UK Drive: Update gives the Volvo XC60 some extra polish

What is it?

Volvo’s XC60 has often been seen as a ‘sweet spot’ within the firm’s range of SUVs. With a little more space than the XC40 but smaller dimensions than the seven-seater XC90, the XC60 has proven a real hit for Volvo. In fact, earlier in the year, the XC60 became the best-selling Volvo of all time.

But it sits within a hugely competitive segment and rivals the likes of the Audi Q5, BMW X3 and Mercedes GLC – all of which have been updated reasonably recently. It’s why Volvo is following suit with a sharpened version of the XC60.

What’s new?

In typical Volvo fashion, the exterior changes are relatively light. This is a brand which likes to keep things relatively similar between models, so you’ll find some tweaked rear lights and a redesigned grille for a slightly fresher approach.

There are bigger changes inside, too, with a new display which is similar to the one you’ll find on the larger XC90.

What’s under the bonnet?

At present, there are just two engine options available for the XC60 – the T6 or T8 plug-in hybrid. Both combine a four-cylinder petrol engine with an electric motor and battery for an efficiency-boosting blend of combustion and electric power. Volvo claims an official MPG figure of 282mpg on our T8 test car – though you’ll need to be running on mainly electric power for most of the time in order to achieve this.

That said, with an electric-only range of 49 miles, the XC60 is the kind of plug-in hybrid that you’ll be able to use mainly on battery power for most journeys. Low CO2 emissions of 24g/km mean that it should prove popular with business drivers, too.

What’s it like to drive?

The XC60 offers the kind of refined, quiet driving experience that you’d expect from a Volvo. There’s good visibility all around and the decent electric range means that you can saunter about for much of the time without troubling the petrol engine in the slightest. Request a little more acceleration and the petrol unit will spring into life – quite noisily, too – and so you tend to drive it in a calmer manner overall.

The ride quality sits on the firm side, but this will be largely down to the XC60’s big wheels; you can option a smaller 18-inch wheel and we’d recommend this as it’ll provide a more comfortable ride compared with our test car, which was on far bigger alloys.

How does it look?

As we’ve touched upon, this has been a very light facelift designed to bring a little extra life into the XC60 rather than change things entirely. The rear lights now have a more understated smoked effect to them, while two new colours – Forest Lake and Aurora Silver – have been added to the XC60’s palette. Mulberry Red, which you’ll find on other Volvo models, is also now available with the XC60.

In truth, we don’t feel like the XC60’s design needed radically altering and now, it just looks and feels a little fresher than before.

What’s it like inside?

Volvo has upgraded the materials that you’ll find inside the XC60, with new quilted Nordico – an animal products-free alternative to leather – and a new herringbone weave introduced to help add a little more luxury to the car’s interior. The good news is that the space and practicality that were such key positives on the previous XC60 remain, so this is still a very good option for drivers who need a good level of room.

A 468-litre boot is definitely handy in terms of capacity and it’s easy to access thanks to a flat load lip area.

What’s the spec like?

It’s in terms of technology where the XC60 has really jumped ahead. You now get an 11.2-inch central display running Google’s software, which means that features such as Google Maps come pre-loaded and don’t require a phone. Volvo says that the new system is ten times faster than the one on its predecessor and it definitely feels like that when you’re using it – menus are quick to change and load.

Prices for the XC60 start at £55,360, with all cars getting that new screen as standard alongside features such as wireless phone charging and a powered tailgate. At the other end of the spectrum is tip-top Ultra grade, which adds an upgraded Bowers and Wilkins sound system and a panoramic roof – among other features – but bumps the price up to a punchy £68,860.

Verdict

Given that it’s the brand’s most popular and successful model, you can understand why Volvo hasn’t changed the XC60 too much. The good news is that it has improved in all of the areas you usually interact with; screens and materials feel better and far classier than before.

Of course, in such a competitive area of the market, the XC60 still has a challenge ahead of it, but we’d argue that it’s better equipped than ever to succeed.