2026 Volvo XC60 Reviews, Pricing & Specs

Volvo sells the 2026 XC60 as the T5 mild hybrid and the T8 Plug-in Hybrid. This review covers the XC60 T5, which comes in Core, Plus, Ultra, and Black Edition trim levels. Prices range from $51,095 to $62,195, including the $1,395 destination charge.

For this review, Volvo provided a T5 Ultra with numerous upgrades that inflated the manufacturer’s suggested retail price (MSRP) to $68,870. We'd say the 22-inch wheels, active air suspension, front seat massage, Climate Package, and Bowers & Wilkins high-end audio system aren’t worth the extra cost, but that would be a lie.

Look at it. That Forest Lake paint is a new color for 2026, and it glints with gorgeous blue flecks and undertones in direct sunlight. Those 22-inch wheels add significant presence, and the XC60’s nearly decade-old design is aging like it uses Korean skin-care products.

But it’s the beautifully-detailed interior that really sells the XC60 Ultra. That clean Scandinavian design, with plush Nappa leather, premium wood trim, and classy metal speaker grilles, is straight out of the Design Within Reach catalog. Add the robust metal door release handles, Orrefors crystal shift knob, and cylindrical Bowers & Wilkins “tweeter-on-top” hardware, and a loaded XC60 makes drivers feel calm and pampered.

Minimalism rules inside the XC60, and some might find that frustrating when it comes to the controls. We used the XC60 for a family road trip and can attest that, over time, some of the more obscurely marked controls become second-nature.

Modest power lives under the Volvo XC60 T5’s hood. A turbocharged 2.0-liter four-cylinder engine generates 247 horsepower and 266 pound-feet of torque, flowing to all four wheels through an eight-speed automatic transmission. The powertrain features a 48-volt mild-hybrid system with an integrated starter/generator and regenerative braking, and Volvo includes two complimentary services with a lease or purchase (down from three last year).

While it’s not a rocket, the claimed 6.5-second sprint to 60 mph should satisfy most owners. Our gripe is the delay in response due to either turbo lag or the transmission’s reluctance to downshift. It causes uneven power delivery and makes it harder to leverage holes in traffic. Plan ahead, press the accelerator slowly at first, and learn how to ride the engine’s wave of torque for smoother travel.

The engine isn’t as fuel-efficient as advertised, either. The official EPA rating is 26 mpg in combined driving, but on a sunny 88-degree day, the XC60 T5 returned 24.7 mpg on our Southern California fuel-economy loop. On the extended mountainous vehicle evaluation route, we saw 21.7 mpg.

Buyers who upgrade to the 22-inch wheels will feel the impact on ride quality even with the optional air suspension. Nevertheless, in Comfort mode, the suspension successfully filters most of the unpleasantness, and the oversized rims and tires provide astounding grip in corners.

Switched to the Firm setting, the XC60 hustled along Mulholland Highway with remarkable grace and athleticism. The light steering lacks feel and feedback, though, and under hard use the brakes fade a little, so the XC60 isn’t for driving enthusiasts. In other situations, it perfectly serves the expected Volvo customer.

Volvo equips the XC60 T5 with Standard and Off-Road modes, but with those 22s and a ground clearance of 8.2 inches, we didn’t venture far off the pavement. Chances are that those planning to tackle a trail are not shopping for a Volvo XC60, so that’s probably OK.

We spent a lot of time on SoCal freeways with a family of four aboard, and the XC60 proved an excellent road-tripper. Its compact dimensions also made it easy to park, though buyers definitely want to take care not to scrape the expensive wheels.

One of the many reasons the XC60 is great for long-distance travel is the seats. Our test vehicle had the top-shelf front chairs, wrapped in soft Nappa leather and equipped with heating, cooling, massage, and extending leg supports. After hours of driving, we emerged none the worse for wear.

Though two teenagers reported no complaints, we determined the rear seats were not quite as comfortable. The lower cushion feels firm and too low, and it's easy for those with long legs to painfully brush their shins into the plastic frames of the front seatback storage nets.

Our test vehicle had a four-zone automatic climate control system with air purification technology and a panoramic sunroof.

In-cabin storage space is acceptable, and for those who would rather not see the exposed cupholders, a tamboured cover slides closed to hide them. Each armrest includes an embedded tray, and the front lower door panels offer large bins. Rear stash space isn’t as generous, but the center armrest includes cupholders and a storage space of its own, in addition to the shin-threatening storage nets.

With a spare tire, 48-volt mild-hybrid, and air suspension components living underneath the cargo floor, there isn’t room for additional items. That leaves 21.6 cubic feet of volume behind the back seat, which our family of four used without any trouble during the road trip.

Volvo equips the XC60 with a 40:20:40-split folding back seat. The center section is designed to hold longer items such as skis while also carrying passengers. Fold the entire rear seat down, and the XC60 can hold 63.3 cubic feet of cargo.

This year’s updates to the XC60 focus on the infotainment system. A larger, high-resolution 11.2-inch touchscreen display debuts for 2026, mounted in portrait orientation on a dashboard that wasn’t originally designed to accommodate it. As such, it looks like an iPad glued between the air vents.

Volvo Car UX is the new software powering the infotainment system, and the XC60 includes a complimentary four-year subscription to Digital Services. That provides access to Google built-in and the following associated apps: Google Maps, Google Assistant, Google Gemini (added mid-year), and Google Play. Additionally, Remote App Services provides features such as remote engine starting, remote door lock/unlock, and cabin temperature pre-conditioning.

After hundreds of miles spent using the new tech, the only frustrating thing was that we could not figure out how to cycle through our saved favorite stations. To choose one, we had to first open the Radio tile to see them, and then tap on the one we wanted. Certainly there must be a setting we missed or didn't find that makes this easier, but the one other thing that would save some frustration is a radio tuning knob.

Of course, the voice recognition system and Google Assistant would also work for this purpose. We told Google we wanted to listen to reggae music, and it directed us to use a supported music streaming service. Specifying “reggae on SiriusXM” didn't work. Requesting “Bob Marley” landed us on the intended channel.

Otherwise, the infotainment system and the Google built-in features functioned flawlessly. As we were traveling in a region unknown to us, it was particularly helpful when trying to find various destinations.

The infotainment system also supports Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, but in a nod to the XC60’s advancing age and despite the new infotainment tech, using Apple CarPlay requires a wired connection to the USB data port.

The optional Bowers & Wilkins audio system costs $3,200. That’s not chump change. Is it worth it to obtain the 15 speakers, 1,410 watts of power, and undeniably lush sound? That’s a question only buyers can answer.

The 2026 Volvo XC60 did not earn a Top Safety Pick or a Top Safety Pick+ rating from the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety (IIHS). The reason is an Acceptable rather than a Good rating in the side-impact crash test.

We mention this at the outset because we know Volvo has a well-earned, long-standing reputation for safety, and consumers assume they’re among the safest vehicles available. But in the XC60’s segment, the Audi Q5, the BMW X3, the Genesis GV70, and the Lexus NX receive Top Safety Pick+ ratings for the 2026 calendar year, while the Volvo doesn’t.

That said, there’s no shortage of safety tech aboard the 2026 XC60. Our test vehicle had the expected features with some unusual twists. For example, the forward-collision warning system identifies large animals in the road ahead as well as pedestrians and cyclists. The XC60 has an oncoming collision mitigation braking system, just in case the driver or another motorist has crossed the double-yellow line. Intersection braking assist is also standard, and Volvo offers factory-installed integrated rear booster child seats as an option.

The real-world performance of the driver-assistance tech is another story. We didn’t find it to be up to scratch with equivalents from Hyundai or Kia, let alone other luxury brands.

For example, the XC60’s Pilot Assist system (adaptive cruise control with lane-centering assist) was unsophisticated. When cresting a small rise in a freeway, Pilot Assist lost track of the lane markings and wandered left, and the system regularly wavered when passing exit and entrance ramps. In thickening traffic using a medium following distance, Pilot Assist did not brake soon enough as motorists ahead came to a stop, requiring intervention. The SUV also lacks a touch-sensing steering wheel, so drivers must apply steering input to let the tech know they're paying attention.

On the Pacific Coast Highway, the lane-keep assist system required more muscle than is preferable to make slight course corrections, and at other times it allowed the XC60 to drift out of the lane without issuing a warning or adding steering assistance. When lanes expanded from one into two, or converged from two into one, the tech issued false lane departure warnings. Later, while driving on a two-lane rural road, it had trouble seeing the center lane lines. And this is as sophisticated as Volvo’s driver-assist tech gets; there’s no hands-free highway driving system or low-speed traffic jam assist system available.

We can end on a good note, though. The XC60 earns a top five-star overall rating from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA), and five-star ratings in each individual crash test except for rollover resistance.

When it comes to value, the Volvo XC60 lands mid-pack among compact luxury SUVs, and this year’s reduction in its complimentary maintenance program from three years/30,000 miles to two years/20,000 miles doesn’t help. Its free four-year connected services plan is superior to rivals, though.

As tested, our XC60 came to nearly $70,000. That’s pushing the boundaries of acceptability, especially since it had the base powertrain. Stick with Ultra trim but skip the 22-inch wheels, air suspension, and Bowers & Wilkins audio (a Harman Kardon sound system is standard on the Ultra), and that shaves almost $6,500 off the MSRP, reducing it to a more reasonable $62,395.

Not only would that make the XC60 Ultra more cost-effective, but it also means buyers would still enjoy what we liked most about this SUV: the sumptuously outfitted cabin.