Bloomfield, ON – I think it speaks volumes to how successful Volvo design is, given that this 2026 Volvo XC60 is the first refresh to this model in nearly a decade, and it speaks even more that they didn’t exactly change a whole lot, and it still feels like a fantastic vehicle. I wonder if there’s a Swedish interpretation of the old adage: if it ain’t broke, don’t fix it. Our friends at Volvo invited us out to picturesque Prince Edward Country to see what they saw fit to fix for the 2026 Volvo XC60.
What’s new?
This isn’t an all-new design because it doesn’t need to be. Given that this launched in 2018, that would typically be the case, but this is simply a very minor facelift and meaningful tech update. The 2026 XC60 gets a slightly revised front end with an almost art-deco grille with diagonal lines and the company’s updated logo to bring it in line with the XC90. There are also some new paint options in the form of Mulberry red (not pictured) and Forest Lake green, as well as new wheel designs and finishes, and subtly smoked tail lights.
The interior is largely unchanged, save for some new upholstery colours and trim finishes, but there’s more on the tech front. The digital gauge cluster has been very slightly updated to look more contemporary and be more configurable, but the biggest difference is the new, larger center display running Volvo’s newest Volvo Car UX, which is powered by Android Automotive and works very well, as seen on the similarly facelifted XC90 and new EX90.
Interior and tech updates
The large 11.2-inch central touchscreen is floated over the spot in the dashboard that the former 8-inch unit used to occupy. Said new screen is running the same Android Automotive software deployed in the newest Volvo and Polestar vehicles, and is a very welcome change. It’s dominated by a thoughtfully laid-out home screen, prominently featuring Google Maps, as well as tiles for media, phone connectivity, with a contextual bar of shortcuts under that, followed by fixed climate functions.
It’s sharp and snappy, looks great and works well, and is a huge update that neatly addresses the only thing that kind of dated the outgoing XC60. Its layout and style are familiar enough to not feel alienating, and it’s otherwise a substantial upgrade of what already worked well without compromising anything else.
The same stands for the rest of the cabin, which is largely unchanged, as such loses no buttons or other physical controls that already worked. There will be very little learning curve for existing XC60 owners looking for an upgrade, or for anyone else, really. It’s a smartly laid-out cabin with lots of space and storage that’s lovely to behold and easy to live with, in typical Volvo fashion.
What’s under the hood?
Existing XC60 owners might be surprised and delighted to experience the new-ish—and delightful—plug-in hybrid powertrain fitted to the T8 Ultra test vehicles on hand for our test event. This powertrain combo was actually rolled out two years ago for the 2023 model year, putting aside the previous “twincharged” engine in favour of a new 2.0-litre turbocharged four-cylinder over the front wheels. It produces 310 horsepower on its own, and works with a torquey, mechanically divorced electric motor embedded in the rear axle.
Combined output of both working in tandem is 455 horsepower and 523 pound-feet of torque, which is more than enough to make this XC60 properly quick, enabling it to sprint from rest to 100 km/h in under five seconds. More than that, by having a powertrain with completely separated combustion and electric propulsion, it provides a best-of-both-worlds experience, with power delivery is instantaneous and impeccably smooth like an electric vehicle, plus the added shove and range-increasing backup plan that is the fuel-fired engine.
Fuel economy and driving impressions
With the 14.7 kWh battery topped after a few hours on a Level 2 charger, the XC60 plug-in hybrid can go 57 kilometers on electric power alone, and it’s easily able to accelerate to and doddle along at highway speeds without firing the gas engine at all.
I love how the power meter in the gauge cluster clearly telegraphs when your foot’s position is going to fire the fuel burner, so you can easily keep it from starting, if you feel like being mindful. If you don’t have a long commute, it’s feasible you could go weeks at a time without burning a drop of fuel – but after a long enough time, it will start burning it anyway to prevent it from fouling in the tank.
Over the course of my drive time with the XC60 T8 I observed an average fuel use of 8.1L/100km – which is quite impressive given that the gas engine was running for the majority of the mostly-highway route. I’ve sung the praises of this powertrain every time I’ve had it; it’s among the best plug-in hybrids in the business.
Other changes for the 2026 Volvo XC60 include a little more sound deadening material in the cabin. The rest of the XC60 is comfortable and plush, with well-controlled body motions and confidence-inspiring handling thanks to Volvo’s carefully calibrated driver controls. It’s hard to pick out the improvements in road noise, as there wasn’t really much of it before, and it’s tricky to isolate over the fabulous 15 speaker, 1,410-watt Bowers & Wilkins sound system.
Wrap it up
In the segment of mid-size, nice crossovers, the XC60 was already a standout, and Volvo’s judicious tweaks to the already tasty recipe have helped keep the best-selling XC60 a winner. Believe it or not, the XC60 has been the first Volvo to usurp the legendary 240 as the brand’s best selling vehicle, now having shipped 2.7 million of the lovely things, and we have no doubt the 2026 Volvo XC60 will keep that trend going with its serene blend of style and substance. New models are arriving at dealers now.
