New Volvo XC60: behind the wheel of the best alternative to German SUVs that impresses

The Volvo XC60 is the best-selling model of the Swedish brand worldwide, accounting for more than 30% of all Volvo sales. An SUV that ranked in the top 5 best-sellers in its category in Europe in 2020, with almost 200,000 units sold.

The key to this success lies in a combination of values that customers greatly appreciate: design, safety, comfort, good-performing engines and a perfect balance between size and versatility, sitting right between the XC40 and the XC90. But to keep on the path to success, Volvo has incorporated some improvements into the XC60 range that enhance its appeal as a family SUV for all uses.

Changes to the new Volvo XC60

Among these improvements, the integration of the new Android-based infotainment system stands out, with all of Google’s services and applications. The latest advances in sensors and cameras have also been added to the driver assistance system. This allows, for example, the Pilot Assist function (intelligent cruise control with lane-keeping assistance) to be used for comfortable motorway driving.

On the outside, it is hard to tell the new XC60 from the previous one, as the aesthetic touch-ups are very light: grille, front bumper and new exterior colours and wheel designs. But the XC60 did not really need more; it remains a modern, customisable car, allowing you to choose between the elegant, distinguished look of the Inscription versions or the sportiness of the R-Design trim.

Inside, the materials used in some coverings and trims have been updated, plus new non-leather upholstery options.

As for the engine range, Volvo keeps in its offering the petrol and diesel versions B4, both with 4-cylinder engines producing 197 CV, automatic gearbox and mild hybridisation (with the ECO label). The diesel can be had with a choice of front-wheel or all-wheel drive. There are changes to the Recharge plug-in hybrid versions, which incorporate a more powerful electric motor and a higher-capacity battery.

Volvo XC60 Recharge T6 and T8: more power, more electric range

The Recharge T6 and T8 plug-in hybrid versions joined the XC60 range in mid-2020, and they are expected to account for 25 per cent of sales this year. This is where we find the most important novelties in the Swedish SUV’s renewal.

Volvo has fitted a higher-capacity battery, rising from 11.6 to 18.8 kWh, and has also increased the power of the electric motor on the rear axle, from almost 90 to 145 CV. The first consequence is that the range of the Recharge versions when running on electric power alone increases by around 25 km, to reach between 72 and 79 km, depending on the version and equipment.

In addition, the increase in electric motor power also raises the total system output, from 340 CV to 350 CV in the T6, and from 390 to 455 CV in the T8, which also receives adjustments to the 2.0 turbocharged engine. The latter, which is only associated with the Polestar trim, not only becomes the most powerful Volvo in the range but also among SUVs in its class, where its most direct rival is the Jaguar F-PACE PHEV.

As rivals to the XC60 Recharge T6 in terms of power, the Audi Q5 TFSIe stands out in its 367 CV version. The Mercedes GLC 300 e 4MATIC is more expensive, less powerful and has a shorter electric range.

Behind the wheel of the Volvo XC60 hybrids

During our first contact we could see that the improvements have done wonders for the XC60 range, especially these hybrid versions. If the T6 already pushes forcefully and responds very quickly to any demand on the accelerator, the T8 Polestar is in a league of its own.

In addition to changes to the 2.0 turbocharged engine, the latter incorporates suspension with electronically controlled damping signed by Öhlins, a strut brace between the front suspension towers, more powerful brakes and 21-inch wheels with very wide, very low-profile tyres: 255/40-21 as standard and 265/35-22 as an option.

Even so, one should not be fooled by appearances, nor by the huge, eye-catching brake calipers finished in yellow or the “Polestar” badges, nor by its 455 CV. In terms of performance, yes, but in terms of dynamic behaviour the XC60 T8 is not a sports SUV; in fact, it surprises more for the ride comfort it is capable of offering despite the firmness of the suspension and tyres than for the agility it conveys on very twisty roads, where a more precise steering, for example, would be appreciated.

In this sense, the XC60 Recharge T6 seems much more sensible to me: you will hardly miss the extra power and performance of the T8, but you will appreciate its better balance in the suspension and steering set-up. Travelling in this car is a real pleasure, thanks to the overall smoothness it conveys, the acoustic insulation, how well the driver assistance systems work and the responsiveness of the engine.

As long as the battery retains charge you can achieve consumption in hybrid mode of around 3.5 l/100 km; the problem, as with all plug-in hybrids, is that the battery runs out quickly (around 160 km in motorway driving) and from then on you must be careful with the accelerator so as not to exceed double-digit consumption figures.

In both cases the electric motor provides all-wheel drive, and it can move the XC60 in “Pure” mode with enough agility to get around in daily traffic on electricity alone.

The remaining modes are Hybrid, which intelligently combines both motors; Power, aimed at maximum performance; and the 4×4 modes for tarmac or dirt tracks. You can also select the function that keeps the battery charge so its energy can be used later, or use the combustion engine to charge the battery on the move. Placing the battery in the central tunnel allows a boot with almost 470 litres of capacity, only 15 litres less than the combustion-engine versions.

Prices for the Volvo XC60 Recharge range start at €61,800 for the T6, available with Inscription Expression, Inscription and R-Design trims, and from €78,740 for the T8 Polestar.

The Volvo XC60, also available with petrol and diesel engines

With a sales forecast that still accounts for 45% for the petrol version and 30% for the diesel, Volvo maintains and simplifies the range of combustion engines: the B4 MHEV variants with mild hybridisation, producing 197 CV in both cases.

The petrol B4 MHEV is priced from €49,000 to €56,000, while the diesel costs about €1,400 more for the same equipment. Only on the diesel, and for less than €400 extra, can all-wheel drive be included.

The choice is not easy, because both engines offer very similar performance and driving feel. They have great acceleration and a very smooth automatic gearbox that, together with a very pleasant cabin, makes driving really comfortable. The petrol holds a smaller advantage in smoothness than the diesel’s advantage in consumption, with the diesel averaging around 2.5 litres less per 100 km, even more if you are one of those who does not practise much efficient driving.

Choosing the equipment is not so complicated, as from the Momentum Pro trim onwards the standard specification is very complete. For around €2,000 more, the Momentum Pro adds styling details, Google’s digital services, an electric tailgate and keyless entry. From here you can move up to the refined, exclusive Inscription or the sporty R-Design, for an extra cost of around €6,000 or €5,000 respectively.

It is worth noting that with the current Premium Edition discount campaign you can get a Volvo XC60 for €40,300 (including financing), a very competitive price for what the Swedish SUV offers.

The multimedia system developed with Google

During this first contact with the XC60 we also tested how well the multimedia system developed in collaboration with Google and based on the Android operating system works, debuted on the XC40 Recharge electric. Another novelty is the updated graphics of the digital instrument display, although more customisation options are still missing.

The main difference from the multimedia system used by the previous XC60 is that it integrates Google services and applications into the car, notably the voice assistant and navigation with Google Maps. Simply “talking” to the car to ask, for example, for a destination to be located and navigation started works with a precision and speed equivalent to, or even better than, the best voice control systems with natural language recognition that are becoming increasingly common.

The car comes as standard with the necessary hardware and a pre-installed SIM card that allows access to all services with unlimited data, initially for four years. This service is standard from the Momentum Pro trim onwards on the combustion-engine XC60 versions, and on both XC60 Recharge versions.

XC60 2022 Volvo image gallery

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