Mat Watson tests the Volvo XC60: has Volvo perfected this car, or should it be retired?

Back in 2017, in the early days of Carwow, I lived with a Volvo XC60 for six months. I bloody loved that car, but has Volvo changed it enough in nine years to keep it competitive, or is it time to lay this car out to pasture?

Since it came out, the XC60 has been facelifted more times than Simon Cowell, but it’s pretty much exactly the same underneath. To find out if this Volvo is still worth considering, I’m going to check out what is actually new, and whether the things which haven’t changed actually need to be updated.

Volvo XC60: what’s changed in nine years?

The XC60 has had a few nip-and-tuck makeovers in the last nine years, so how does this latest version differ from the one I had back in 2017?

Well there’s a new grille up front, with diagonal slats instead of vertical ones, and Volvo has removed the chrome trim on the lower parts of the doors. It also says it’s made the taillights slightly darker, although it’s quite hard to notice.

There are a few new customisation options as well. You get some updated alloy wheel designs, starting from 18 inches and going up to 22-inch rims. There are also some new colours to choose from, as well as a Black Edition which murders out the car with black paint, badges, exterior trim and alloy wheels.

Inside there’s a new central touchscreen which is a big improvement over the old one. It has a faster processor and higher resolution than before, so it looks sharper and is more responsive to use.

The menu layouts are also clearer than before, and I love the fact you still get Google services built-in. This means you have apps like Google Maps and Spotify at your fingertips without actually having to pair your phone to the car.

But beyond this, the XC60 hasn’t changed much. Is this a bad thing?

Volvo XC60: if it ain’t broke, don’t fix it

I don’t think so. The XC60 was a fantastic car when it was launched, so it didn’t need a massive overhaul.

The interior is still lovely. I like the open-pore wood trim, and material quality actually feels better than you’ll find in the new BMW X3. It feels super-solid and premium; who would’ve thought a cabin from almost a decade ago would be better than one from the current day?

It’s great to drive as well. The plug-in hybrid T8 version I tested has a whopping 455hp, so it’s ballistically quick and it handles pretty well on a twisty road. It may not be quite as sharp or agile as an X3 or Audi Q5, but it feels solid, secure and confidence-inspiring.

Around town you get a good view forwards, and the tight turning circle makes light work of U-turns on narrow streets. It does fidget about over bumps a bit, but it’s still comfy for bumbling around at low speeds and it smooths out really nicely on the motorway.

In terms of practicality, there’s plenty of rear legroom and the back seats are nice and comfy. It’s not even too bad with three in the back, although the narrow door openings do make it tricky to slot a baby seat in.

The boot is a decent size as well. You get 468 litres of space in this hybrid version, which is 30 litres more than you get in a plug-in hybrid Audi Q5. I managed to fit nine carry-on suitcases in the Volvo’s boot, which is good going.

Volvo XC60: it’s not perfect

No car is perfect, and there are a few things which annoyed me about the Volvo XC60.

The bonnet opens stupidly high. I don’t consider myself to be particularly short, but I couldn’t actually reach it when I went to top up the washer fluid.

Volvo also changed the rear cupholders. They were neatly hidden away before, but now they’re always exposed in the centre armrest. I guess it’s cheaper to do it that way, but I preferred the pop-out versions.

You can’t adjust the front headrests at all. Volvo has decided where they are, and that’s the end of discussion. I suppose Volvo does know best when it comes to safety.

Volvo XC60 prices and deals

Let’s talk cold, hard cash. How does the XC60 stack up against the German competition?

Well at first glance, it’s slightly cheaper than the equivalent BMW X3 or Audi Q5. Prices start from just under £50,000, which is a few grand less than those cars. However, what actually matters is the price you pay at a dealer.

At the time of writing, you can save an average of £5,320 on an Audi Q5 and £6,800 on a BMW X3. There are no discounts available on the XC60 at the moment, but that could soon change. Make sure you keep an eye on the latest Volvo deals to see how much you can save.

But what if you want to lease your car? Well right now you can get an XC60 for as little as £495 per month with an upfront payment of £6,000. This is over 48 months with a mileage limit of 5,000 per year, and the total cost over four years is around £29,200.

That’s actually less than the expected depreciation of the car over that time, so leasing could actually work out cheaper in the long run than buying the car outright and selling it on.

But if you really want to save some money then buying used is the way to go. I found a one-year-old XC60 in T8 Ultra spec for just under £45,000. That’s less than a base version of the new car, and seeing as the XC60 hasn’t really changed all that much it’s a tempting proposition.

My final verdict on the Volvo XC60

Those gripes aren’t enough to put me off this car, because I think this is the best Volvo XC60 there has ever been.

Volvo has been smart here. It’s just tweaked a few bits like the infotainment screen and the front end styling, but just left everything that works exactly as it was. It proves that progress for the sake of progress isn’t always a good thing, and I would have one of these over a BMW X3 any day of the week.

Car change? Carwow!

Looking for a new set of wheels? With Carwow you can sell your car quickly and for a fair price – as well as find great offers on your next one. Whether you’re looking to buy a car brand new, are after something used or you want to explore car leasing options, Carwow is your one stop shop for new car deals.

Click here to follow us on Reddit, where you can keep up-to-date with all the latest news, reviews, advice guides and videos. You can also subscribe to our WhatsApp channel to get the latest news sent straight to your phone.