Our Opinion - 2026 Volvo XC60 Review The 2026 Volvo XC60 is an old gentleman in the small luxury SUV market. It draws a lot on its Scandinavian roots to offer a simple but good option in this crowded and very competitive field. Every part of current Volvo styling helps, like the required Thor’s Hammer headlights and a new front grille for 2026 that looks like the XC90’s fasciae but is laid out diagonally. The Nordic style continues inside, with big, comfortable front seats and space for five people made of high-quality materials that don’t try to look flashy. When paired with the built-in starter-generator, the 2.0-liter turbocharged engine makes 247 horsepower. It’s not the fastest SUV in its class, but it never feels like it lacks power, and the smooth ride is thanks to driving that responds straight and has a good grip. On the other hand, it’s not as sporty or fast as cars like the BMW X3 and Porsche Macan. The XC60 is a good choice for its class and stands out from the rest. For 2026, infotainment changes will include a faster operating system, which will add to its appeal. What's New? The 2026 XC60 has a wider grille with a new vertical design that draws attention to the Volvo logo. The taillight shroud has also been slightly darkened. You can choose from three paint colors: Forest Lake, Aurora Silver, and Mulberry Red. You can also get new wheels. A new 11.2-inch infotainment display has been added to the XC60 in place of the 9.0-inch tablet. Volvo also says that the image quality is better and that the working speeds are faster. Pros and Cons Pros Two powerful engine options to choose from. Spacious cabin with newly refined upscale features. Elegant exterior design inspired by the XC90. Cons The tablet stays in place. The best T8 models will cost a lot of money. Engine, Transmission, and Performance The Volvo XC60 has a 48-volt hybrid engine with a 2.0-liter four-cylinder turbocharged engine that makes 247 horsepower and 266 pound-feet of torque. The power is sent to the wheels through an eight-speed automatic transmission and standard all-wheel drive. The BMW X3 and Audi Q5, especially the AMG and S performance models, are definitely more sporty than the XC60. The XC60 turns precisely and has a well-planted chassis. Impacts from rougher roads may still get into the car, even if comfort is more important than aggressive dynamics. In this case, trust, not animosity, is very important. There is also a T8 plug-in hybrid car with up to 455 horsepower, which we will talk about individually. Safety Volvo is committed to safety, and the XC60 shows that by coming standard with features like automatic emergency braking and lane-keeping assist. The following are important safety features: Typical automated emergency braking recognizes people. Lane-keeping assistance and standards lane departure warning. Adaptive cruise control and a semi-autonomous drive mode are both available. Internal and External Cargo Capacity The XC60 has a beautiful interior and materials that are on par with those in more expensive Volvos. It’s like getting your kladdkaka and eating it too. There are also places for adults in both rows of the small, peaceful cabin. As you’d expect from a modern Volvo, the XC60’s cabin has a very Scandinavian feel to it, thanks to its clean lines and high-quality materials. We tested the XC60 and found that it could carry 20 carry-on bags, which was about the same as its competitors. The back seats could be folded down to make room for them. That being said, there isn’t much storage space inside, and the one cargo bin is one of the smallest we’ve seen. Fuel Economy and Actual MPG When we put an XC60 with the B5 engine through our 75-mph, 200-mile highway fuel economy test, we’ll let you know what we found. The EPA thinks the XC60 will get 22 mpg in the city and 28 mpg on the highway. Infotainment and Connectivity From the 2026 model year on, all XC60s will have an 11.2-inch screen instead of the 9.0-inch touchscreen that was normal before. Volvo says that the new screen has 21% more pixels per inch than the old one, and Qualcomm’s improved Snapdragon Cockpit software lets it work up to twice as fast as the old model. Apple CarPlay and Android Auto are normal features, along with Bluetooth and a built-in Wi-Fi hotspot powered by a 4G LTE data connection. Range, Charging, and Battery Life The normal Volvo B5 turbo-four engine can go from 0 to 60 mph in 6.9 seconds. The plug-in hybrid T8 model, which we review separately, needs only 4.5 seconds. One of our most recent tests showed that Invoice Pricing test drivers could beat the T8’s claimed times by a few tenths. They were able to reach 60 mph in 4.2 seconds and the quarter-mile line at 111 mph in 12.6 seconds. Price and How to Choose There are many different grades and options that can affect the cost of the 2026 Volvo XC60. Our pick is the Plus trim, which is in the middle of the price range. For a little more money than the standard Core grade, you can get a 360-degree camera system, front and back parking sensors, adaptive cruise control with lane-keeping assist, and 19-inch wheels (the Core has 18s). Official prices should be released closer to the state’s yet-to-be-announced sale date.
