Volvo XC60 Review

The XC60 has been a key car for Volvo for years, and it still feels central to what the brand does best. This is a mid-size SUV that majors on understated design, long-distance comfort and reassuring safety technology rather than trying to be the sportiest or most attention-grabbing choice in the segment.

That approach still works. The XC60 sits in one of the most competitive classes on the market, up against cars such as the Audi Q5, BMW X3 and Mercedes-Benz GLC, yet it continues to stand out because it feels so well judged in everyday use. The styling is crisp and expensive-looking without overdoing it, the interior remains one of the classier cabins in the segment, and the whole car has the sort of polished, calm character that makes family life easier.

The line-up is broader than the smaller XC40’s. If you are buying new, there is a B5 petrol mild hybrid, plus T6 and T8 plug-in hybrids. All current XC60s are automatic and all-wheel drive, which suits the car’s relaxed nature and gives it a bit more all-weather confidence than some rivals. The plug-in hybrids make the most sense if you can charge regularly and do enough short trips to use their electric range properly. If not, the B5 is the easier version to recommend.

Volvo has also kept updating the XC60 rather than simply leaving it alone. Cars from 2021 brought revised infotainment and trim changes, while the 2025 update sharpened up the interior tech again with a larger central touchscreen and some fresh materials. That means the XC60 still feels current enough in areas that matter to buyers, even if the basic car has now been around for a while.

There are some compromises. The boot is usefully shaped but smaller than several obvious rivals, and the XC60 is not a car that flatters enthusiastic driving in the way a BMW X3 can. But that rather misses the point. The Volvo’s appeal is that it feels luxurious, safe and easy to live with every day. In that respect, it still gets an awful lot right.

For most buyers, the B5 Plus is the pick of the range. The B5 petrol mild hybrid has 250hp, all-wheel drive and enough performance to make the XC60 feel effortlessly brisk without piling on the extra cost and complexity of the plug-in hybrids. It gets from 0-62mph in 6.9 seconds, which is more than enough in a family SUV like this.

The T6 plug-in hybrid is worth considering if you can charge at home or at work and will regularly use its electric range. It is notably quicker than the B5, with 335hp and a 0-62mph time of 5.7 seconds, while offering up to 49.1 miles of official electric-only range. The T8 is even faster again, but it feels unnecessary in the context of what the XC60 is good at and pushes the price deep into luxury-SUV territory.

Trim-wise, Plus is the sweet spot. Core already comes well equipped, but Plus adds the sort of kit buyers in this class tend to want, including a 360-degree camera, Pilot Assist, blind-spot assistance, heated steering wheel and heated windscreen. Plus Pro is tempting if you want the richer cabin finish, but a B5 Plus is the most sensible XC60 in the range.

The current XC60 range starts at £47,595 for the B5 Core mild hybrid, rising to £52,095 for the B5 Plus and £56,195 for the B5 Plus Pro. At the top of the petrol range, the B5 Ultra costs £61,295, while the Ultra Black Edition is £62,295.

Plug-in hybrid pricing starts at £55,795 for the T6 Core, then rises to £60,295 for the T6 Plus and £64,395 for the T6 Plus Pro. The flagship T8 Ultra starts at £69,895, climbing to £70,895 in Ultra Black Edition form.

That means the XC60 is firmly in premium territory, and it can get expensive quickly once you move beyond Core. The B5 is priced right in the heart of the class, but the plug-in hybrid models are a bigger financial commitment and only really make sense if you can take advantage of their electric running. Core is well equipped enough not to feel basic, but Plus is the point where the XC60 starts to feel fully in keeping with its badge and price.

The BMW X3 remains the driver-focused alternative. It is sharper to steer, more agile on a twisting road and also offers a bigger boot, although it does not ride with quite the same easy composure as the Volvo.

The Audi Q5 is the obvious choice if you want a premium SUV that feels particularly polished and solid, and it offers a larger boot than the XC60 in regular petrol or diesel form. The Mercedes-Benz GLC is another close rival and has a more overtly high-tech interior, although some buyers may find the Volvo’s cabin more tasteful and easier to live with.

If practicality is a bigger priority than badge appeal, a Volkswagen Tayron or Tiguan can make more sense depending on size needs, while a Skoda Kodiaq gives you more room and flexibility for less money. The XC60 fights back with a calmer, more luxurious feel than most of those alternatives.

The XC60 gets the fundamentals right for family use. You sit high enough to get the SUV view out that many buyers want, but not so high that it feels clumsy or unwieldy. Seat comfort is a particular strength. The front seats are broad, supportive and properly comfortable over longer journeys, which remains a Volvo hallmark.

Rear-seat space is strong too. There is plenty of room for adults in the back, with good headroom and decent legroom, so the XC60 works well as a genuine family car rather than simply a premium SUV with the right look. The rear bench is comfortable and access is good, which matters if you are regularly wrestling children into child seats.

Storage around the cabin is useful rather than exceptional. There are large enough bins, a decent centre console and enough places to keep everyday clutter under control, but this is not quite as cleverly packaged as the XC40 in smaller-item storage.

The main practicality weak point is the boot. In B5 mild-hybrid form, the XC60 offers 483 litres with the rear seats in place, while plug-in hybrids drop slightly to 468 litres because of the battery packaging. That is enough for family luggage, a buggy or the weekly shop, but it trails several key rivals. An Audi Q5 offers more space, while a BMW X3 gives you a notably larger 570-litre boot. That means the Volvo is not the best choice if load capacity is one of your top priorities.

The shape is still usefully square, though, and there is enough depth and width for most family tasks. Fold the seats down and the B5 gives you up to 1,543 litres to the roof, while the plug-in hybrids offer up to 1,528 litres.

The Volvo XC60 is 4,708mm long and rides on a 2,865mm wheelbase. Body width is 1,902mm, although that rises to 2,117mm including the mirrors. Height varies slightly by version, at 1,660mm for the B5 mild hybrid and 1,656mm for the plug-in hybrids.

That puts it right in the middle of the premium family SUV class. It is large enough to feel properly substantial and spacious inside, but still manageable in town. Volvo also quotes an 11.4-metre turning circle, which helps make the XC60 less cumbersome than its size might suggest.

The XC60 now uses an 11.2-inch central touchscreen and a 12.3-inch driver display. That larger centre screen was part of the 2025 update and helps the cabin feel more modern than before, especially as it now sits more prominently on the dashboard.

Google built-in is standard, so you get Google Maps navigation, Google Assistant voice control and app access through Google Play. Apple CarPlay and Android Auto are included too, although they are wired rather than wireless. Volvo also includes four years of connected services and in-car data.

In general, the system is clearer and better integrated than older Volvo set-ups, but it still leans heavily on the touchscreen for functions that would be easier with separate physical controls. It is not difficult to use once familiar, but it does not quite feel as intuitive on the move as the best systems in this class.

Audio and connectivity are strong enough across the range. Core gets High Performance Sound, while more expensive versions add richer interior ambience and upgraded audio depending on trim. The fundamentals are all here, even if rivals such as BMW and Mercedes still look a bit more showy.

One of the XC60’s great strengths is that it feels premium without leaning on obvious flash. Core trim uses quilted Nordico upholstery and metal mesh inlays, which already give the interior a clean, expensive feel. Plus adds Natural Driftwood inlays and a richer lighting package, while Plus Pro and above step the cabin up again with plusher finishes and more visual warmth.

There is also a choice of brighter and darker interior themes depending on trim, and Black Edition models bring a more monochrome look inside and out. The result is a cabin that still feels more elegant than trendy, which suits the car well.

The new XC60 range consists of one mild hybrid and two plug-in hybrids, all using a 2.0-litre petrol engine, automatic gearbox and all-wheel drive.

The B5 is the easiest version to recommend if you do plenty of longer journeys and do not want to think about charging. It is quick enough, smooth enough and suits the XC60’s laid-back character well.

The T6 and T8 are significantly faster, but they only make proper sense if you can charge regularly and use their electric range. On paper, their fuel economy looks astonishing, but like any plug-in hybrid the real-world result depends heavily on how often you plug in.

The XC60 is best when driven smoothly. The steering is light and easy to place, which makes town driving and parking less intimidating than the dimensions suggest. Visibility is decent for a car of this size, and the standard camera and sensors help further.

Ride comfort is one of the XC60’s defining strengths. On smaller wheels, it smooths over broken roads with impressive composure and feels more settled than several firmer rivals. Move up to the biggest alloys and some of that softness disappears, which is why the lower and mid-level trims tend to make the most sense.

Motorway refinement is very good. Wind and road noise are well suppressed, the seats are excellent and the XC60 feels every inch the long-distance family car. Even the faster plug-in hybrids do not really change the car’s core character. They add pace, but not a more involving driving experience.

Through corners, the Volvo is secure and predictable rather than entertaining. There is enough grip, especially with all-wheel drive, and plenty of confidence, but a BMW X3 or Porsche Macan is more satisfying if you enjoy driving for its own sake. The XC60’s strength is that it never feels tiring.

Safety remains a major XC60 selling point. Euro NCAP awarded it a five-star rating when tested in 2017, and the standard safety package is still very strong. Core models get adaptive cruise control, front collision warning with full auto brake, rear auto brake, lane-keeping aid, oncoming lane mitigation, road-sign information, driver alert control, ISOFIX points on the outer rear seats and a rear camera with front and rear park assist.

Plus adds blind-spot information with steer assist, cross-traffic alert with auto brake, rear collision warning and mitigation, plus a 360-degree camera and Pilot Assist. It is a comprehensive package, and one of the reasons the XC60 remains such an appealing family SUV.

The B5 mild hybrid has an official combined fuel economy figure of 37.7mpg, which is respectable rather than remarkable for a petrol SUV of this size and performance. Real-world economy will usually fall below that if you spend a lot of time in town or use the performance often.

The plug-in hybrid models look dramatically better on paper. The T6 has an official combined figure of 313.9mpg and an electric range of up to 49.1 miles, while the T8 returns 282.5mpg and up to 47.2 miles. Those numbers are only realistic if you charge regularly and use a lot of electric running.

Charging is AC only. Volvo quotes a nominal 18.8kWh battery, with 14.7kWh usable. A full charge takes around five hours from a 3.8kW single-phase supply, around four hours at 7.2kW three-phase, and as little as three hours at 11.5kW. In practice, that makes overnight home charging straightforward enough, but the XC60 does not offer DC rapid charging.

The XC60 comes with a three-year or 60,000-mile warranty. Paintwork defects and surface rust are covered for three years, while rust perforation cover runs for 12 years. Volvo Assistance breakdown cover is included for three years, and Volvo says it can be extended for 12 months for £149 or renewed automatically after a qualifying retailer service.

That is decent enough, although some rivals and several mainstream brands now offer longer warranty cover as standard.

Insurance groups are predictably on the high side, as you would expect for a premium SUV with a lot of power and equipment. Current mild-hybrid models sit in groups 34 to 38, while the T6 plug-in hybrid lands in group 39 and the T8 rises to group 41 or 42 depending on trim.

That puts the XC60 broadly in line with other premium SUVs of this size and performance, but it is not one for bargain-hunters when cover quotes start coming back.

The standard VED rate from the second year onwards is £200 a year for petrol, diesel and hybrid cars registered on or after 1 April 2017. The more important point for private buyers is the Expensive Car Supplement. Any XC60 with a list price above £40,000 attracts an additional £440 a year for five years from the second year of taxation.

In practice, that means every current XC60 falls into premium-car-tax territory, so buyers should budget for £640 a year from years two to six.