The 2023 Volvo XC60 is a midsize SUV that expertly combines the family aesthetic cues of the brand with the fundamentals of the luxury crossover market: space for five people, elegant interiors, usable load space, and adaptable driving qualities worthy of its price. The XC60 is slightly longer than the competition, thanks to its 112.8-inch wheelbase. With that additional length, Volvo could provide a second row with reasonable legroom and class-leading luggage carrying capacity. The XC60 includes two mild-hybrid gasoline-electric engines and the quick and effective T8 eAWD plug-in hybrid (PHEV) as the premium powertrain. Volvo said in May 2022 that all of its cars will integrate some electrification beginning in 2023.
The XC60 will only undergo minor model alignment changes for 2023. Core (basic, begins at $45,840), Plus (midline, starts at $50,090), and Ultimate (loaded, starts at $55,890) have taken the role of Momentum and Inscription. A new Polestar Engineered trim with specific chassis tuning, 21-inch wheels, and a distinctive grille is added to the XC60 Recharge plug-in hybrid model. (Polestar, once Volvo’s performance arm, now produces electric cars under its label.)
In addition, the XC60 now comes in two free paint options: Light (with exterior brightwork) and Dark (with blacked-out trim). The Volvo XC60 competes against high-end vehicles like the Lexus RX, Lincoln Corsair, Audi Q5, and BMW X3 in the crowded five-passenger crossover SUV market. While BMW discontinued the X3 PHEV in 2021, Audi and Lincoln offer PHEVs in addition to conventional gasoline engines. Lexus offers two basic hybrid alternatives in addition to a gasoline engine.
Either the B5, a 2.0-liter four-cylinder turbocharged with a 48-volt mild-hybrid boost, or the B6, the same engine with a turbocharger and a supercharger, provide the power. The B6’s engine combines two electric motors, an 18.8 kWh battery, and the T8 in the XC60 Recharge PHEV. Each powerplant is fast, often outperforming the rival set in terms of factory-supplied 0-60 times. Despite the focus on performance, the XC60’s average fuel efficiency ratings are among the best in its peer group.
After a week of driving the XC60 Recharge Ultimate, we discovered it had an almost perfect mix of comfort and speed. Since we went on electricity, we could completely recharge from a 110V residential power supply overnight. The Volvo’s interior is spacious, cozy, and attractively decorated for a laid-back atmosphere. The front passenger and driver have plenty of space and some of the most comfortable seats any manufacturer offers. In theory, rear-seat passengers in the Lincoln should have less legroom, but in practice, the difference is slight, and the Volvo’s legroom (38 inches) is difficult to fault. The Volvo also offers the most cargo room overall.
Even though active driver aid technology is now the main emphasis rather than crumple zones, safety is still vital to the Volvo brand’s reputation. This makes it a significant letdown that adaptive cruise control and lane-keeping assist are not available in the basic Core model, as well as that you have to upgrade two models and pay over $10,000 to acquire features like a premium audio system, a head-up display, and ventilated front seats.
Performance: Volvo XC60
The XC60 is a relatively speedy vehicle, even with the next-to-lowest basic horsepower in the competitive class. Only the 2023 BMW X30i can beat the 247-horsepower B5 engine’s 6.5-second 0-60 time (with 22 more horsepower), which matches the Lincoln Corsair and surpasses the Lexus RX 350 (7.6 seconds). The B6 engine, exclusively offered in Ultimate AWD, produces 295 horsepower and reduces the 0-60 time to 5.9 seconds. The Lexus RX 500h F SPORT Performance AWD can match that, but it begins at close to $63,000, over $18,000 more than the XC60 Core B5 FWD’s introductory pricing.
The Recharge PHEV’s T8 powertrain boosts horsepower to 455 and accelerates the vehicle from 0 to 60 mph in only 4.5 seconds. If we limit the comparison to PHEVs, the Lincoln Corsair Grand Touring PHEV AWD only has 266 horsepower, and it accelerates from 0 to 60 mph in precisely seven seconds, which is slower than its standard engine. On average, the Audi Q5 PHEV takes 5.0 seconds. Manufacturer-supplied statistics; actual results may differ.
With the standard B5 powerplant, the XC60 Core, Plus, and Ultimate are available in FWD or AWD. Only AWD is available in the Ultimate B6 and all T8 Recharge PHEVs. It has the most ground clearance among its rivals (8.3 inches), so mild off-roading is an option. The XC60 is also capable of towing 3500 pounds in all variants.
Fuel efficiency: Volvo XC60
The Volvo has the most excellent average combined fuel efficiency of gasoline and mild hybrid versions at 25 miles per gallon. The B5 front-wheel drive is EPA-rated explicitly at 26 combined, 23 cities, and 30 highway mpg. (AWD reduces combined and highway mileage by one mpg.) The B6 AWD powertrain achieves 23, 21, and 27 mpg in the same measures. The combined mileage of the Lexus and Lincoln is 24 mpg; as a benchmark, compare the 22 mpg highway mileage of the Cadillac XT5 V6.
The XC60 T8 Recharge PHEV has an electric-only range of 36 miles and is EPA-rated for 63 MPGe (miles per gallon equivalent). The Volvo XC60 Recharge has 189 more horsepower than the Lincoln Corsair Grand Touring PHEV AWD, rated at 78 MPGe, and has a 28-mile electric-only range. The Audi Q5 PHEV has an electric-alone range of just 23 miles, at 61 MPGe.
The Volvo XC60 Recharge achieves 25 mpg in pure hybrid mode (without the advantage of an ultimately charged battery), the Lincoln achieves 33 mpg, and the Audi achieves 26 mpg.
Safety and driver support technology:
The National Highway Transportation Safety Administration (NHTSA) awards the Volvo XC60 a five-star overall crash rating, tying it with the Lincoln Corsair, BMW X3, and Audi Q5 (the Lexus RX has not been tested for 2023 but was given a four-star rating in 2022). The BMW X3 and Audi Q5 also earned Top Safety Pick+ designations from the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety, which accords the Volvo a solid overall grade. Although they weren’t tested for 2023, the Lexus and Lincoln were Top Safety Picks in 2022.
Most of the necessary active safety technologies are included, but we regret that the mid-range Plus model’s adaptive cruise control and lane-keeping assist cost at least $4,250. Even as a la carte alternatives, they are not accessible in the Core model. A head-up display is practical and desired, but it is unnecessary. To acquire one, you must upgrade to the Ultimate model, which costs $10,050 more than the Core.
Comfort and Space
The XC60 has 38 inches of legroom in the back seats. That falls short of the Lexus RX’s 37.3 and the X3’s 36.4 but surpasses the Q5’s 37.8. It is also behind Lincoln Corsair’s 39.6. Although not uncommon, 38 inches means that backseat passengers are unlikely to object.
Another area of interior comfort where Volvo has opted to charge extra for a feature that should be standard: ventilated front seats. The only way to obtain them is to choose the Ultimate model, which costs $10,050 more than the Core model’s entry-level price.
Infotainment: Volvo XC60
The 2023 Volvo XC60’s basic infotainment system is a ten-speaker Bower & Wilkins system that provides above-average sound quality. Standard features include Bluetooth, four USB ports, a Wi-Fi hotspot, wireless charging, wireless Apple CarPlay, and wireless Android Auto.
A nine-inch touchscreen that is portrait-oriented is also standard. Although it is a terrific size, there are too many hidden vehicle features. Swiping across three displays is necessary to see them all. Even the owner’s handbook is hidden somewhere, so you must utilize the internet to learn how to use the screen. Volvo’s new Android-based entertainment system, which requires some getting accustomed to for everyone else but will appear immediately recognizable to owners of Android phones, also offers navigation.
The unique 15-speaker Bowers & Wilkins sound system can only be unlocked by upgrading to the Ultimate variant, which costs an extra $10,050.
Storage & Cargo Space:
Regarding load capacity, the XC60 has one victory and one loss. It is inferior to the Lincoln (37.2), the BMW (28.7), the Lexus (29.5), and the Audi (25.8), with 22.4 cubic feet of space behind the back seat. However, the Volvo, which takes the lead with 63.3 cubic feet, has some empty room after folding down the second row. Lincoln (56.2), Lexus (46.1), and Audi (54.6) struggle in contrast to BMW, which comes close with 62.7.
The Volvo’s door pockets, which are deep and broad, and a roomy center console box are its only useful storage options.
Design: Volvo XC60
The XC60 blends SUV and station wagon design characteristics and dimensions, yet styling is a matter of taste. That applies mainly to the updated Lincoln Corsair, although it struggles to shake its Ford Escape heritage, notably in profile. The X3 still follows its family aesthetic direction, but the new Lexus RX models have a considerably more assertive, shark-like appearance.
The Volvo XC60: Is It Worth It?
The Volvo XC60 Core B5 FWD has a starting price of $45,840 (destination included). The AWD model costs $49,140. FWD models of the XC60 Plus B5 start at $50,090, while AWD models cost $52,390. The starting price for the XC60 Ultimate B5 FWD is $55,890. The XC60 Ultimate B6 (which only comes with AWD and has an additional 48 horsepower) has a starting price of $63,740, while AWD begins at $58,190.
The Core T8 is the entry-level plug-in hybrid in the XC60 Recharge family, priced at $59,590. The Plus T8 costs $63,840 at launch. The introductory price for the Polestar Engineered T8 is $76,540, while the base price for the Ultimate T8 is $69,340. All Recharge PHEVs have an all-wheel drive.
Going with an AWD XC60 makes sense, especially considering the excellent ground clearance. And while paying for necessary safety features like adaptive cruise control and lane-keeping assistance may not make us happy, we wouldn’t do without them. We are now in the XC60 Plus AWD variant. Although the Harman Kardon premium audio system is excellent, the $5,800 jump from Plus to Ultimate required adding a head-up display and ventilated front seats, fails the value test.
The choice between gasoline and PHEV is now left. The XC60 Plus B5 AWD and the XC60 Recharge Plus T8 eAWD are separated by $11,450. If you charge overnight and have a daily commute of less than 35 miles, you may spend months without using or purchasing fuel. You wouldn’t have range anxiety if you needed an unplanned road trip since you would save money on gasoline over time.
How Much Will a 2022 Volvo XC60 Insurance Cost?
The XC60 should be less expensive to insure than most of its rivals. The average yearly premium for the Polestar Engineered version for a typical 30-year-old female driver with a clean driving record ranges from $2,065 to $2,495. However, this averages all 50 states. The average yearly cost for an Audi Q5 owner is $2,580, whereas a BMW X3 varies from approximately $2,300 for the X30i to $3,000 for the X3M.
Verdict
A sleek and reliable option in the midsize luxury crossover SUV segment is the 2023 Volvo XC60. It performs well in most categories, delivers best-in-class fuel efficiency and performance, and has a plug-in hybrid option for even greater fuel efficiency and a large cargo area. The car’s minor flaws include an unnecessarily confusing infotainment system, less back seat legroom than Rivals, and making specific crucial safety measures optional. Although it isn’t cheap, it has a distinctive aesthetic.
