If timeless design, Scandinavian style, maximum front seat comfort, and high-end audio quality are what you want in a compact crossover SUV wearing a luxury emblem, look no further than the 2026 Volvo XC60. This year, technology upgrades improve the 2026 XC60, including a new infotainment system. Still, it has been nine years since Volvo last redesigned the XC60, and it is really starting to show its age.
Photo: Christian Wardlaw
Headlining the technology news for 2026, a new Volvo Car UX infotainment system debuts with a larger 11.2-inch touchscreen display. Volvo says it responds twice as fast to inputs with dramatically improved graphics. It continues to offer Google Built-in, now with Gemini conversational AI. Volvo has also made subtle styling updates to the XC60, revised the interior storage and cupholders, upgraded the wireless smartphone charging, and added standard adaptive cruise control (ACC).
The XC60 continues in B5 mild-hybrid gas and T8 plug-in hybrid (PHEV) variants equipped with standard all-wheel drive (AWD). Core, Plus, Ultra, and Black Edition trim levels are available for each, with a performance-tuned Polestar Engineered PHEV variant also available. Prices range from $51,095 to $83,389, including the destination charge.
For this 2026 XC60 review, Volvo provided a B5 test vehicle equipped with Ultra trim and the following options:
The test vehicle’s manufacturer suggested retail price (MSRP) was $68,770, including the $1,295 destination charge to ship the SUV from the Torslanda, Sweden, assembly plant to a local dealership. The price does not reflect any current rebates, incentives, or price adjustments since Volvo manufactured the test vehicle.
Photo: Christian Wardlaw
Volvo has not changed the XC60’s styling much since the last redesign, and that is OK, because it still looks terrific. This year’s new Forest Lake paint color is gorgeous, a deep green with a blue undertone that sparkles in sunlight.
That color pairs beautifully with the Ultra test vehicle’s Blond-over-Charcoal interior with White Driftwood inlays, an Orrefors crystal shifter, and polished metal accents, bathed in natural light through the panoramic glass sunroof.
The XC60 seats five, but four will be happier. The Ultra’s two front seats are power-adjustable with lower cushion extensions and massaging, as well as being heated and ventilated. Those features made the already superior chairs even more satisfying, as my wife and I discovered on a weekend trip from the northwestern edge of the Los Angeles metro area to San Diego. The supple perforated Nappa leather upholstery also helped.
With the XC60 Ultra, a four-zone automatic climate control system with air purification is standard, helping to keep everyone comfortable. At the same time, the test vehicle’s optional Climate Pack installed a heated steering wheel and heated rear seats. While my teenagers did not complain about their accommodations, I found the XC60’s firm back seat supportive but mounted a little too low for optimum comfort. Parents will like the available integrated seat boosters.
In alignment with the tenets of Scandinavian design, the XC60’s control layout is simple and clean almost to a fault. Some control markings are hard to interpret, and neither the digital instrumentation panel nor the infotainment system wows a driver and passengers with dazzling displays of technical proficiency, which is just fine by me. With time and miles, the interior becomes second nature to use.
In-cabin storage space for odds and ends is adequate for a family road trip, and the 21.6-cubic-foot cargo area accommodates three or four full-size suitcases loaded on their sides. A pass-through allows you to load long items, such as skis, while still carrying passengers. To access the maximum 63.3 cubic feet of cargo space, you can fold the back seat down.
Photo: Christian Wardlaw
The new Volvo Car UX infotainment system in the 2026 XC60 is an improvement. It has a larger 11.2-inch touchscreen display, plus:
Though it looks a little bit like an afterthought, the portrait-oriented touchscreen fits between the vertical dashboard air vents, but it does extend higher, detracting somewhat from the gorgeous cylindrical dashtop tweeter speaker. Overall, it is a graphically pleasing and satisfying piece of technology, and the Google-based voice assistant is excellent.
If I were to complain about anything, it is the fact that I could not figure out how to cycle through my pre-set favorite stations. The steering wheel, dashboard, and on-screen tuning functions did not help, so I had to open the Radio tile on the touchscreen to view the favorites and select one. Ultimately, I resorted to using the voice assistant, which took longer but achieved the same result.
I am a huge fan of Volvo’s Bowers & Wilkins high-end audio systems, and the one in the XC60 did not disappoint. It is quite expensive ($3,200), but fills the SUV’s cabin with rich, deep, clear sound. Is it worth it? Only you can decide.
Photo: Christian Wardlaw
Volvo equips the XC60 B5 with a turbocharged 2.0-liter four-cylinder engine equipped with a 48-volt mild-hybrid system. It generates 247 horsepower and 266 pound-feet of torque, which is sent to all four wheels through an eight-speed automatic transmission. Buyers benefit from two complimentary scheduled service visits.
The official Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) fuel-economy rating for this version of the XC60 is 26 mpg combined. On my fuel economy testing loop, the SUV averaged 24.7 mpg. However, on my mountainous evaluation route, the Volvo returned 21.9 mpg.
This powertrain lacks smoothness. Delayed response to accelerator inputs is common; the turbo can surge with power in unexpected ways, and there is no Sport mode alternative to the Standard drive mode to help reduce the stumbles. There is enough horsepower and torque. You just need to learn how to surf the swell so that you control it rather than react to it.
If you upgrade to the 22-inch wheels, note that they come with a slight ride penalty, even with the optional air suspension set to the Soft setting. I also detected some shimmy on sections of my local freeways where other vehicles do not convey that sensation. I can only assume it comes from the tires, which offer extraordinary levels of grip, if that is what you seek.
Dynamically, an XC60 equipped with the 22s and the air suspension in Firm mode can slice down a mountain road with unexpected athleticism. Steering effort levels may seem too light; switch to Firm mode to resolve it. However, doing so will not add more feel, feedback, or engagement, and all three are lacking.
Still, for a luxury-focused SUV, I did not find this flaw to be detrimental to the driving experience. The worst thing about driving the XC60 B5 is the uneven power delivery, especially considering how refined and luxurious it is otherwise.
Photo: Christian Wardlaw
Volvo equips the 2026 XC60 with the following standard safety features:
Starting with Plus trim, the XC60 includes:
Volvo prides itself on safety leadership. However, the XC60’s Pilot Assist technology does not meet expectations regarding accuracy, consistency, and capability.
First of all, the steering wheel does not detect when the driver’s hands are on the steering wheel. To avoid warnings from the technology asking you to hold the steering wheel and pay attention, you must regularly input steering actions. That would be OK if the lane centering were not so insistent on being right all the time. It resists steering inputs, which means you need to muscle the steering wheel to override the technology. All of this gets tiring after a while.
When programmed to the middle sensitivity setting, Pilot Assist also did not brake soon enough to stay clear of slowing traffic ahead. Los Angeles is a place where traffic regularly drops from 80 mph to nearly a full stop due to jams, and the XC60’s ACC system has trouble in those situations.
In more predictable traffic situations, Pilot Assist smoothly managed braking and acceleration when other people cut into the gap ahead. Still, Volvo does not offer a low-speed hands-free traffic jam assist system for the XC60, let alone a hands-free driving system of any kind.
In a more rural setting, the technology also appeared to lose track of the freeway lane lines as the pavement rose over a small hill, and the SUV unexpectedly drifted to the left. Generally, Pilot Assist also allowed wandering when passing exit and entrance ramps, which is common with older lane keeping technologies.
The best driving assistance systems work with the driver as a partner, not an adversary. And they operate transparently rather than engaging in behavior that draws constant attention. The XC60’s Pilot Assist shortcomings ultimately make using it more of a hassle than it is worth.
The 2026 XC60 also falls short of expectations regarding its crash test ratings from the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety (IIHS). While the SUV earns a mix of Good and Acceptable scores, they are not enough to earn a “Top Safety Pick” overall rating, let alone a “Top Safety Pick+.” The SUV does perform well in testing conducted by the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA).
According to the JD Power 2026 Initial Quality Study (IQS), the Lexus NX ranks highest in the Compact Premium SUV segment, with the Jaguar F-Pace ranked second.
According to the JD Power 2026 Automotive Performance, Execution and Layout (APEAL) Study, the Jaguar F-Pace ranks highest in the Compact Premium SUV segment.
Other 2026 XC60 competitors include the Audi Q5, BMW X3, and Mercedes-Benz GLB.
While the 2026 XC60 suffers from a few glaring shortcomings, it is nevertheless a likable luxury SUV. I think it looks great, inside and out, and in Ultra trim, it checks all the necessary luxury boxes. It feels good to walk up to this Volvo, get in, and go somewhere.
If your budget allows, I recommend upgrading to the XC60 Plug-in Hybrid for more power and electric-only driving for short commutes and errands. If you spend a lot of time in your car, the Bowers & Wilkins audio system is a worthy expense for anyone who loves music. Skip the big wheels and tires, though, and if you want a performance-oriented XC60, get the Polestar Engineered version of the PHEV.
As for Pilot Assist, well, you can always decide not to use it.
Christian Wardlaw is a veteran automotive journalist with 30 years of experience in the field and has held automotive editorial leadership positions at Edmunds, JD Power, and The New York Daily News. Today, Chris owns a content agency called Speedy Daddy Media, and in addition to JDPower.com, his work appears on Capital One Auto Navigator, CarGurus, and Edmunds.
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