2026 Volvo XC60 review

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.

And while this isn’t the EXACT same car as it was at launch, having received a recent facelift and tech revisions over the last few years, the formula remains the same: luxury, 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 updated Volvo XC60 lineup has seen some price increases, and this is one of the elder statesmen in the luxury SUV segment – having launched all the way back in 2017 priced from just $59,990. It’s pricier than that nowadays – isn’t everything?! – but the competition has also received significant bumps up the pricing ladder.

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).

There are deals to be had from Volvo Car Australia, too, with drive-away offers on the XC60 lineup appearing on occasion.

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

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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.

While there have been a number of changes – including a bigger touchscreen media system and some better technology implementation – it is still a timeless and classy cabin design.

It’s not as minimalist as some of the other new Volvos either, with a configurable digital instrument cluster in front of the driver, and a head-up display as well if you want to use that.

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

It includes the Google Assistant as well as Google Maps and Google Play Store, and you can also watch YouTube when stationary. And yep, that means it comes with a connected services package with data included for a few years.

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

Those include Apple CarPlay, radio, and the Google Assistant feature, as well as a drive mode shortcut to quickly jump in and go.

Below that there’s a home button, climate controls, and seat adjustments too. In this model there are ventilated and heated seat controls for both front seats, and there is a steering wheel heating control button, too.

Dual-zone climate and most of the management of the climate system is done on screen as well, though there are demister buttons below the display, where you’ll also find a volume dial, play/pause button, and skip/track buttons.

There’s a number of car setting controls and driving management stuff that you can do using the screen as well, and that includes adjustments for the air suspension and steering feel/weighting. The screen also houses the display for the surround view camera system, which is excellent!

Cabin practicality wins include a wireless phone charging pad in front of the crystal Orrefors gear selector, and a cupholder section with a sliding wood panel to cover it up if you prefer. The wood panelling continues up onto the dash and looks great, and there are other choices if you prefer a different design and texture.

Those cupholders are decent, and there’s a 12V port, plus down there is where the ignition switch is – a twisty dial, not a push-button. 

Behind that centre console area you will find a bin with two USB-C ports to connect up to the screen and/or charge devices.

The material finishes are all very high-quality – apart from the armrests, which feel like they’re made of recycled scuba diving suits.

The seats are fantastic. Excellent comfort, fantastic adjustability, and really good for long distance drives from a support and comfort perspective. There’s an optionally available massage function, too. 

Overhead you’ve got a glass roof with a thin covering, which does let in a little bit of heat, and for the driver and front passenger there are illuminated vanity mirrors, plus you get an auto-dimming rear-view mirror. 

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

Firstly there are integrated booster seats for children in this car. They are adjustable to two different sizes – between 95-120cm or 15-25 kg (so smaller kids), or for those 115cm and above (up to 36kg) for the lowest set position.

As a parent, I really appreciated this idea and its implementation. But it will get grubby in there, so beware. FWIW, my daughter thought that this was an extremely exciting inclusion for a new car.

She was also a massive fan of the fact there is great ventilation in the back of this car, with B-pillar mounted directional air-vents and additional rear vents between the front seats, including a fan controller and climate control adjustments down there too. That’s right – there is quad-zone climate control – terrific when the weather is sweaty or shivery. 

Rear storage solutions includes mesh map pockets on the seatbacks, reasonable bottle holders in the doors and a flip-down armrest with cupholders between the seats, as well as a ski-port/load-through port – but you have to open it from the boot rather than the seat side.

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

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

Under the boot floor you will find a space-saver spare wheel, the 48V battery pack, and the air compressors for the suspension system. Yet it still offers a massive space above.

With 613 litres of capacity, it will be family-friendly enough, and there’s also a number of really great amenities including an adjustable cargo cover system, shopping bag hooks and lighting on both sides, plus a 12V port and a mesh section at the side – great to keep the milk from smashing around in the boot.

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

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.

The outputs of this powertrain haven’t changed in a while, and while it’s not highly potent, it’s a charming, free-revving thing in daily driving.

But take the ‘mild’ part of ‘mild-hybrid’ seriously, because this one isn’t the most efficient SUV you’ll find. In fact, during my testing – across a mix of urban, highway, freeway and daily-use driving – I saw a higher-than-expected figure of 10.1L/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.

This turbo-petrol engine is absolutely up to the task, with strong urgency available across the rev range – and it is ready to rev. It is a very zingy engine. In fact, the throttle response might be a bit too eager for some at times, and perhaps that’s why the fuel economy isn’t as good as it could be.

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

You can feel that there’s regen braking here, meaning that the brake pedal feel is a little bit peculiar at times. It will feed otherwise lost engine braking lost energy back to the battery pack to enable ancillaries to continue, and to power the engine idle start/stop system.

And when you take off, it all recombobulates effortlessly, offering a springy and eager drive-off vibe thanks to that over-eager throttle response. 

The gearbox is a clever operator, too. It never feels like it’s out of its depth or uncertain, and it shifts smoothly at speed, and during low-pace parking moves.

I’ve driven XC60s in the past without the air suspension system, and they’ve felt pretty fine in terms of ride comfort and handling.

But in this instance – with the optional air suspension system – there is height and firmness adjustment, so you can make it feel softer if you prefer, or a little bit more rigid.

I preferred it to be in the firmer damper setting, which made it feel slightly less wobbly over offset bumps and lumps, as can be the case with an air suspension setup.

The steering weighting also has a level of adjustment to it, and I preferred the lighter mode because I just appreciated the manoeuvrability that it offered. The heavier mode just added a bit more resistance.

It isn’t the most assertive or enthusiastic thing to drive, but it hardly lets itself down in terms of performance – it has very predictable handling in corners, and the all-wheel drive system offers you the traction you might be hoping for when you need it. 

It is sensible in the way that it operates, and lively too, but not too sharp in terms of the dynamics. 

The refinement is well sorted too, though the engine can be quite loud under acceleration, so if you are heavy-footed you will hear it. Wind and road noise is minimal in this SUV, and it feels properly like a luxury SUV should.

Another plus is the safety technology integration here – unlike some other new cars in Australia, and other new Volvos, it doesn’t have annoying bing-bong technology. There is no driver monitoring camera in this vehicle, and nor is there a speed sign recognition system. What that means is this car is so much easier to get into and just drive than some other cars in the segment.

Another plus is there is that there is a lane keeping system that you can disable, and it will remember that you have disabled it when you stop and restart the vehicle. Nice. 

There’s not a whole lot to dislike about the experience here – it is quite a charmer. Indeed, the only concern may be fuel use, because it’s a bit of a 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?

You know how I mentioned this is one of the older players in the luxury SUV game? Well, it’s so mature in the market that it no longer has a safety rating from ANCAP – that expired in December 2023. Even so, it’s a Volvo, so you can, er, bet your life that it’s safe.

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

Airbag coverage includes 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.

Customers can choose from a few different prepaid servicing programs. Those packs include maintenance cover for servicing every 12 months/15,000km, and some consumables are also incorporated into 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

CarExpert’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.

CarExpert can save you thousands on a new Volvo XC60. Click here to get a great deal.

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MORE: Explore the Volvo XC60 showroom