2026 Volvo XC60 First Drive Review: Subtle Record Setter

PRINCE EDWARD COUNTY, ON—Does any other brand do long product cycles better than Volvo?

This is the 2026 Volvo XC60, the ninth model year for this generation of the brand’s mid-sized, two-row SUV. It appears set to outlast the previous generation (a cool decade) and may even eclipse the original XC90 (13 years). Aging like a fine wine, the XC60 is Volvo’s bread and butter. Close your eyes: when you hear “ Volvo” you might picture the venerable 240, but it’s actually this model that recently became the brand’s all-time best-seller.

To keep the XC60 fresh—and as part of the brand’s rethink on its electrified future—Volvo has given it a light update, reinforcing its strengths such as comfort, quality, and ease of use.

The original XC60 had a look somewhere between Volvo’s traditional wagons and the tall-boy XC90. This generation is closer in feel to a shrunken-down version of the latter, and is just as handsome.

You’ll clock the criss-cross grille pretty quickly, a look that debuted on the 2025.5 XC90. Or rather, you will so long as it’s not blacked-out as it is here. The headlights have not been thinned out as on big brother, however. New hues Mulberry and Forest Lake (pictured) are typical Volvo; elegantly subdued. Darkened taillights and new wheel designs round out the visual changes outside.

Every model at the drive event is powered by Volvo’s T8 plug-in hybrid setup; a 247-horsepower mild-hybrid is standard. It’s still a sweetheart and, in the smaller XC60, something of a rarity in the segment. A combined 455 horsepower is plenty, though the XC60 doesn’t hit with the sledgehammer feel you may expect of such a number. Power is doled out smoothly, unhurried; it’s the attitude that permeates much of the XC60.

It is entirely possible to run the whole show on nothing but electrons. Cautious pedal use is recommended, however: with just 143 horsepower, the electric motor can and will wake the 2.0-liter turbo-four if it can’t handle a task solo. The instrument cluster shows a dynamic display that helpfully highlights where that threshold lies, mind you. A 14.7-kilowatt-hour battery pack seems small in today’s PHEV scene, but it’s still good for an estimated 36 miles (58 kilometers) on a charge. It is still possible to prioritize one mode of propulsion over the other; drivers can even force the gas engine to recharge the battery, though that obviously leads to higher consumption.

Speaking of, the XC60 T8 is rated at 28 mpg (8.5 L/100 km) combined. Naturally, that rating can go much higher if you are regularly plugging in; it should completely recharge in about 5 hours on a 16-amp service.

Rolling on enormous 22-inch wheels, the XC60 gives the impression of an eager handler. Uh, not quite.

That’s not to say the XC60 doesn’t take care of itself. It steers with a comforting linearity that makes it immediately familiar, but it quickly starts to feel uncomfortable when pushed. This is a hefty nugget of a vehicle at 4,742 pounds (2,151 kilograms), and that PHEV battery pack is wedged into the transmission tunnel instead of slung under the floor. The result is a vehicle that exhibits body roll earlier than some competitors.

When not hurried, the XC60 is a much happier mode of conveyance. Yes, the 22-inch wheels do make for more jagged impacts over broken pavement, especially on the conventional suspension. An available air suspension helps cushion the blows, so budget for that if you simply must have the big wheels.

It should come as little surprise that Volvo has some of the best seats in the business. Satisfyingly squishy while maintaining good support, they make the humdrum highway drive at the end of the journey all too easy. Space in the back is solid too, with a nearly square amount of head- and legroom (38 in / 965 mm).

Volvo’s Scandinavian roots are clearest in the pared-back cabin. The XC60 doesn’t try to be flashy; it just uses clean, honest, high-quality materials and textures for a calming experience. Soothing open-pore wood, soft Nappa leather, and the Orrefors crystal shifter combine for an understated elegance that is feeling increasingly rare. If other cabins are like browsing the modern internet, the XC60 is doing it with pop-ups disabled.

Lower trims now feature Volvo’s Nordico faux-leather, which uses a backing made of 100-percent recycled polyester.

The 11.2-inch touchscreen is arguably the biggest single change for this model year. It now runs the latest Volvo infotainment, which sadly means one fewer physical controls in the cabin, as the home button moves on-screen. Not only is the screen sharper and quicker to respond than before, the system now weaves Google functionality into many of the features. Simply utter “Hey Google” and you can access navigation, climate, or audio controls. It’s all relatively straightforward. The lower portion of the screen keeps climate controls up at all times, with a small band just above that provides contextual links to certain apps based on the current situation.

Other stand-out features include available front massage seats and the excellent Bowers & Wilkins audio system. Yes, you can still adjust the passenger seat from the driver’s side.

Not dramatically different from before, the 2026 Volvo XC60 nonetheless remains a charming and compelling choice in a class brimming with talent. It ain’t cheap in plug-in hybrid format, but the calm and collected attitude will brush off on you—and who amongst us couldn’t stand to be a little more chill?

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