to help remove annoying noise and vibration from the passenger compartment, especially at low frequencies. The S60 doesn’t offer active noise cancellation.

Because it has more passenger and cargo room, the EPA rates the Accord Hybrid a Large car, while the S60 is rated a Compact.

The Accord Hybrid has 9.6 cubic feet more passenger volume than the S60 (105.6 vs. 96).

The Accord Hybrid has 2.1 inches more front headroom, 2.2 inches more front shoulder room, .1 inches more rear headroom, 5.2 inches more rear legroom, 1.6 inches more rear hip room and 2 inches more rear shoulder room than the S60.

The Accord Hybrid has a much larger trunk than the S60 (16.7 vs. 11.6 cubic feet).

The Accord Hybrid EX-L/Touring’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.

Consumer Reports rated the Accord Hybrid’s headlight performance “Very Good,” a higher rating than the S60’s headlights, which were rated “Good.”

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

The Accord Hybrid will cost the buyer less in the long run because of its superior resale value. The IntelliChoice estimates that the Accord Hybrid will retain 48.24% to 49.8% of its original price after five years, while the S60 only retains 39.31% to 47.07%.

IntelliChoice estimates that five-year ownership costs (depreciation, financing, insurance, fuel, fees, repairs and maintenance) for the Honda Accord Hybrid will be $12490 to $31052 less than for the Volvo S60.

Consumer Reports® recommends both the Honda Accord Hybrid and the Volvo S60, based on reliability, safety and performance.

The Accord was chosen as one of Car and Driver’s “Top Ten” for 25 of the last 27 years. The S60 has never been a Car and Driver “Top Ten” pick.

The Honda Accord outsold the Volvo 60 Series by over 14 to one during the 2021 model year.