Review - Volvo XC60

Buyers are absolutely spoiled for choice when it comes to medium-sized SUVs, with the Volvo XC60 hoping to get a slice of the action with its sleek Swedish styling and its impressive equipment lists.

Better still, the latest XC60 lineup has been updated with a choice of two hybrid engines for buyers here in Australia, making for one of the most competitive XC60 ranges we’ve seen yet.

With that in mind, let’s take a look at the latest XC60 range and see how it stacks up against its competitors. 

Starting Price: $69,490

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Volvo XC60 - T5 MOMENTUM (AWD) Specifications

For more details and other variants, check Volvo XC60 car page.

How Much Does It Cost?

The Volvo XC60 lineup kicks off from $69,490 for the entry-level XC60 B5 Momentum, while the B5 Inscription is priced at $76,490.

Stepping up to the XC60 B6 R-Design brings the price to $82,490, while the range-topping XC60 T8 Recharge Hybrid is priced at $97,990.

Keep in mind that these prices are subject to change, and do not include on-road costs.

How Much Can OnlineAuto Save You?

You could save money by getting one of OnlineAuto’s car buying agents to assist you in finding the greatest value model for you.

What Features Does the Volvo XC60 Have?

Volvo’s entry-level XC60 B5 Momentum comes riding on 19-inch alloys, and receives LED headlights, keyless entry, leather upholstery, semi-autonomous parking, four-zone climate control, 12-inch digital driver’s display, adaptive cruise control, wireless smartphone charging and a 9.0-inch infotainment system with sat-nav, Apple CarPlay & Android Auto paired with a 10-speaker sound system.

Upgrading to the XC60 B5 Inscription adds a set of 20-inch alloys, heated front seats, head-up display, crystal gear lever, wood interior trim and a faux leather dashboard.

Opting for the XC60 B6 R-Design adds 21-inch alloys, sport seats, Nappa leather upholstery, aluminium pedals interior highlights, while the range-topping XC60 T8 Recharge receives a panoramic sunroof, heated steering wheel, active headlights and upgraded Bowers & Wilkins sound system.

Range Features:

• 19-inch alloys 

• LED headlights 

• Leather upholstery 

• Semi-autonomous parking 

• Adaptive cruise control 

• 12-inch digital instrument cluster 

• 9.0-inch infotainment system with sat-nav and Android Auto 

• 20-inch alloys (B5 Inscription)

• Heated front seats(B5 Inscription)

• 21-inch alloys (B6 R-Design)

• Sport seats (B6 R-Design)

• Nappa leather upholstery (B6 R-Design)

• Panoramic sunroof (T8 Recharge)

• Heated steering wheel (T8 Recharge)

• Active headlights Bowers & Wilkins sound system (T8 Recharge)

Volvo XC60 Colours

The XC60 range is available in the following colours: Ice White, Pine Grey, Denim Blue, Fusion Red, Onyx Black, Crystal White, Platinum Grey, Thunder Grey and Silver Dawn.

Is it Comfortable to Drive?

The Volvo XC60 platform offers a seriously impressive driving quality that, in base variants, offers a generous slice of premium European motoring without breaking the bank.

Keep in mind that there’s three engines available in the XC60 range, two of which are hybrid engines and are all paired with Volvo’s safe and stable all-wheel drive system via an eight-speed automatic transmission.

The base model receives a 2.0-litre turbocharged four-cylinder and mild 48V hybrid system producing 183kW of power and 350Nm, while the B6 adds a supercharger to the mix and produces 220kW of power and 420Nm of torque and the T8 Recharge plug-in hybrid produces 340kW and an immense 709Nm of torque, and offers north of 80km of all-electric driving.

The driving experience in the base model is impressively smooth with more than enough power for the majority of drivers, while the mid-range and flagship variants add a heap of power and torque to the mix, making for a spritely midsize SUV that can also get busy towing.

On that note, the XC60 B5 & B6 have towing capped at 2,400kg, while the plug-in hybrid T8 is rated at 2,100kg.

Around town, the steering rack remains incredibly lightweight for easy navigation of carparks and tight manouvers, while offering a healthy amount of feedback as you pick up speed.

The suspension offers a versatile mix of support and stability while driving on some rough Australian B-roads while remaining silky-smooth and premium on smooth city streets to add to the versatility of the package.

All up, the XC60 is comfortable, stable, refined and surprisingly powerful in mid and high-range variants, with the added benefit of two hybrids within the lineup.

Is it Practical and Spacious?

The good news keeps coming when you step inside the XC60’s cabin, which is equal parts stylish, comfortable, practical and premium - with Volvo very much leading the pack when it comes to interior designs for the money.

The front of the cabin greets the driver and front passenger with a sleek and uncrowded dashboard brimming with quality and some nice silver contrasts, and that’s just in the base model.

Stepping up higher into the range adds a heap of interior options including wood and aluminium highlights that makes the XC60 cabin a serious challenger to significantly more expensive European rivals.

The cabin also features some clever, family-friendly practical elements including a clever wireless smartphone charging pad, storage inside the folding arm rest, a small tray with charging ports behind the gear lever and a set of large door bins on either side of the cabin.

Moving to the second row of the XC60’s cabin greets rear passengers with a tonne of headroom, and more than enough legroom for even adult rear passengers, which means you won’t hear any complaints from kids, even on even long journeys.

The second row retains Volvo’s in-built booster seats for kids, as well as a pair of ISOFIX anchors on each of the outside seats, and top tether mounts on the back of the second row, making for a very accommodating cabin for growing families.

Finally, the XC60’s boot is rated at 438L, which is by no means groundbreaking for the segment, although boot space does increase to 468L in the T8 plug-in hybrid variant.

Is it Safe?

As you can expect from a company like Volvo, the XC60 is an exceptionally safe midsize SUV that comes feature-packed with all the safety tech you could want - even in the base model.

Atop the five-star ANCAP safety rating, all members of the XC60 family come packed with autonomous emergency braking, blind-spot monitoring, rear cross-traffic alerts, adaptive cruise control, a surround-view camera with parking sensors, semi-autonomous parking, lane keep assistance with a lane centering function.

As a result, it’s perhaps the leading option within the premium end of the midsize SUV segment that thankfully doesn’t reserve key features for high-level variants.

Is it Fuel Efficient?

The entry-level XC60 B6 returns fuel economy figures of 8.0L per 100km on a combined cycle, while the B6 variant is rated at 7.6L per 100km.

Opting for Volvo’s T8 Recharge plug-in hybrid returns fuel economy figures of 1.6L per 100km when the battery pack is charged, but this also shows flaws in the current methods of measuring fuel economy for plug-in hybrids.

Our Verdict: Is the Volvo XC60 Worth it?

As a complete package, the Volvo XC60 is a fabulous entrant to the world of premium SUVs for buyers looking to do things a little differently.

It offers an incredibly comfortable platform that is smooth to drive and incredibly safe, as per usual with Volvo vehicles, while offering a heap of space and practicality for growing families.

The addition of mild hybrid and plug-in hybrid XC60 variants mean that there’s a heap of variety within the range, and as a result, is well deserving of a spot on your shortlist.

On that note, if you’re in the market for a new car, you can get a free quote and see how much OnlineAuto can save you on your next car, or call us on 1300 719 925.

Five Specs You Need to Know

1. Five-year, unlimited KM warranty;

2. Boot space between 468L - 483L in T8 Recharge

3. Towing capacity from 2,100kg to 2,400kg

4. Five-star ANCAP safety rating

5. 80km of all-electric range for T8 Recharge plug-in hybrid

Pros

• Sleek, stylish and practical interior design

• Generous entertainment & safety equipment for base model

• Smooth, safe & premium driving dynamic

Cons

• Average boot space for the segment

• Apple CarPlay support soon to be added, but not yet included for Android-based OS

• Pricey optional extras

OnlineAuto Rating: 8.5/10

Volvo XC60 Competition