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. 

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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.

For an alternative review of the Volvo XC60, visit our sister site carbuyer.co.uk...