The Volvo XC60 SUV was partly a follow up to the larger – and hugely successful – first-generation Volvo XC90, which had perfectly blended the virtues of a large SUV, and a seven-seat MPV, with the traditional Volvo estate.
Launched in 2008, the new Volvo XC60 was smaller than the XC90, with ‘only’ space for five. It was cheaper, too, and it was the aim of Volvo Cars to use Swedish style to encourage drivers out of their BMW X3s, Audi Q5s and Land Rover Freelanders. And it worked, the new car selling in large numbers. In fact, when the second-generation model came along, buyers were still clamouring for the original XC60: 2016 was the best sales year for first-generation XC60s, despite the SUV having been on sale for eight years.
Being a Volvo, safety has always been a big selling point for the XC60, with adaptive cruise control, blind spot warning systems and multiple airbags all available. The model was also a pioneer of autonomous emergency braking systems, with the City Safety feature automatically helping to prevent low-speed urban collisions. Although these systems are commonplace nowadays, they were seriously cutting-edge tech in the late 2000s.
Power came from a range of petrol and diesel engines, though the vast majority of cars sold were diesel-powered. Hybrid technology appeared with mk2 cars, first with T8 plug-in hybrid Twin Engine models (later rebadged as ‘Recharge’), and then with mild hybrid tech in 2019.
Volvo XC60 Generations
- Frequently Asked Questions
- Volvo XC60 Pros and Cons
- Volvo XC60 mk2 (2017-)
- Volvo XC60 mk1 (2008-2017)
Frequently Asked Questions
Which Volvo XC60 years are the best?
The newer mk2 is probably the better car of the two, but there's not much in it, so you can't really go wrong. Which you buy will depend on how much you have to spend. The newest examples are still quite pricey, so we reckon that a mk2 with a few years and miles under its wheels will probably be the sweet spot for used car buyers.
Which Volvo XC60 years are the worst?
Probably the first-generation car, but like we say, there's not much in it, and compared to other prestige SUVs of the time, it was really good, not to mention very popular. That means there are lots of examples sloshing around on the used car market.
Is a used Volvo XC60 a good deal?
Buy a good one that's been well looked after, and you'll love it. Just remember to do your homework on the myriad engine choices available to make sure you get the one that suits you best. It's all in our full Volvo XC60 reviews, which are linked to below.
Volvo XC60 Pros and Cons
Pros:
- Good looks and premium image
- Smartly trimmed interior
- Very competitive space and practicality
Cons:
- Confusingly large choice of engine options over time
- Fiddly infotainment systems
- Mainstream competitors will cost you less
Volvo XC60 mk2 (2017-)
Bodystyles:
- Five-door SUV
Notable features and facelifts of the Volvo XC60 mk2:
- Four-cylinder engine range uses the same basic block whether powered by diesel or petrol
- Uses Volvo’s Scalable Product Architecture (SPA) platform, which means its engines and most of its mechanicals are shared with the larger Volvo XC90
- Voted ‘World Car of the Year’ in 2018
- Range refreshed with mild-hybrid power from 2019
- Facelift in 2021 with new infotainment
- Facelifted yet again in 2025
The second-generation Volvo XC60 was launched in 2017, intent on mirroring the success of the first model. Volvo dispensed with the five-cylinder and six-cylinder engines, and moved more towards fuel economy and electrification. Just four-cylinder engines were used.
The interior of the new XC60 was undoubtedly one of its star turns. There were comparatively few switches and buttons, and the dashboard was dominated by a classy-looking portrait-style touchscreen. But although the Sensus infotainment system looked great, some of the functions were a bit fiddly to use.
Overall, though, the interior felt light, luxurious and airy, with a mixture of high-quality leather and wood inserts on high-spec Inscription cars, or metal if you opt for one of the sporty XC60 R-Design trim levels.
The second-generation Volvo XC60 has been offered with a wide variety of different drivetrain options over the long period it's been on sale. All engines have been 2.0-litres in capacity, but some have been petrol, some have been diesel, and some have featured varying levels of electrification. Power outputs have varied greatly, and various transmission options have been offered.
Early on, the XC60 mk2 was offered initially with 251bhp T5 turbocharged petrol power, or 187bhp D4 and 232bhp D5 diesel power. These were later joined by plug-in hybrid (PHEV) models, the T8 Twin Engine and T6 Twin Engine (later renamed the T8 and T6 Recharge), and the T8 Polestar Engineered, each with a varying level of power (all of them had a lot, mind). These combined petrol engines (again 2.0-litres) with a large battery and an electric motor for several miles of running purely on electric power. Unusually, the petrol engine used in both versions of the plug-in hybrid system uses both a turbocharger and a supercharger.
Most models have a front-wheel drive powertrain, although some get all-wheel drive (AWD). The PHEV models have the best MPG officially, but all XC60s provide impressive fuel economy.
In early 2019, the range was refreshed with the addition of mild-hybrid power in the form of the B5 P and B6 P petrol hybrids, and B4 D and B5 D diesel mild hybrids. In 2021, Volvo phased out all non-hybrid options from the XC60 range, and diesel is also a thing of the past. These days, just the 247 horsepower B5 mild hybrid petrol, and XC60 T6 and XC60 T8 plug-in hybrids remain.
In 2021, the interior also received a makeover, with an upgraded 12.3-inch digital driver’s display and a new Android-powered infotainment system. Android Auto and Apple CarPlay smartphone mirroring was available for all XC60 models. It was better than the previous system, but still a bit fiddly to use. The infotainment was upgraded again in the 2025 model year, but the usability wasn't much better.
A wide range of different trim levels have been offered over time, too, but the ones currently offered are called Core trim, Plus trim, Plus Pro trim and Ultra trim. All are well equipped, and all but the entry-level one get a powerful Harman Kardon audio system, while this is upgraded further to a Bowers & Wilkins system in Ultra trim (this version also gets lots of other niceties such as a head-up display). Most XC60s get leather upholstery of some variety on both the front seats and the rear seats: depending on spec, this can be regular leather, softer Nappa leather, or man-made vegan leather to be kinder to the environment.
Volvo XC60 mk2 review
Volvo XC60 mk1 (2008-2017)
Bodystyles:
- Five-door SUV
Notable features and facelifts of the Volvo XC60 mk1:
- The XC60 mk1 marked the debut of Volvo’s ‘City Safety’ autonomous emergency braking technology
- Developed when Volvo was owned by Ford, and shares engineering with the third-generation Ford Mondeo and second-generation Land Rover Freelander
- Economy and emissions focus of DRIVe models meant that these models, available from 2009, were early adopters of two-wheel drive for a larger SUV body style
As is common with SUVs of the late 2000s and early 2010s, the vast majority of mk1 XC60 models sold were diesel-powered. In fact, the only petrol models were the XC60 T5 and XC60 T6, both of which sold in mere handfuls, even though overall, the XC60 mk1 was one of the most popular luxury SUVs of its time. If you can find one, the 3.0-litre six-cylinder T6 (with either 281bhp or 300bhp) is a smooth and refined engine, but thirsty on fuel.
Diesel models are much more frugal and range from the 161bhp 2.0-litre turbodiesel D3 to the 212bhp, twin-turbo, five-cylinder D5 (though earlier versions had 182bhp or 202bhp).
Inside, the Volvo XC60 mk1 features the ‘floating console’ dashboard styling that’s shared with other contemporary models in the Volvo range, most notably the S60/V60 saloon and estate, and the Volvo V40 hatchback.
The dash design itself is a bit button-heavy, but this was improved in 2014 with the introduction of a 7.0-inch touchscreen that Volvo called Sensus Connected Touch.
Petrol-powered models come with a six-speed Geartronic automatic gearbox, while diesel models either get a six-speed automatic transmission or a six-speed manual. The first XC60 was available with both front-wheel drive and all-wheel drive.
Trim options for the XC60 start with the S, which gets climate control, cruise control and alloy wheels. You then move up to the SE (auto wipers, electric seats), to the SE Lux (parking sensors and heated leather seats) and the R-Design (which gets 18-inch alloys, sporty suspension and a sporty bodykit).
Volvo XC60 mk1 review
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