Volvo XC60 review
The Volvo XC60 is a stylish, safe, and luxurious mid-size SUV that’s perfect for families who value comfort and quality.
Author: Charlie Harvey
16th Dec 2025 – 9 mins read
The Volvo XC60 has been a huge success story for the Swedish brand, becoming its best-selling model and a favourite among families looking for a premium SUV. The second-generation model, launched in 2017, took everything that was great about the original – comfort, practicality, and class-leading safety – and wrapped it in a stunningly beautiful package. Taking its design cues from the larger XC90, the XC60 offers a truly luxurious and minimalist interior, a range of powerful yet efficient engines, and some of the most advanced safety technology you’ll find in any car. While it’s not the most thrilling SUV to drive, it excels as a comfortable, refined, and incredibly safe family car. It's a classy and sophisticated choice that feels special every time you get behind the wheel.
Pros
- Beautiful, sophisticated design inside and out
- Luxurious and high-quality interior
- Exceptional safety standards
Cons
- Rivals can be more fun to drive
- The large touchscreen isn't for everyone
- Some engines could be more refined
Interior
Dashboard & tech
Stepping inside the Volvo XC60 feels like entering a calm, minimalist Scandinavian living room. The design is clean and uncluttered, with a focus on high-quality materials and a superb finish. The centrepiece of the dashboard is the large, portrait-style nine-inch touchscreen, which controls almost all of the car’s functions, from navigation to climate control.
This screen-based approach means there are very few physical buttons, which creates a very modern look. It can take a little getting used to, as you have to navigate menus for simple tasks, but the system is logical and becomes second nature pretty quickly. The digital driver’s display in front of you is also clear and customisable, adding to the high-tech feel.
Comfort
Comfort is a traditional Volvo strength, and the XC60 is one of the most comfortable cars in its class. The seats are brilliantly designed, offering fantastic support that makes even the longest journeys feel effortless. The ride is smooth and composed, soaking up bumps in the road and creating a serene, quiet environment in the cabin.
It’s an incredibly relaxing car to travel in, whether you’re stuck in city traffic or cruising on the motorway. The spacious cabin and refined nature make it a perfect choice for families who spend a lot of time on the road.
Quality
The interior quality of the XC60 is simply superb and is a real standout feature. Everything you see and touch, from the soft leather upholstery to the cool metal trim and optional driftwood inlays, feels expensive and beautifully crafted.
Volvo has paid incredible attention to detail, and the fit and finish are on par with, if not better than, its premium German rivals. It’s this sense of luxury and craftsmanship that makes the XC60 feel so special and helps to justify its premium price tag.
Practicality & boot space
Interior space
The XC60 is a great family car, with plenty of space for everyone on board. There's generous headroom and legroom for passengers in both the front and back, so even tall adults will have no trouble getting comfortable on long trips.
The cabin also features lots of useful storage spaces, including large door bins and a decent-sized cubby under the central armrest, perfect for hiding away all the bits and bobs that come with family life. The overall feeling of light and space makes it a very pleasant place to spend time.
Boot space
With 505 litres of space, the XC60’s boot is a very practical size. It’s more than big enough for a family’s holiday luggage, a big weekly shop, or a bulky pushchair. While some rivals offer slightly more outright capacity, the XC60’s boot is a good, usable shape that makes it easy to load.
The rear seats fold down easily to expand the load area for those occasional trips to the furniture store or garden centre. Many models also come with a powered tailgate, which is a great convenience feature when you’ve got your hands full.
Driving
Driving experience
The XC60 is designed for comfort and relaxation rather than thrilling B-road drives. The steering is light and precise, and the car feels stable and secure on the road, inspiring a lot of confidence. It’s an incredibly easy and calming car to drive.
Models with the R-Design trim have slightly firmer suspension for a sportier feel, but the XC60 is at its best in standard form, where its comfortable ride can be fully enjoyed. It may not be as agile as a BMW X3 or Jaguar F-Pace, but for most people, its supreme comfort and refinement will be far more important in day-to-day driving.
Performance
The XC60 comes with a range of powerful and efficient 2.0-litre engines, including petrol, diesel, and plug-in hybrid options. The diesel engines (badged D4) are great for long-distance motorway driving, offering strong pulling power and good fuel economy. The petrol engines (B5 or T5) are smoother and quieter.
The star of the show is the T8 Twin Engine plug-in hybrid. This combines a petrol engine with an electric motor to produce over 400bhp in some versions, making it incredibly quick. It can also travel for around 25-30 miles on electric power alone, making it perfect for zero-emission commuting if you can charge it regularly. All models come with a smooth automatic gearbox.
Running costs
Fuel economy & CO2 emissions
For a car of its size and performance, the XC60 offers reasonable running costs. The D4 diesel models can achieve fuel economy in the 40s (mpg), making them a sensible choice for high-mileage drivers.
The T8 plug-in hybrid is the most efficient on paper, with official figures of over 100mpg. To get anywhere near this, you’ll need to charge the battery regularly and do most of your driving on electric power. For company car drivers, its low CO2 emissions make it a very tax-efficient choice.
Value for money
The XC60 is a premium SUV with a premium price tag to match. However, it holds its value well, which is good news when you come to sell it on. On the used market, a one-year-old model can offer a significant saving compared to the new price, making it a very tempting proposition. Given the high level of standard equipment and superb quality, it represents good value in the premium SUV class.
Reliability & Warranty
Volvo’s latest models have shown a big improvement in reliability, and the brand often performs well in driver satisfaction surveys. The cars are built to a very high standard, and owners tend to be very happy with them. From new, Volvo provides a three-year, 60,000-mile warranty, which is standard for the premium sector.
Safety
Safety features
Safety is at the very core of the Volvo brand, and the XC60 is one of the safest cars you can buy. When it was tested by the safety experts at Euro NCAP, it received a full five-star rating with some of the highest scores ever recorded.
Every XC60 comes with an incredible amount of standard safety equipment. This includes an advanced autonomous emergency braking system that can detect other vehicles, pedestrians, cyclists, and even large animals. It also features lane-keeping assist and a system that helps prevent head-on collisions. The optional Pilot Assist system offers semi-autonomous driving capabilities, taking control of the steering, acceleration, and braking on motorways.
Trims & Engines
Trim levels
The XC60 is available in several trim levels, each offering a different flavour of Swedish luxury.
Momentum: The entry-level model is very well-equipped, featuring 18-inch alloy wheels, leather upholstery, the nine-inch touchscreen, sat-nav, and that full suite of advanced safety systems.
R-Design: This trim adds a sporty touch. It comes with larger 19-inch alloy wheels, a gloss black grille, sports seats, and a lowered sports chassis for a firmer, more dynamic drive.
Inscription: This is the luxury-focused trim. It features elegant chrome exterior trim, beautiful driftwood interior inlays, and electrically adjustable front seats with a memory function.
Polestar Engineered: Available only with the T8 plug-in hybrid engine, this is the high-performance model. It gets a power boost, unique wheels, and high-performance brakes and suspension developed by Volvo’s performance division, Polestar.
Engines
The engine range is based around 2.0-litre petrol, diesel, and plug-in hybrid units.
D4/B4 Diesel: A strong and economical diesel engine, perfect for those who cover a lot of motorway miles.
T5/B5 Petrol: A smooth and powerful petrol engine that’s quieter and more refined than the diesel.
T8 Twin Engine/Recharge PHEV: The range-topping plug-in hybrid. It offers huge performance and the ability to drive on pure electric power for short journeys, resulting in very low running costs if charged regularly.