Volvo XC60 review - MPG, CO2 and running costs
Diesels are more frugal on longer journeys, but greener T6 and T8 plug-in models offer big company car tax savings
Customers looking towards XC60 ownership will benefit from big improvements in the way the new model drives, but steep prices mean you certainly pay a premium for it. The range starts from around £45,000, while the top-spec T8 Recharge Ultimate model is now close to £65,000.
It’s still cheaper and better equipped than many rivals, while improved residual values should soften the blow for private buyers swapping out of an PCP deal on the old XC60 and into a similar arrangement on the new car.
The B4 diesel all-wheel-drive version has CO2 emissions from 168g/km, with fuel economy of 39.2-44.1mpg on the combined cycle. During our time with the B4 we managed 38.8mpg, which is pretty close to the manufacturer's figures.
Fuel consumption in the petrol-powered variants suffers quite considerably – the B5 is only able to return a claimed maximum of up to 35.7mpg on the combined cycle, and CO2 levels are also higher, from 180g/km. The B6 required even more trips to the fuel station, because when offered, the 296bhp model could only achieve an average of 34.0mpg.
The XC60 also gets the T6 Recharge plug-in hybrid versions which feature a 2.0-litre petrol engine and electric motors. Company drivers will find this especially appealing, with CO2 levels between 23g/km and 64g/km. The list price is steep, but if your company will pay that, it should save you a small fortune in tax. Fuel-efficiency is up to 282.1mpg according to Volvo’s figures, but real-world economy will come down to how often you can top-up and use its battery pack and electric motor.
Insurance
Insurance premiums for the XC60 will not be cheap. While insurance groups for the latest trim levels haven’t been announced yet, the entry-level front-wheel-drive B5 petrol model was in group 34, while the four-wheel-drive 194bhp diesel in Momentum trim sat in group 32. The T8 Recharge plug-in hybrid delivers a total output of 449bhp and as such receives a higher insurance rating of group 42.
Depreciation
The XC60 performs reasonably in terms of holding on to its value. On average it retains around 45% of its list price over 3 years and 36,000 miles. The plug-in hybrid models tend to fare a little better than the rest of the range at between 48% to 52%, while the 296bhp B6 petrol is not only thirsty for fuel and expensive to insure, it's also the worst at maintaining value with just a 39% return against its new price after three years.
