Volvo XC60 review - Practicality, comfort and boot space

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.

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 sizable 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

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.

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.