Volvo XC60 Review & Prices

The Volvo XC60 is a posh SUV with stylish looks on the outside, an upmarket feel on the inside, and all the safety kit you could want from your family car. We struggled with poor efficiency from the plug-in hybrid, though, and it’s not quite as practical as alternatives.

However, it’s the perfect size for a small family. It’s a bit of a Goldilocks car in Volvo’s range – if the XC40 is a bit too small and the XC90 is a bit too big, the XC60 is just right.

There’s stiff competition competing for your cash too – the likes of the BMW X3, Range Rover Evoque, Mercedes GLC, Audi Q5 and Genesis GV70 are all posh SUVs available for similar cash.

The Volvo certainly looks the part. The Scandi-cool design might be long in the tooth at this point, but it’s absolutely timeless and still holds up against newer alternatives. It’s got the understated class of the Genesis GV70, rather than the more in-yer-face aesthetics of a BMW X3.

Inside it’s showing its age a bit more. Again, the minimalism works well, but the simple dashboard and large air vents don’t quite have the big-screen-laden, modern feel of the likes of the Mercedes GLC and Audi Q5 – though depending on your tastes, therein may lie its appeal. Material quality is top-notch, regardless.

The infotainment system’s chunky bezel somewhat ages the car too, but that’s where the complaints end because it’s a snappy system that’s powered by Google tech. That means it’s as simple to use as a smartphone and comes with built-in maps and music apps. So, although Apple CarPlay and Android Auto are included as standard, you don’t feel like you have to use them.

Cabin space is pretty good, with decent legroom and enough space for a chunky child seat without too much issue. The boot is bigger than most alternatives, too, and you only lose a small amount of space if you go for the plug-in hybrid.

Speaking of which, you have a choice of a mild hybrid petrol engine or a plug-in hybrid petrol. The plug-in model is quite a bit more expensive, but if you have home charging and do lots of short journeys it’ll be cheaper to run.

That said it’s not very efficient on a long trip – we saw an unremarkable 35mpg over about 1,000 miles with the car, which included regular home charging offset by driving from Chichester to St Austell and back, a 450-mile round trip.

Ignoring the underwhelming high speed efficiency, the Volvo XC60 is a fantastic thing to eat up miles in. The suspension is a bit jiggly around town, but on the motorway it smooths out and the impressive sound deadening makes it really relaxing.

If you’re after a posh, relaxing family SUV, check out the latest Volvo XC60 deals on Carwow, or XC60 lease deals. You can also browse used XC60s, as well as other used Volvos, from our network of trusted dealers. And when the time comes to sell your current car, Carwow can help with that, too.

Despite its premium appeal, the Volvo XC60 is actually priced well against alternatives. The range starts at less than £50,000, which is about the same as the Mazda CX-80 but less than the Mercedes GLC and BMW X3. The Genesis GV70 and Range Rover Evoque can be had for less, though.

There are four trims, with the entry level Core model getting wireless phone charging, keyless entry and the full Google infotainment system. Plus models add an excellent Harman Kardon sound system and some extra assistance kit, while Plus Pro models also get full LED headlights. Top-spec Ultra versions come with a panoramic roof, Bowers and Wilkins sound system and massaging front seats.

Comfortable and relaxing on the motorway, but you feel every ridge in poorly surfaced roads around town, which is a shame

In town

The Volvo XC60 offers a superb driving position and great all-round vision for the driver, and every version comes with front and rear parking sensors, as well as a reversing camera.

Light steering helps when twirling the wheel to get the XC60 into a tight parking space on a busy high street, and contributes towards the Volvo being a relaxing car to pilot through city landscapes.

The suspension is a touch less comfortable than you might expect when it meets speed bumps or potholes, but it’s only a smidge stiffer than an Audi Q5.

The plug-in hybrid can travel up to 50 miles on a charge, so it’s ideal for smooth, stress-free city-bound driving in almost total silence. With the help of the electric motor, you can one-pedal drive in B mode so you rarely need to even bother the brakes.

On the motorway

The plug-in hybrid XC60 is very quick to accelerate, so you’ll have no trouble getting up to speed as you head down the slip road onto a motorway - even if there's a little lag when you press the accelerator. However, it’s not very efficient on long drives, so the petrol – or even the diesel Mercedes GLC - would be a better bet if you do lots of motorway miles.

At a motorway cruise, every XC60 is quiet thanks to little engine noise and only a little flutter from the wing mirrors. A hint of tyre rumble can be heard on coarser roads, especially with the larger wheels fitted as standard to the upper trims.

On a twisty road

Volvo has made the XC60 to be an SUV that focuses on being relaxing over outright handling prowess. Push it hard into a corner on a country road and the body will lean noticeably more than a BMW X3 or Audi Q5 does.

There’s good grip in the Volvo, and all models come with all-wheel drive as standard to help in slippery conditions.

However, the XC60’s steering doesn’t deliver much in the way of feel or feedback to the driver, so better to enjoy the journey and the XC60’s gently-gently approach.

Superbly shaped seats offer unbeatable comfort in the Volvo XC60, though the boot capacity isn’t as big as alternatives

Comfort is one of those things we almost take for granted in a Volvo, but it’s really worth pointing out just how good the XC60 is at making you feel relaxed.

There’s nothing obviously fancy or different about the shape of the driver’s seat in the XC60, but it just seems to fit like a favourite jumper. As soon as you sit in the car, you know you could head off on a long trip and get there without so much as a twinge or muscle ache – and that proved true after a five-hour trip from Chichester to St. Austell along the south coast.

It helps that the heated front seats, which are upholstered in leather, can be adjusted for height electrically and also have powered lumbar movement. Choose the XC60 in the upper two trim levels of Plus or Ultimate and you get fully powered seats with position memory, while you can get a lovely wool trim on the seats instead if you don't want the leather.

You can move the steering wheel for reach and height to further finesse the driving position, and all-round vision is better than most alternatives. Volvo equips all XC60s with front and rear parking sensors and a reversing camera, so backing into a space is simplicity itself.

Volvo has also thought carefully about storage inside the XC60, so the driver can reach down to a large door bin. You’ll find twin cupholders in the centre console when you slide back the cover that runs alongside the gear lever and ignition toggle. Another tray sits in front of this, while behind is a cubby with lift-up cover that doubles as an armrest. There’s even a decent amount of space in the glovebox.

Space in the back seats

Volvo has conjured up a mass of space in the back seats for passengers. Adults can sit here in perfect comfort thanks to generous amounts of leg, knee, shoulder and head room.

Even with the panoramic glass sunroof there’s more than enough space for tall people’s heads to fit without brushing the ceiling.

The seats in the back of the XC60 are just as well shaped as those in the front, and the centre seat offers enough room for three grown-ups to sit next to each other without feeling over-familiar.

Kids will like the airy feel in the back of the XC60, and there are easily accessed ISOFIX child seat mounts in the two outer rear seats. The top two trims come with heated rear seats as standard for an added touch of luxury.

Boot space

A powered tailgate is standard with every Volvo XC60 and you get hands-free opening, too.

The boot capacity is 613 litres for the petrol model and 598 litres for the plug-in hybrid, which makes it roomier than most alternatives. The Mercedes GLC is close at 600 litres, but go for the hybrid and you lose a whopping 200 litres because the batteries rob loads of storage space. Fold the third row in the Mazda CX-80 and you have 687 litres, so that could be a good option if you need maximum capacity.

The load floor sits flush with the bumper sill, so it’s easy to slide in heavy suitcases, and there are tie-down points to keep loads in place. You also get a 12-volt socket to charge up a portable fridge or vacuum cleaner.

Folding the back seats is simple and the headrests automatically flip forward as you do so. With the seats down, you extend the boot’s 468 litres to a maximum of 1,395 litres. There’s no step in the floor, so you can push longer loads right to the front very easily.

The Volvo XC60’s interior is classy and very well screwed together, but the infotainment is a bit small compared with newer models

Volvo has really got to grips with how to make an SUV’s cabin look and feel top notch. An Audi Q5 might just have a very slight edge when it comes to overall quality, and the Genesis GV70 is a match for classiness, but everything you touch in the XC60 feels soft and very well made.

This impression is further enhanced when you settle into the driver’s seat and look at the large digital driver’s display, which is well laid-out so you get lots of information without it being overwhelming.

This screen is standard in all XC60s and can be configured to show all sorts of information in a variety of ways, so you can change and tailor it to suit your own preferences. In each case, it’s all very easy to read, but the graphics are a bit dark and dull.

The Ultra trim comes with a head-up display as well, which projects important information on speed, safety and sat-nav directions onto the windscreen so you don’t have to take your eyes off the road ahead.

In the centre console, there are some physical buttons for clearing the front and rear screens, but most climate controls are on the main screen, which can be a bit fiddly to use on the move.

Everything else is run through the 11.2-inch infotainment screen, which is positioned so it sits tall and narrow in the dash rather than broad and across as most alternatives favour.

With this arrangement, the Volvo’s infotainment display looks and feels a bit more like an iPad, and that’s pretty much how it works. Because it uses Google software it’s logically laid out and has built-in apps, from Google’s own maps to useful extras such as Spotify. That means you can sign into your accounts and use your saved locations and playlists without having to connect your phone. You can still use Apple CarPlay and Android Auto if you like.

With a choice of mild hybrid petrol and plug-in hybrid engines, the Volvo XC60 is pretty well covered, only missing out on a diesel model for ultra-high-mileage drivers, though you will be able to find some diesel-powered used XC60s.

The mild hybrid is going to be the better bet if you do mixed driving and can’t charge a plug-in model easily. In official tests it registered 37.7mpg. All models come with all-wheel drive for some extra poor-weather security.

The plug-in hybrid is more expensive to buy, but comes with the potential for very low running costs if you can charge at home. The official electric-only range is 51 miles, but during our testing we saw more like 30 miles in the real world. We also did a lot of long drives during our time with the PHEV, so even though we charged at home we managed a poor economy of just 34mpg, proving this isn’t a great option if you do a lot of motorway miles.

The plug-in model is better for company car drivers because of the benefit-in-kind tax breaks, and has lower first-year vehicle excise duty for private buyers, too. All models have to pay the expensive car supplement in years two to six, though, because they’re priced over £40,000.

Volvo and safety are synonymous with each other and the XC60 is no exception. It comes with seven airbags, including one for the driver’s knees, and ISOFIX mounts in the two outer rear seats.

Every XC60 has front collision warning and automatic emergency braking, plus lane keep assist and cruise control with speed limiter.

The XC60 scored full marks when it was safety tested by Euro NCAP back in 2017, but that rating is well out of date now. Reassuringly, the four models tested since 2022 have also scored five out of five.

There have been a few recalls for this generation of Volvo XC60, though most are for minor problems. All should have been sorted by a Volvo dealer by now.

The XC60 comes with a three-year/60,000-mile warranty as standard and this can be extended up to four years and 80,000 miles for an additional cost.

The Recharge models have an eight-year/100,000-mile warranty for their battery packs.