Volvo XC60 Review (2024)

Introduction

It wasn't that many years ago that when someone mentioned the word 'Volvo' to you, you'd think of executive saloons and estate cars.

However, in recent years, Volvo has become an SUV specialist. Thankfully, Volvo’s SUVs are just as capable as their traditional saloon cars were.

The flagship, the Volvo XC90, is the top of the range, but we're focusing on its slightly smaller sibling, the XC60.

First ushered in during 2008, it’s the mid-sized SUV, sitting between the XC40 and XC90 in Volvo’s combustion-engined line-up, although hybridisation of the range has long since been introduced.

The Volvo XC60 has got the Audi Q5 and the BMW X3 in its sights, so it needs to be on point. No pressure, then...

At a Glance

If the XC60 drives as well as it looks, it should have no problem holding a Scandinavian candle to its German foes.

It looks very smart, with the familiar, wide Volvo grille. The grille connects to a small LED strip at the sides, which quickly grows outwards to accommodate the main headlights.

Beneath that, the bodywork has a more chiselled appearance. There are two air intakes, each with horizontal chrome décor in the middle.

The air intakes’ surrounding bodywork forms two diagonal struts. Between them is a trapezoidal lower grille, sitting above a chrome splitter.

There are a couple of prominent door indentations towards the bottom at the sides. Although the wheel arches don’t bulge out much, a noticeable swelling can be found in the shoulders, which has become a Volvo trademark.

Those shoulders give the rear its familiar shape, crafted around the taillights, which extend upwards either side of the rear windows and cut horizontally into the tailgate.

The XC60 is sophisticated and elegant, yet quite sporty and athletic at the same time.

Key Features

Three trim levels are offered on the Volvo XC60.

The entry-level Core gets 18-inch diamond-cut alloy wheels, a nine-inch infotainment touchscreen with Google native services, including voice control, Apple CarPlay, digital radio, satellite navigation, and a 12-inch digital driver display.

Other highlights include a powered tailgate, panoramic roof, dual-zone climate control, humidity sensors, heated front seats, two-way powered lumbar support, rear-view camera and wireless phone charger.

The Plus trim upgrades to 19-inch alloys and adds high-level interior illumination, a Harman Kardon premium sound system, an air purifier, a heated steering wheel, a 360-degree camera, adaptive cruise control, remote keyless entry, and more.

You also get hands-free functionality for the powered tailgate and body-coloured door handles.

The top-of-the-range Ultra gets 20-inch alloys, a Bowers and Wilkins audio system, ventilated massage front seats, active air suspension, full LED headlights, a head-up display, tinted rear windows, and additional interior décor.

Additionally, the Volvo houses four-way powered lumbar support and adjustable front seats with a memory function.

All three trims can also be upgraded to the Black Edition, which, as the name suggests, gives the car an all-black finish.

Alternatively, a 'Dark' theme offers much the same, with black exterior styling elements such as grilles, meshes, door mirrors, and window frames.

These features are included as standard on the mid-range Plus trim, while the flagship Ultra grade can add it as an optional extra.

In terms of power, all XC60s are automatic plug-in hybrids (PHEVs) with 2.0-litre, four-cylinder petrol engines and an electric motor.

The Core and Plus trims come with the T6 powertrain, producing a total of 350PS.

Choosing the Ultra trim gets you the more powerful T8 mill, with 455PS.

Alternatively, there’s the B5 mild hybrid, delivering 250PS.

It is worth noting that there are slight differences between the equipment levels offered on the mild hybrid and the plug-in hybrid, but they're generally the same.

Range & Batteries

All PHEV versions of the XC60 come with an 18.8kWh (14.9kWh usable) battery.

The lower-powered T6 can have a 51-mile range in the Core and 50.3 miles in the Plus. The T8 manages 49.7 miles.

In reality, you’ll not get near these figures in the real world – mid-30s is more realistic. But the official range figure is important for company car users, as we’ll explain later.

Performance & Drive

We are testing the top-of-the-range model – the Ultra trim with the T8 powertrain.

455PS on tap gets it from 0 to 62mph in just 4.9 seconds, which feels ferocious in a car this big.

If fuel economy is a concern, the T8 can start up, move off, and perform all everyday driving tasks without the engine even coming into play.

In fact, you can go from a standing start to 70mph without the combustion unit being required. This is a serene experience, especially as the electric motors are quieter than most electric cars at speed.

Admittedly, you'll be down on power for all this time, but when the engine kicks in, the combination of petrol and electric horses results in effortless driving, acceleration, and overtaking.

The lower-powered T6, however, is no slouch. It offers similar characteristics, with the only real difference being that it's simply not quite as quick. Zero to 62mph takes a mere 5.7 seconds.

A 6.9-second 0-62mph is offered by the B5 mild hybrid, which is still brisk.

Both will more than suffice, leaving us to conclude that the T8’s main appeal is to performance seekers who want the most powerful version.

Because the powertrain is linked to the trim level, the big difference is in ride comfort and handling.

Whereas the Core and Plus models are fitted with standard suspension, the Ultra gets air suspension. This offers a noticeable improvement in comfort levels, providing an extra layer of absorption against potholes and uneven road surfaces.

That said, the standard suspension of the other models doesn’t do a bad job, although the ride doesn’t feel quite as settled as the Ultra version.

However, it shouldn't be a deal-breaker for those looking to save money by avoiding the top-spec model. Lesser models also get smaller alloys, which mitigate their inferiority in terms of comfort.

The cheaper B5 mild hybrid is available in Ultra trim with the air suspension, so there’s a way of getting the best of both worlds.

All models handle well for a car of this size, controlling body roll reasonably in faster bends. Okay, the steering doesn’t weight up that much when pushing on, but you can adjust it via the touchscreen.

With all-wheel drive, grip levels are good, and the XC60 is still adept at cornering, suggesting Volvo has succeeded in marrying up compelling powertrains with agility.

The XC60 isn't quite a match for performance-focused rivals, though - and in the PHEV, the added weight of the electric motor and batteries means it’s less sprightly than non-PHEV XC60s.

Overall, the XC60 is a blend of sophistication and quiet, elegant performance. Although it isn't a class leader in terms of refinement, Volvo is deserving of its reputation at the premium end of the market.

Charging

The XC60 PHEV's maximum charging rate is 6.4kW, making it ideal for use with a home wall box, which typically maxes out at 7kW anyway.

A zero to 100% top-up takes around four hours, although you can almost double that if you charge using a standard three-pin household plug.

These figures are the same regardless of whether you’ve got the T6 or T8.

Running Costs & Emissions

The T8 returns a claimed 282.5mpg, emitting 23g/km of CO2.

In the Core, the lower-powered T6 yields 313.9mpg (22g/km CO2) while the Plus achieves 282.5mpg (23g/km CO2).

The B5 returns 35.8-36.7mpg (175-179g/km CO2) depending on trim level.

The PHEVs’ all-electric range figures, which we mentioned earlier, are good enough to qualify for the 8 per cent band for Benefit In Kind tax, which will make all plug-in versions appealing as company cars.

Volvo also enjoys an improving reputation for reliability, scoring impressively highly compared with other premium brands.

Interior & Technology

The XC60's cabin looks very impressive - Volvo isn’t the class leader, but it’s certainly not far behind.

Our test car features a dual colour scheme, blending the typically darker materials with creamy white upholstery on the seats and bottom half of the dashboard while looking the part.

Add that to a crystal gear selector and some piano black surfaces, and you have an award-winning interior.

It looks premium, sophisticated, classy and refined.

Admittedly, the massive air vents in the middle, which sit on either side of a portrait-oriented infotainment touchscreen, are excessive and spoil the otherwise smooth dashboard.

In fact, given the infotainment screen is only nine inches, which is on the small side nowadays, we wondered why Volvo couldn’t have moved the air vents elsewhere to accommodate a larger screen, especially as some of its icons are too small.

Nevertheless, the infotainment system is cool.

Designed alongside Google, it’s crystal clear, responsive, and intuitive, with a simple menu layout. Apps such as Google Maps and Google's voice assistant are native to the car, which helps enormously.

Smartphone mirroring is available to iPhones through Apple CarPlay, but the temptation to use this is reduced given the benefits of using the car’s native systems.

Interestingly, Android Auto isn’t supported, but that’s because it would replicate too many features, given the infotainment itself is an Android system.

Likewise, the 12.3-inch digital driver's display behind the steering wheel displays Google Maps, so you get a full-screen layout of your route ahead when the SatNav is in use.

We would like more customisability when the map isn't in use, but what’s left in front of you is still very clear and informative.

The one downside to the Google infotainment is that there are very few physical controls, so even the climate control must be set inside the touchscreen.

Although the system is easy to navigate, it’s still not as convenient as being able to reach for physical buttons when you’re trying to adjust the temperature on the move.

Boot Space & Practicality

Even though the XC60 isn’t the biggest SUV in Volvo’s range, the driving position is still imposingly high.

Volvo also ticks the box for convenience and comfort. We get power adjustment in both front seats and memory function, although you'll get manual adjustment if you avoid the top Ultra trim.

At least the mid-range Plus trim gets a heated steering wheel, while all models get an electric lumbar adjustment.

Thanks in part to the high driving position, visibility out of the front is great. Volvo has also kept the front window pillars as thin as possible, which helps.

The rear isn’t quite as convenient, partly due to the diagonal angle of the back window and the much thicker rear pillars, but it’s still better than some competitors.

A rear-view camera and front and rear parking sensors are standard, and they can be upgraded to a 360-degree surround-view camera on all but the entry-level trim.

Space inside the cabin won’t be an issue, especially in the front.

Even the very tallest front seat occupants won't be challenged by legroom or headroom - and the front seat adjustment has lots of travel.

The cabin also feels very wide, so you won’t be banging elbows with the person sitting next to you.

In the back, it’s not quite as generous, and a middle-seat passenger will have to straddle a hump in the middle of the floor. But there’s still plenty of room to fit two grown adults in comfort in the outer two seats.

Three adults will fit, although it won't be pure relaxation on a longer journey. Those needing to transport three rear-seated adults comfortably should look at the larger XC90, which also has the added benefit of being a seven-seater.

Happily, the panoramic roof, which is now standard on all XC60 models, doesn't reduce headroom as much as we'd expected.

The boot space measures 468 litres, marginally more than in a BMW X3 PHEV and roughly the same as in an Audi Q5 PHEV.

The figure is 483 litres in the mild hybrid.

It expands to 1,395 litres (1,410 litres in the mild hybrid) if you fold the rear seats down. The flat floor means there's no loading lip, which is handy for sliding larger, heavier objects in and out.

The seats only fold in a 60:40 split, which is disappointing for a car with premium ambitions, given most of its foes offer the more versatile 40:20:40 split. Nevertheless, there’s a 'ski-hatch' style opening, which means you can slide long but thin objects through if you don’t need the seats folded down.

There is plenty of interior storage in the XC60’s cabin, including charitably sized door bins, a centre console cubby and a big glove compartment.

Safety

Euro NCAP tested the XC60 in 2017 and it earned a five-star rating, although this has now expired. Euro NCAP has raised the bar several times since.

Still, the Volvo scored a superb 98 per cent for adult occupants, 87 per cent for children, and 95 per cent for safety assists at the time. That averages out at 93 per cent and is one of the highest ratings we’ve seen.

All models include automatic emergency braking, intelligent speed assist, lane keeping aid and lane departure warning, oncoming lane mitigation, road sign information, tyre pressure monitoring, and hill descent control as standard.

Plus and Ultra models get a 360-degree camera, adaptive cruise control, blind spot monitoring and cross-traffic alert, park assist, rear collision warning, and pilot assist.

Options

As we mentioned earlier, all XC60s can upgrade to a Black Edition, although this isn’t cheap for what’s essentially lots of black paint and décor.

Non-Black Edition versions come with a choice of eight colours, including (ironically) black, denim blue, red, dark grey, grey, silver, warm silver ‘dusk’, or white.

Each trim can upgrade an inch on its wheel size, too. A 22-inch wheel is even available for the Ultra version, but we wouldn’t recommend it.

Various upholstery colours are also available on the Plus trim, with even more choices on the Ultra. A convenience pack adds extra storage space for sunglasses and boot nets, and the Car Protection pack adds floor mats, boot liners, and scuff plates.

Other accessories offered include booster cushions, mud flaps, rear tinted windows, tow bars, door running boards, charging cable bags, and a tracker.

Rival Cars

The three obvious plug-in alternatives to the XC60 are the Audi Q5, BMW X3 and the Mercedes-Benz GLC.

Interestingly, it’s the Volvo that’s the most expensive, with the X3 being the cheapest.

Lexus has the NX, which also costs less than the XC60 to purchase outright, while the Land Rover Discovery Sport is cheaper.

If we’ve got you into a money-saving mood, the surprisingly good Mazda CX-60 and the Honda CR-V are worth shortlisting.

The Porsche Macan is for those who love driving, while Genesis offers the very opulent GV70 - but only pure combustion-engined models or all-electric versions are offered.

Verdict & Next Steps

The Volvo XC60 is an excellent choice for a mid-size family SUV, offering superb equipment levels and decent practicality.

It has a sophisticated interior, lots of technology, decent performance, and reasonably good, but unexciting, handling.

We would happily stick with the lower trims - even entry-level Core - which is generously equipped as standard.

That’s good, as choosing the Ultra trim compels you to have the T8 powertrain – yet the cheaper T6 is equally as capable, so on balance, we'd pick the T6.

Mind you, there’s nothing wrong with the B5 mild hybrid if the PHEV’s cost is putting you off.

Where to next?

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**Score based on Select’s unique meta score analysis, taking into account the UK’s top leading independent car website reviews of the Volvo XC60.

**Correct as of 23/09/2024. Based on 9 months initial payment, 5,000 miles annually, over a 36 month lease. Initial payment equivalent to 9 monthly payments, or £3,748.23 (Plus admin fee) Ts and Cs apply. Credit is subject to status.