Volvo XC60 review

With a classy interior, excellent build quality and comfortable ride, the Volvo XC60 remains a great alternative to rivals from premium manufacturers such as Audi, BMW and Mercedes. Safety is first-class, too, as is overall space and practicality, although the XC60's infotainment setup has its flaws – the fiddly climate controls among them.

If you're after more power than most, then the plug-in hybrid models are particularly punchy, and offer the best fuel economy and company car tax rates in the XC60 range. The second generation XC60 may have lost a little of its wow factor since its launch in 2017, but it's still worthy of consideration if you're after a premium mid-size SUV that offers excellent levels of comfort.

About the Volvo XC60

The original Volvo XC60 launched in 2008 and managed to become the Swedish firm’s best-selling car during its life. The second-generation XC60 went on sale in 2017, and sits on a scaled down version of the platform that also underpins the brand’s flagship seven-seater SUV, the XC90, also benefiting from the same suspension and engine range. The XC60 also benefited from some updates during a mid-life facelift to help keep it fresh and competitive among the mid-size premium SUV segment.

Among its laundry list of rivals is our Mid-size Premium SUV of the Year for 2023 – the Lexus NX – along with the BMW X3, Audi Q5, Jaguar F-Pace, Alfa Romeo Stelvio, Mazda CX-60, Range Rover Velar and Land Rover Discovery Sport. 

Volvo has said it will stop producing diesel engines by 2024, but has already removed oil-burners from the XC60 lineup, meaning buyers have a choice of a mild-hybrid petrol and two plug-in hybrid powertrains. All three versions use a 2.0-litre four-cylinder engine, with the plug-in hybrids – badged as the XC60 Recharge – also utilising an electric motor and 18.8kWh battery. 

The entry-level B5 mild-hybrid petrol produces 247bhp, the mid-range Recharge T6 has 345bhp on tap and the Recharge T8 pumps out 449bhp, along with 709Nm of torque. All three versions of the XC60 come with all-wheel drive as standard. As well as more-than-adequate straight-line performance for a family SUV, the plug-in hybrid XC60s offer superior fuel efficiency and big company car tax savings for business users – but more on all that later on.

Volvo has three core equipment levels for the XC60 – the entry-level Core followed by Plus and range-topping Ultimate. These replace the Momentum, R-Design and Inscription trims, which were offered until early 2022. The XC60 B5 is available in all three trim levels, with prices currently starting from just over £47,000, while the Recharge T6 can only be had in Plus trim and the Recharge T8 is available exclusively in Ultimate-spec. That, along with the more complex powertrains, explains the T6 and T8’s starting prices of around £60,000 and £68,000, respectively.

Every XC60 features alloy wheels (18 to 20-inches), a powered tailgate, two-zone climate control, wireless charging pad, numerous safety systems, front and rear parking sensors, a reversing camera, 12-inch digital driver’s display and nine-inch touchscreen with Google apps built-in, plus Apple CarPlay and Android Auto smartphone connectivity to boot. The XC60 Recharge models are also available in a ‘Bright’ exterior theme with chrome trim or ‘Dark’ that gives the car a more aggressive front end look and gloss black trim. The XC60 PHEVs are also offered with wool-blend upholstery as an alternative to the more traditional leather.

The Volvo XC60’s Scalable Product Architecture (SPA) platform means it shares a lot of parts with the larger XC90 SUV, and both models also use the same set of four-cylinder engines. There are no six-cylinder versions of the XC60, with Volvo instead relying on hybrid power and big turbochargers to compete with larger-engined rivals for pace. 

At the front, double wishbone suspension helps improve agility and comfort on the road, while the integral-link rear setup with a transverse leaf spring helps to keep weight down and improve boot space. Volvo offers an Active Four-C Chassis system as standard on the Ultimate trim, which adds adaptive dampers and air suspension at the rear.

Bumpy British roads provided a tough test when we drove a XC60 with the air suspension, but it handles this sort of tarmac with a reasonable level of composure. 

In the suspension’s Comfort mode, the XC60 balances agility and comfort well. It’s not perfect, and on larger alloy wheels the Volvo can lose its composure when it hits a bump while cornering. But overall the car still provides a good balance between involvement and ride comfort. 

The steering is lighter in the Scandinavian SUV than in its rivals, but it’s well weighted and gives you confidence in placing the car. It does lag behind rivals such as the BMW X3 and Jaguar F-Pace when it comes to dynamic ability and enjoyment, but in this class, that’s not such an issue, because owners will be more interested in ride comfort. It’s a shame, then, that the XC60 feels a little harsher than the X3 on rougher roads.

Most XC60s come on steel springs which Volvo says will translate to a firmer ride. Visibility all around is good, making the car easy to drive around town, although myriad sensors and cameras are there to protect you.

0-62mph acceleration and top speed

It might be a premium mid-size family SUV, but the XC60 is surprisingly no slouch. Every XC60 features all-wheel drive, has a top speed of 112mph, and even the mild-hybrid B5 petrol model can do 0-62mph in 6.6 seconds. The B5’s four-cylinder turbocharged engine produces 247bhp and 350Nm of torque. 

Volvo's 'Recharge' lineup of plug-in hybrids includes the 345bhp T6 and the 449bhp T8 models, which also produce 659Nm and 709Nm of torque, respectively. The Recharge T6 can sprint to 62mph in 5.4 seconds, while the more potent T8 will complete the same benchmark sprint in 4.6 seconds. 

The electric motor in the plug-in hybrid XC60s produces ample power for when you’re driving around at low speeds around town, and when the engine does come to life, it’s almost seamless, with just a slight hum alerting you to its presence.

Volvo has declared that it’ll stop production of diesel engines by 2024, but even if you wanted a diesel-powered XC60, oil-burners have already been removed from the lineup. There’s no fully-electric version mind you, but buyers do have a choice of a mild-hybrid assisted petrol engine or two plug-in hybrids (PHEVs).

The B5 mild-hybrid is cheaper and doesn’t require you to plug it in to charge it. At the heart of the system is a starter/generator that uses 48V technology to harness electricity that would otherwise be wasted under braking, and then gives it back to the engine during acceleration. The idea is that this energy helps the car to improve fuel economy, without the need to plug it in.

According to Volvo, the mild-hybrid XC60 will average 35.3mpg across a mixture of driving conditions, while CO2 emissions stand at 181g/km.

If you do have somewhere you could charge a car, but aren’t quite ready to make the switch to electric, the two plug-in-hybrid XC60s could be the solution. Both the XC60 Recharge T6 and T8 pair a 2.0-litre four-cylinder petrol engine with an electric motor and 18.8kWh battery. According to the official WLTP figures, the less powerful T6 can return 282.5mpg on average, while the T8 will manage 256.8mpg. 

That’s in ideal conditions, and if you remember to charge the XC60’s battery. Otherwise, you’ll get closer to 30mpg, as we experienced first-hand during our group test with an XC60 Recharge T6, Lexus NX 450h+ and Mazda CX-60 e-Skyactiv. With their batteries depleted, the Volvo returned 32.6mpg, compared to 42.3mpg from the Mazda and a very impressive 48.9mpg from the Lexus, which works as a full-hybrid once the main PHEV system battery is flat.

CO2 emissions stand at 23g/km and 24g/km for the T6 and T8, respectively. That’s why the mild-hybrid XC60 currently attracts a 37 per cent Benefit-in-Kind (BiK) company car tax rate, compared to the 8 per cent band the plug-in hybrid versions land in. That said, neither can match the rock-bottom 2 per cent rate electric cars like Volvo’s new EX30 and EX90 attract in for the time being.

If you decide to buy a secondhand XC60, you may get one with a B4 diesel motor, which emits from 167g/km of CO2 and returns 39.2-44.1mpg on the combined cycle. During our own testing with an XC60 B4 we managed to average 38.8mpg, which is pretty close to the manufacturer's figures. Another discontinued option is the B6 petrol model which will require more trips to the fuel station as Volvo says it can achieve an average of 34.0mpg at best.

Electric range, battery and charging

The XC60 Recharge originally launched with an 11.6kWh battery but it was increased to 18.8kWh as part of a series of updates in 2022, although only 14.9kWh of that is a usable capacity. Either way, the upgrade boosted the plug-in hybrid XC60’s pure-electric driving range from 33 to 47 miles, which is further than a BMW X3 or Lexus NX PHEV will officially go on a single charge, although not by much.

Fully recharging the XC60 Recharge’s battery takes about three hours using a typical 7kW home wallbox. Like the majority of plug-in hybrids, the XC60 Recharge doesn’t offer any rapid-charging capabilities.

Insurance groups

The mild-hybrid Volvo XC60 sits in insurance groups 34-38 (out of 50), depending on the exact trim level you go for. Meanwhile the XC60 Recharge T6 lands in group 40 and the more powerful Recharge T8 sits in group 41, regardless of the specification.

Depreciation

The XC60 performs reasonably in terms of holding on to its value. According to our latest expert data, on average it retains around 51 per cent of its list price over three years and 36,000 miles. 

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The second-generation XC60 launched back in 2017 and has received a steady stream of updates ever since, including powertrain updates, trim level restructuring and a mid-life facelift. The XC60 is less dramatic-looking than a Range Rover Velar or Lexus NX, but the Volvo is still very handsome. It shares plenty of elements with the larger XC90 as well, including the ‘Thor’s Hammer’ headlights, muscular haunches and Volvo badge that sits proudly in the centre of the large grille. 

Volvo’s cabin designs don’t have the same initial wow factor as they did a few years ago, but the XC60’s interior still feels like a luxurious, relaxing place to be and it’s hard to fault the build quality. We particularly like the sturdy feel of the door handles and the steering-column stalks, while the driving position has loads of adjustment and the seats themselves are supremely comfortable. 

The XC60 we used for our twin test against the updated Range Rover Velar also featured the optional wool-blend seat upholstery. If you don’t fancy a cabin filled with leather hides, it’s a great alternative that feels and looks smart. Plus, when it’s combined with open-pore wood trim on the dashboard and the huge panoramic sunroof, the Volvo feels wonderfully light and airy inside.

In terms of technology, the XC60 features a large nine-inch portrait-oriented touchscreen in the centre of the dash – which we talk about further down – and there’s a 12-inch digital driver’s display behind the steering wheel. The latter simply isn’t as sharp as its rivals’ setups, and the information isn’t as well presented.

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Sat-nav, stereo and infotainment

The XC60 now uses the Android Automotive operating system, which means you get Google apps built-in. The Google-based navigation system is particularly excellent for route-plotting and traffic avoidance, loading times are quicker than systems in newer rivals, and the screen is responsive to touches.

However, at nine inches, the XC60’s touchscreen isn’t quite as grand as the displays in rivals like the Range Rover Velar or Mercedes GLC. Its portrait orientation also comes with its own set of drawbacks. When plotting a route in the navigation system, for example, the on-screen keyboard is very small, so typing an address or a postcode is very fiddly. There’s a similar issue with the temperature controls, which are fairly small unless you open the main climate menu, but that’s another button press that seems unnecessary when a simple shortcut would do the trick. 

Android Auto and Apple CarPlay are included as standard if you prefer, plus there are USB-C charging ports dotted around the cabin, with two in the centre console armrest and two for rear passengers as well. Ultimate-spec versions also feature a 15-speaker Bowers & Wilkins stereo that’s spectacularly good; the only way you’ll find better is by buying yourself a Bentley with a Naim setup.

The XC60 lacks the XC90’s seven-seat option, but there’s still enough space for the whole family to be comfy and haul a decent amount of luggage at the same time. The modern cabin design is also practical; the glove compartment and front door bins are huge, and there’s a long sliding cover in the centre console that hides two cup-holders and some additional storage space.

However we did find that the rear door bins are a little pokey and the XC60’s climate controls are also a pain to access. And as with other current Volvos, once turned on, the interior fans are irritatingly loud, even in their lowest settings.

Dimensions and size

The Volvo XC60 measures 4,708mm long, 1,999mm wide (excluding side mirrors) and 1,658mm tall, which means it’s a little shorter and lower than the Jaguar F-Pace, but wider.

It’s a big car, then, but manages to hide its size well on the road, helped by the large amount of glass that provides excellent all-round visibility. Large door mirrors also help, while the Volvo’s traditionally square shape – rounded off more than ever on the XC60 – still makes it easier to judge where all four corners of the car are compared with some rivals.

Leg room, head room & passenger space 

The XC60’s sizeable dimensions translate to decent interior space for driver and four passengers, with good knee-, shoulder- and headroom in the back once you’re inside. However there’s a transmission tunnel in the back that’s both high and wide, and it makes sitting in the middle seat a bit of a short-straw affair. 

Despite their tiny dimensions, the rear headrests are well placed and comfortable. They also fold down at the touch of a button on the touchscreen. There’s also two sets of ISOFIX mounting points in the rear that are easily accessible behind folding covers.

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Boot Space

The regular XC60 has a 483-litre boot, while the plug-in hybrid version can carry up to 468 litres with the rear seats in place. That’s a decent amount, but less than you get in any Lexus NX, and non-electrified versions of the BMW X3 and Jaguar F-Pace – more than 100 litres less in the case of the Jag. Folding the Volvo’s rear seats down expands the luggage capacity to 1,410 litres in the base model and 1,395 litres in the plug-in XC60 Recharge.

The standard-fit powered tailgate lifts high out of the way, leaving a wide opening that’s very handy, while the air suspension on top-spec models can drop the rear of the car by 40mm at the press of a button. The rear seats are easy to fold and go down completely flat, while there’s also a handy reversible mat with carpet on one side and plastic on the other, and it’ll even fold out to protect the rear bumper.

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Towing

The Volvo XC60 has a solid range of towing capacities, varying according to which engine you opt for. The maximum an XC60 is rated to tow is 2,400kg and this top braked trailer towing capacity is available with the entry-level mild-hybrid B4. The Recharge T6 and T8 Recharge plug-in hybrid models have a 2,250kg towing limit.

Volvo’s focus on safety means the XC60 is fitted with lots of potentially life-saving equipment as standard. All versions feature autonomous emergency braking (AEB), lane keep assist, dual-stage airbags and traffic sign recognition, while there’s also a system called oncoming lane mitigation, which steers away from oncoming traffic to avoid a head-on collision. 

Blind spot monitoring comes as standard with the range-topping Ultimate trim, which also features rear cross traffic alert and steering assist tech that boosts steering input to help avoid an obstacle in an emergency.

The XC60 put in a very impressive performance during its Euro NCAP crash tests in 2017 and received the industry body’s full five-star overall rating. It was also awarded a 98 per cent score for the adult occupant protection and a 95 per cent in the safety assistance technology.

Unfortunately, the XC60 didn’t make it onto our list of the best cars to own this year, although the smaller XC40 managed to crack the 75-car list and finished 61st. Meanwhile, Volvo as a brand came 13th (out of 32) in our best car manufacturer rankings, which is also based on owners’ feedback from our most recent Driver Power customer satisfaction survey.

Warranty

All new Volvos are covered by a three-year/60,000-mile warranty, which is the same amount of coverage you get with any new Audi, but doesn’t match the unlimited-mileage cover of BMW and Mercedes’ three-year factory guarantees.

Servicing

Servicing your Volvo XC60 should be fairly straightforward. The XC60 needs a service once a year or every 10,000 miles, and fixed-price plans are available.