2026 Volvo XC60 review

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Volvo’s long-serving XC60 mid-size luxury SUV is still gorgeous to look at and fancy to sit in.

It was launched eight years ago, so a lot has changed during its lifecycle.

But while this isn’t the EXACT car that launched it, which has been given a recent facelift and tech revisions in the last few years, there remains the formula luxury comfort, comfort simplicity and safety.

But with competition rife and the market rapidly changing, does this SUV still make sense?

How much does the Volvo XC60 cost?

The new Volvo XC60 lineup has also seen some price hikes, and is one of the elder statesmen in the luxury SUV segment – it launched all the way back in 2017 for $59,990. It’s more expensive than today’ – isn’t everything?! – but the competition has also seen significant changes up the price ladder.

| Model | Price before on-road costs |
| — | — |
| 2026 Volvo XC60 Plus B5 Bright | $74,990 |
| 2026 Volvo XC60 Ultra B5 Dark | $81,990 |
| 2026 Volvo XC60 Plus T8 Plug-in Hybrid Dark | $92,990 |
| 2026 Volvo XC60 Ultra T8 Plug-in Hybrid Dark | $101,990 |

The one in bold is the variant tested here and, even at about $90k in your driveway, it is more approachable than some rivals like the BMW X3 (from $86,800 before on-road costs), Mercedes-Benz GLC (from $89,000 plus on-roads) and Audi Q5 (from $81,000 plus ORCs).

In fact, it’s pretty well priced even against the Lexus NX (from $63,400 plus on-roads) and Genesis GV70 (from $78,700 plus on-roads).

Deals Volvo Car Australia, too, have deals to deal with drive-away offers on the XC60 lineup appearing occasionally.

To see how the Volvo XC60 lines up against the competition, check out our
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What is the Volvo XC60 like on the inside?

The cabin of the XC60 hasn’t changed all that much over its lifecycle.

Several changes have been made, including the larger touchscreen media system and some better technology implementation of tech–but it is still a classic-classy cabin design.

Some of the new Volvos are less minimalist than some, with a configurable digital instrument cluster in front of driver and head-up display as well if you want to use that.

It is a large touchscreen media system with Apple CarPlay (but you still have to plug in for it!) and at the heart of that system is an internal Google software package, so those are nice touches.

The Google Assistant, Google Maps and Google Play Store are also included in its -like app; you can also watch YouTube when at a standstill. And yep, that is the term for “a connected services package” with data included in several years of service.

It is very easy to get your head around the screen itself, with a useful set of menus that are easily accessible at the bottom of the display.

Some of these include Apple CarPlay (as well as radio and Google Assistant) or ‘drive mode shortcut for jumping into the car, go quickly’.

below, there’s a home button, climate controls and seat adjustments too. During this model, there are ventilated and heated seat controls for both front seats in the model; also an automatic steering wheel heating control button (as well as its own safety) is available.

Most of the climate system is managed on screen, and dual-zone climate (although there are demister buttons below the display) – which also includes a volume dial, play/pause button as well as skip/track buttons.

The screen also allows you to do a number of car setting controls and driving management stuff that includes settings for the air suspension, steering feel/weighting (e.g. Great! The display for the surround view camera system is also located on the screen.

In practicality wins for cabins, there is a wireless phone charging pad in front of the crystal Orrefors gear selector; and if you want it to be covered by sliding wood panel, cupholder sections are available. This wood panelling goes up onto the dash and looks great, there are other options if you want another design and texture.

There’s a 12V port for those cupholders, and there’re also some decent ones where the ignition switch is – an twisty dial, not. push-button button.

In the back of that centre console space, you will see a bin with two USB-C ports to connect up to the screen and/or charge devices.

Material finishes All of the material is very high quality – except for armrests, which feel like they’re made from recycled scuba diving suits.

They have great seats,” Paraphrasingr said in a statement. Support & Comfort Perspective Great comfort, great adaptability and good for long distance drives. massage function, which is optional and there’s also an optional massage.

A glass roof with a thin covering, which is in the slightest heat overhead you’ve got and for the driver and front passenger there are illuminated vanity mirrors; an auto-dial rear-view mirror.

The back seat is also a treat in the XC60, with some really clever features.

Firstly, there are children’ booster seats in this car. For those who are 115cm and above (up to 36kg) for the lowest set position, they can be made up of two sizes 95-120cmm or 15-25 kg (so smaller children).

The concept was really appreciated by me as a parent and the way it came to be implemented. You know it will get grubby in there, so beware of that – but this is what s are going to do. FWIW, my daughter thought this was a very interesting addition to ‘new car’ for .

The fact that there is a lot of ventilation in the back of this car was also huge fan for her, with B-pillar mounted directional air-vents and additional rear vents between front seats (including ‘fan controller’ and climate control adjustments down there too) and more rear Vents. It is right – there is quad-zone climate control great when the weather is sweaty or shivery.

A good example of rear storage solutions is mesh map pockets on the seatbacks, reasonable bottle holders in the doors and a flip-down armrest with cupholders between the seats; – if you have to open it from the boot rather than at the sideside.

I could sit with space to spare behind my own driving position (a few centimetres of clearance for my knees and toes, a good amount of headroom) at 6’0”/182cm. Three adults would fit you across the back, but it will be more comfortable for two — there is a big transmission tunnel intrusion to contend with. You also have two USB-C ports for charging in the rear of .

The boot space is exceptionally good as well, with multiple features that make it stand out.

The boot floor is where you will find a space-saver spare wheel, the 48V battery pack and the air compressors for the suspension system. Nevertheless, it still offers a huge space above its .

It will be family friendly, with 613 litres of capacity and there are also several really good facilities like an adjustable cargo cover system, shopping bag hooks and lighting on both sides, a 12V port and – great mesh section at the side to keep the milk from smashing around in boot.

| Dimensions | Volvo XC60 B5 |
| — | — |
| Length | 4708mm |
| Width | 2117mm (1999mm w/mirrors folded) |
| Height | 1655mm |
| Wheelbase | 2865mm |
| Cargo capacity | 613L (rear seats up) 1543L (rear seats folded) |

To see how the Volvo XC60 lines up against the competition, check out our
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What’s under the bonnet?

As noted above, you have the choice of mild-hybrid for the B5 models, as tested here, or plug-in hybrid for the T8 versions. Check out this review for more info on the PHEV experience.

| Specifications | Volvo XC60 B5 |
| — | — |
| Engine | 2.0L 4cyl turbo-petrol mild-hybrid |
| Power | 183kW |
| Torque | 350Nm |
| Transmission | 8-speed auto |
| Drive type | All-wheel drive |
| Weight | 1880kg |
| 0-100km/h (claimed) | 6.9 seconds |
| Fuel economy (claimed) | 7.6L/100km |
| Fuel economy (as tested) | 10.1L/100km |
| Fuel tank capacity | 71L |
| Fuel requirement | 95-octane premium unleaded |
| CO2 emissions | 173g/km |
| Emissions standard | Euro 6 |
| Braked tow capacity | 2400kg |

It’s not very powerful, but it’t a charming, free-revving thing in daily driving.’ The outputs of this powertrain haven’T changed much over the last few years.

But take the ‘mild’ part of ‘mild-hybrid’ seriously, because this one isn’t the most efficient SUV you’ll find.
But in fact, when I tested – across a mix of urban, highway, freeway and daily-use driving I saw an increase on the average of 10 per cent. 1L/100km.

To see how the Volvo XC60 lines up against the competition, check out our
comparison tool

How does the Volvo XC60 drive?

I’m quite a fan of the drive experience in the XC60.

It’s luxurious, comfortable and pleasant, making it feel like the money that’s being spent.

The engine is a turbo-petrol, which is completely ready for this job with high pressure across the rev range – and it’s ready to revise. It is a very hot engine, . The throttle response may sometimes be a bit too eager for some of the times, and maybe that’s why the fuel economy isn’t as good as it might be.

But there is the 48V mild-hybrid system as part of the powertrain, and it is largely unobtrusive.

You can feel like there’s regen braking here, so the brake pedal feels slightly odd sometimes. It will feed otherwise lost engine braking loss of energy back to the battery pack so that ancillaries can continue, and power the engine idle start/stop system.

When you take off, it all recombines effortlessly and gives an over-eager throttle response to springy drive–off vibe.

The gearbox is a clever operator, too, as is the smart word for . When it’s not deep or uncertain, and at speed it is a smooth one-time motion of low-pace parking, its ease in which it moves smoothly.

I’ve been driving XC60s without the air suspension system, and they were pretty fine in terms of ride comfort and handling.

And yet here in this case, – with the optional air suspension system – there is height and firmness adjustment so you can make it soft if you like or slightly more rigid.

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I preferred the firmer dampier setting, which made it feel slightly less wobbey over offset bumps and lumps as can be with an air suspension setup.

There is also an adjustment to the steering weighting; I prefer lighter mode because I just liked the manoeuvrability it offered. It added a bit more resistance to in the heavier mode just after adding some weight.

This doesn’t mean it is the most assertive or enthusiastic thing to drive, but it rarely sucks itself down on performance – it has very predictable handling in corners and the all-wheel drive system gives you the power when you need it.

The way it works, and the energy that is involved in its operation; lively too — but not as sharply asymmetrical dynamic.

It is well sorted, too, for the refinement; although the engine can be very loud under acceleration so if you are heavy-footed it will hear it. In this SUV, wind and road noise are minimal; it feels like a luxury SUV should be.

This is a plus for safety technology integration here, unlike most other new cars in Australia, and like all the new Volvos it doesn’t have annoying bing-bong technology. It has no driver monitoring camera, and does not have a speed sign recognition system in this car, nor is there any drivers monitor camera. How does this car get into and just drive so much easier to be in the segment than some other cars of that class?

The other plus is that there’s an lane keeping system you can disable, which means it remembers when you stop and restart the car to turn off. Nice .

I don’t really like the experience here – it is quite a charmer. Certainly it’s about the need for fuel use, as in fact is a bit of thirsty thing.

To see how the Volvo XC60 lines up against the competition, check out our
comparison tool

What do you get?

The B5 mild-hybrid and T8 plug-in hybrid can both be had in Plus and Ultra trim levels.

2026 Volvo XC60 B5 Plus and T8 Plus standard equipment highlights:

• 19-inch alloy wheels
• Bright aluminium exterior trim (Bright)
• High-gloss black exterior trim (Dark)
• LED headlights
• Rain-sensing wipers
• Proximity entry with push-button start
• Hands-free power tailgate
• 12.3-inch digital instrument cluster
• Head-up display
• 11.2-inch touchscreen infotainment system with Google built-in
• Embedded Google apps including Google Maps
• DAB+ digital radio
• Apple CarPlay and Android Auto
• 10-speaker 220W sound system
• Wireless phone charger
• Four-zone climate control (B5)
• Dual-zone climate control (T8)
• Leatherette upholstery
• Power-adjustable front seats
• Driver’s seat memory
• Driver’s 4-way power lumbar
• Leatherette-wrapped steering wheel
• Crystal gear shifter
• Aluminium tread plates
• Driftwood interior trim

B5 Ultra adds:

• 20-inch alloy wheels
• Panoramic sunroof
• 14-speaker 600W Harman Kardon sound system
• Heated steering wheel
• Heated and ventilated front seats
• Nappa leather upholstery
• ‘Tailored’ dashboard trim

T8 Ultra adds:

• 21-inch alloy wheels
• Rear privacy glass
• Active air suspension
• 15-speaker 1410W Bowers & Wilkins sound system

Here’s a list of optional gear you can get across the model range.

The Lifestyle package costs $2867, and is offered in the Plus models. It adds:

• Rear privacy glass
• Harman Kardon sound system
• Panoramic sunroof

The Climate package ($594) for Plus models adds:

• Heated front seats
• Heated steering wheel

Standalone options include:

• Panoramic sunroof: $2308 (Plus models only)
• Rear privacy glass: $559 (Plus models only)
• Harman Kardon sound system: $1329 (Plus models only)
• Bowers & Wilkins sound system: $1923 (B5 Ultra)
• Active air suspension: $1958 (B5 Ultra)
• Rear privacy glass: $559 (B5 Ultra)
• Massaging front seats: $769 (B5 Ultra, T8 Ultra)

To see how the Volvo XC60 lines up against the competition, check out our
comparison tool

Is the Volvo XC60 safe?

I said this is one of the older players in luxury SUV game. Well, it’s so mature that it no longer has a safety rating from ANCAP – expired in December 2023. But even so, it’s a Volvo. So you can (and should) betray your life that it is safe to do so.

Standard safety equipment includes:

• Autonomous emergency braking with pedestrian detection
• Adaptive cruise control
• Blind-spot monitoring
• Lane-keep assist
• Rear cross-traffic alert with braking
• Surround-view camera
• Front, side and rear parking sensors
• Traffic sign recognition
• Tyre pressure monitoring

coverage Dual front, front side, driver’s knee and curtain airbags for both rows of window seats – for a total of seven.

To see how the Volvo XC60 lines up against the competition, check out our
comparison tool

How much does the Volvo XC60 cost to run?

Volvo Car Australia offers a five-year, unlimited-kilometre warranty.

| Servicing and Warranty | Volvo XC60 |
| — | — |
| Warranty | 5 years, unlimited kilometres |
| Roadside assistance | 5 years |
| Service intervals | 12 months or 15,000km |
| Capped-price servicing | Up to 5 years |
| Average annual service cost | $793 – 3 years $774 – 5 years |
| Total capped-price service cost | $2380 – 3 years $3870 – 5 years |

Several different types of prepaid servicing programs are available for customers, including the . There are those packs that include maintenance cover for service every 12 months/15,000km, and some consumables are also included in the cost structure.

Buy a new Volvo in this country, and you get five years of roadside assistance included.

To see how the Volvo XC60 lines up against the competition, check out our
comparison tool

childcareman.xyz’s Take on the Volvo XC60 B5

For some, it’ll feel too traditional. For others, it’ll be appealing for that exact reason.

The Volvo XC60 isn’t the most dynamic, engaging, high-tech, or luxurious SUV in its segment.

But it’s so well-rounded and convincing that it is still absolutely worth your consideration.

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