Volvo XC60 Review 2025

Volvo was traditionally known for building estate cars, but has become very experienced with SUVs since launching the original XC90 back in 2002, and SUVs have now become the backbone of the firm's range. The mid-size Volvo XC60 channels that know-how into a refined and calming vehicle that offers a credible alternative to the BMW X3 and Audi Q5.

First launched in 2017, the second-generation Volvo XC60 helped continue the Swedish brand’s march into the premium market. It channels the handsome styling of the larger, seven-seat XC90, and borrows its mechanical underpinnings, too. 

The Volvo XC60 may not come with seven seats, but it is still aimed at families. That means a blend of space and everyday usability, with all-wheel drive fitted as standard across the range. An eight-speed automatic gearbox is included on all versions, too.

Having been on sale since 2017, plenty of engine options have come and gone in that time. It was originally offered with a selection of 2.0-litre turbocharged petrol and diesels, the latter proving particularly popular at the time. These were soon joined in the range by a variety of petrol plug-in hybrid options, which married prodigious power outputs to outrageous fuel economy figures (which, as it turned out, should be taken with a big pinch of salt, as we'll explain later). A handful of mild hybrid petrols featured along the way, too. These days, if you're buying brand new, you choose from three powertrains, the B5 mild hybrid with 250PS, or two PHEV options: the T6 Twin Engine with 351PS, or the T8 Twin Engine with 457PS.

When it comes to off-road ability, Volvo has tailored the XC60 to cope with farm tracks and slippery fields. Even so, SUVs such as the Land Rover Discovery Sport will be better options if you need more serious all-terrain prowess.

The Volvo XC60 is not the greatest off-roader, then, but this matters little when it drives so well on the road. Most versions come with a conventional suspension setup, which effectively filters out most ruts and bumps in the tarmac. The range-topping version upgrades to air suspension, offering a number of different settings. Selecting Comfort mode gives the Volvo XC60 a genuinely limo-like ride quality.

With such a focus on comfort and refinement, the Volvo XC60 isn’t the most engaging SUV to drive. Its steering is light, but lacks feel, and there is slightly more body-roll than would be experienced in an Audi Q5 or BMW X3. Still, given the relaxing nature of the Volvo XC60, this is unlikely to be a deal-breaker. 

Inside, the Volvo XC60 is as well-made as it is luxurious, with a finely measured dose of Scandinavian minimalism. Everything majors on quality, with plentiful leather trim included as standard. Also helping to justify the premium price tag is a long list of equipment, with all versions benefiting from satellite navigation, a 12.3-inch digital dashboard and a 9.0-inch infotainment touchscreen (later upgraded to 11.2 inches in 2025). 

There is room for five people, at a push, although boot capacity is smaller than the Volvo XC60's closest competitors, including the Jaguar F-Pace and Audi Q5.

Even alongside other premium European SUVs, the Volvo XC60 stands out for placing its outright emphasis on comfort and luxury over sportiness and dynamism. It makes for a relaxing and refined driving experience.

Set your expectations right before driving the Volvo XC60 and you are unlikely to be disappointed. The XC60 has not been designed to be a driver’s car, with Volvo unashamedly putting comfort and ease-of-use ahead of sportiness. And it's all the better for it.

The Volvo XC60’s steering is light, and somewhat lacking in feel, but it offers enough precision to allow a 2000kg SUV to be threaded along country roads with confidence. Alternatives such as the BMW X3 or Porsche Macan will feel more involving, but the XC60 exists as an effective counterpoint to these performance-orientated models. 

Low- and mid-range versions come with a conventional suspension setup, which manages to effectively balance ride comfort and body control. Choosing larger alloy wheels does result in some road imperfections being transmitted to the cabin, but things are still comfortable enough. 

For maximum comfort, pick the Volvo XC60 in range-topping Ultimate/Ultra (depending on age) trim. This adds ‘Four-C’ adaptive dampers combined with air suspension, allowing drivers to select between Comfort and Dynamic modes. It results in limo-like comfort and refinement, and justifies the price hike for this range-topping model.

The second-generation Volvo XC60 has been on sale since 2017, and the range of engines available has seen a lot of change over that time. Importantly, none of them feel out of their depth in the XC60 no matter how modest their power output, so there's not a bad choice to be made from a performance point of view.

When it first went on sale, there was a range of 2.0-litre, four-cylinder engines: D4 and D5 diesels and a T5 petrol (obviously, the 'D' stands for 'diesel', while the 'T' stands for 'turbo petrol'). All were paired with four-wheel drive as standard and an eight-speed ZF automatic transmission. A T8 'Twin Engine' plug-in hybrid soon followed.

Then in 2019, Volvo overhauled its range of engines, adding mild-hybrid tech to some, bringing with it a new nomenclature. Rather confusingly, and in a break from tradition, these mild hybrids were all prefixed with a 'B', regardless of whether they used petrol and diesel, and were suffixed by a different letter to signify the fuel type, 'D' for diesel and 'P' for petrol.

The diesels on offer were the 197PS B4D and the 235PS B5D, while the petrols were the B5P with 250PS and the B6P with 300PS. The diesel and petrol engines that remained that didn't have mild hybrid tech kept their D and T prefixes. Confused? We don't blame you.

More confusion was to follow later when the plug-in hybrids, previously known as 'Twin Engine', were rebranded 'Recharge', only to be rebranded back again later on, once again becoming known as 'Twin Engine'. Various different versions with various power outputs have been available over time, all of them very strong.

In the present day, the Volvo XC60's engine line-up continues to use a 2.0-litre engines, but it's petrol-only these days, but the entire line-up is now electrified to some degree depending on the model you choose. The mild-hybrid B5 petrol provides a relatively affordable entry point to the range, producing 250PS. The other two options available to new-car buyers are the T6 Twin Engine and T8 Twin Engine plug-in hybrids, delivering 351PS and 457PS, respectively. We've tried the T8: official figures state a 0-62mph in just 4.9 seconds, but although it's undeniably brisk, it doesn't quite feel as rapid as that figure would suggest. Like with all modern-day Volvos, the top speed is capped at 112mph.

It almost seems a cliche to talk about Volvo and safety, but the XC60 upholds the company’s noble tradition. When assessed by the independent Euro NCAP organisation, the Volvo XC60 received the maximum five-star rating for crash protection.

It has a near-endless list of standard safety equipment, including front collision warning with automatic braking, cruise control with a speed limiter, driver alert control, and lane-keeping assist. Top-specification models gain blind-spot warning with steering assist. In later years, adaptive cruise control became standard throughout the range.

As a sizable SUV, the Volvo XC60 is a popular choice for those looking to tow caravans and trailers. A retractable tow bar can be found on the options list.

For maximum towing capacity, used car buyers will need to pick the XC60 with the B4 diesel or B5 petrol engines. These can haul braked trailers weighing up to 2400kg.

If buying brand new, the B5 petrol can haul the same weight, but the PHEVs will only pull 2250kg

Choosing an SUV typically means practicality takes centre-stage. The boot of the Volvo XC60 is useful, but it lags behind the best-in-class when it comes to outright luggage capacity. 

With the rear seats in place, the Volvo XC60 will hold 483 litres of luggage when filled to the window line. By comparison, a Jaguar F-Pace can swallow 650 litres, while an Audi Q5 can hold 610 litres.

Opting for one of the plug-in hybrid versions sees boot capacity reduced to accommodate the electrified drivetrain. However, the Volvo XC60’s 468 litres of luggage space compares more favourably with equivalent plug-in hybrid SUVs. 

Space in the front of the Volvo XC60 is generous, and its seats offer plenty of support and adjustment. Even the tallest drivers should find it easy to get comfortable, and there are numerous storage cubbies and cup holders included. 

Moving to the back, the Volvo XC60 has the width to accommodate three passengers across the rear bench, but it is better suited to just two. The raised transmission tunnel can make life a little uncomfortable for the person sitting in the middle, although headroom and legroom will be more than acceptable in the outer two seats.

While the Volvo XC60 might seem expensive, these concerns will be forgotten about once you see its interior. Volvo has truly broken into the premium-brand space, and the quality of materials used throughout the XC60 reflects that status.

Typically Scandinavian touches include the use of metal mesh or driftwood-style trim, complemented by leather upholstery on most trim levels. Everything you touch feels solid and built to last, with a concerted search needed to find any cheaper-feeling parts. It all adds to the overall impression of luxury and refinement.

Volvo was an early adopter of the trend for using a multimedia touchscreen to control the majority of interior functions. This means the Swedish brand has had several years to refine its setup. 

The portrait-oriented 9.0-inch infotainment screen in most examples is still not the most user-friendly system, however. Every major function has to be operated through it, including the climate control settings. Although the cabin temperature options are permanently on the screen, the icons themselves are relatively small.

Other settings require trips through multiple menus, which can be fiddly to do while driving. At least the 12.3-inch digital driver’s display is smart and easy to use, albeit with less customisation options than offered by the likes of Audi and Porsche. 

Included as standard for all Volvo XC60 models is satellite navigation connected to Google Maps. There is also DAB radio, wireless mobile phone charging and smartphone connectivity via Apple CarPlay or Android Auto. There are two USB-C connections in the front of the XC60, with two more in the rear.

An update in 2025 brought a new central touchscreen now measuring 11.2 inches (it's easy to spot as the top edge of it sits up prod above the top of the dashboard), and the new system also has a new user interface designed to be quicker, sharper, and more personalised. What's more, the new user interface is being applied to cars built in 2020 or after via a free over-the-air update. Unfortunately, it's no easier to use than the previous system because the menu structure is still way too complex.

Do not mistake the Volvo XC60 for being an affordable SUV. Pricing is suitably premium, with the cheapest model being the XC60 Core with a B5 petrol engine. Even this will cost you upwards of £48,000, and that’s before you add any options, of course.

Upgrading to the next trim level up the ladder will cost in the region of £5,000, while if you'd prefer to to upgrade to a plug-in hybrid powertrain instead, the additional sum for the T6 Twin Engine will be around £7,000.

If you're adamant that you want the top-of-the-range T8 Twin Engine powertrain, you'll be paying around £69,000 minimum, but that's partly due to the fact that it's only available with the highest trim levels.

Of course, buying a used example will save you an absolute packet. An early example of the second-generation XC60 with a diesel engine and around 90,000 miles can be had for around £16,000.

If you're buying a used XC60 on a relatively tight budget and fuel economy is a primary concern, then the D4 diesel FWD version will probably suit you best. In real-world driving, you should see fuel economy of between 40-45mpg on average.

The PHEV versions post much higher official fuel economy figures, of course, but these powertrains are much pricier to buy, and you have to have somewhere to plug them in if you're going to make best use of them. Besides, these official figures should be taken with a massive pinch - nay, vat - of salt. The official tests are unrealistically flattering to plug-in hybrids, and real-world returns vary wildly depending on how you use them. Here's the rule of thumb: keep the batteries topped up and limit yourself almost exclusively to short journeys that can be done purely on electric power, and the car will be super economical. Fail to do either, and the car will be very thirsty indeed, because the petrol engine will have to haul around the weight of the battery, on top of the weight of the rest of the car.

For reference, those official figures stand at 314mpg for the T6 and 283mpg for the T8, and both have an electric-only range of around 50 miles. If buying a PHEV built before 2021, though, be aware that these came with a smaller battery, which gave an electric range figure closer to 30 miles, plus inferior average economy.

If you're considering a more affordable used version, and you favour a petrol engine, you can expect to see somewhere in the region of 35mpg on average from the now-defunct B5 FWD, while choosing the AWD version (or the also-now-defunct B6) will drop that down by a few miles per gallon. The latest B5 AWD mild hybrid has an official figure of up to 37mpg, meanwhile.

Volvo only offers the XC60 with a three-year or 60,000-mile warranty. This feels a little miserly, but it matches that offered by other premium European marques. 

Early on in its life, the XC60 range was offered in Momentum, R-Design, Inscription, and Inscription Pro trim levels. All were well kitted out as standard. Luxury equipment in the Volvo XC60 Momentum included: 

• leather seats
• heated front seats
• 18-inch alloy wheels
• 12.3-inch digital driver display and a 9.0-inch touchscreen media system
• DAB radio, Bluetooth and wireless Apple CarPlay
• wireless phone charging
• cruise control
• reversing camera
• front/rear parking sensors
• automatic LED headlights with Active High Beam
• powered tailgate
• rain-sensing wipers

Intended to be a sportier choice, the Volvo XC60 R-Design features:

• 19-inch diamond-cut alloy wheels
• tinted windows
• black gloss exterior highlights
• part-leather sports seats (with adjustable lumbar support)
• metal mesh inlays and sports pedals
• ambient door lighting

There was temporarily also a Volvo XC60 Polestar Engineered edition that built on the R-Design spec with: 

• premium Harmon Kardon sound system
• 21-inch polished black alloys
• Polestar Engineered brakes
• Polestar Engineered chassis
• metallic paint

The Volvo XC60 Inscription builds on the Momentum spec with: 

• high gloss black front grille, and chrome exterior highlights
• 18-inch diamond-cut alloy wheels
• soft perforated leather seats
• electric driver and front passenger seats with ventilation
• three-spoke leather steering wheel with chrome trim
• Driftwood inlays
• crystal gear knob
• multicolour theatre lighting
• door mirror puddle lights

Building on the Inscription spec, the Volvo XC60 Inscription Pro adds:

• heated steering wheel
• head-up display
• massage function on the front seats
• front LED headlights with cornering function (although not on plug-in hybrid models)
• active bending headlights
• Active Four-C Chassis
• 20-inch diamond-cut alloy wheels

In mid-2022, Volvo rejigged its trim levels to Core, Plus, and Ultra. The Volvo XC60 Core mimics the older Momentum trim and comes with:

• automatic LED lights with active high beam
• 18-inch alloy wheels
• black roof rails
• piano black front grille with a chrome surround
• power-operated tailgate
• side mirrors that fold automatically
• front- and rear parking sensors
• rear-view camera
• dual-zone climate control
• leather upholstery
• keyless start
• cruise control
• heated front seats with power adjustment and lumbar support
• 12.3-inch digital instrument panel and 9.0-inch infotainment touchscreen (this was upgraded to an 11.2-inch item during the 2025 facelift)
• satellite navigation incorporating Google Maps
• wireless smartphone charging
• Apple CarPlay and Android Auto smartphone connectivity
• front collision warning featuring automatic braking
• lane-keeping assistance
• speed limiter with dynamic road sign display

Moving up to the Volvo XC60 Plus specification brings extra equipment including:

• 19-inch alloy wheels
• Handsfree-opening powered tailgate
• puddle lights
• 360-degree parking camera
• four-zone climate control
• heated windscreen
• heated steering wheel
• heated rear seats
• keyless entry and start
• ambient lighting
• air purifier.  
• Pilot Assistance with adaptive cruise control
• 13-speaker Harman Kardon sound system with 600W output

(There is also the Volvo XC60 Plus Pro edition that comes with ventilated front seats and full LED headlights).

Ultimate trim (later renamed as Ultra trim) is the only way to have the Volvo XC60 with the T8 Recharge powertrain. However, it is also available with the B5 petrol and T6 PHEV options. 

Choosing this range-topping Volvo XC60 Ultimate/Ultra version adds:

• 20-inch alloy wheels
• Active Four-C chassis with air suspension
• LED headlights that bend around corners, and bending LED fog lights
• privacy glass
• panoramic glass sunroof
• head-up display
• bespoke instrument panel with contrast stitching
• Nappa leather upholstery
• massage function for the front seats