Volvo XC60 T8 PHEV 26MY
We love Geely-era Volvos; adore them, in fact. Ever since the second-gen XC90
nosed into view in 2015, we've been thoroughly enamoured with pretty much anything emerging from Sweden wearing Thor-hammer headlights. Seems we're not alone, either, because the smaller, five-seat but still undeniably premium XC60 became, in the middle of 2025, the best-selling Volvo model of all time, its 2.7 million global units across two generations surpassing the legendary and iconic 240 which first appeared in 1974. And despite the fact the Mk2 XC60 itself is also getting on a bit,
arriving back in 2017, demand for this Scandinavian lovely hasn't slowed down. In 2024, for instance, a total of 12,810 XC60s found homes here in the UK alone, adding to the 160,000-plus that have been sold on our shores since the nameplate debuted in 2008.
However, a worrying pattern has started to develop within Volvo Cars, whereby its latest full EVs are not impressing us to anything like the same degree as the older Geely generations. The
flagship EX90 left us rather cold, for instance, while the
EX30 Cross Country positively infuriated us with its spectacularly dull interior and bafflingly unsafe, rage-inducing human-machine interface (although we were very taken by its speed and ultra-plush ride comfort, so there's promise there which we fervently hope can be unlocked by a remedial, impending midlife facelift). Therefore, can a nine-year-old design, once more lightly dusted-over for the 2026 model year, reignite our flame of love for all things Torslanda? Time to find out.
Styling
When a piece of car design so clearly ain't broke, not much point in attempting to fix it, is there? Hence, the updates wrought on the second-gen XC60 in 2025 are minor in the extreme, although the single easiest giveaway that you're looking at the latest variant is that radiator grille with the diagonal lines running perpendicular to each other - this item first seen on the
bigger XC90 for the 2025MY. Besides that, it's basically a couple of fresh designs of alloy wheel and some dark-finished rear lamp clusters, so very moderate airbrushing rather than any drastic remedial aesthetic work. Yet the XC60 still looks so good, regardless of whether it's now homing in on achieving a full decade in service. Not sure we'd have ours in the Vapour Grey (£795) over Black Edition (lots of dark detailing, including for the 20-inch rims) spec of our test car, but each to their own; we certainly don't think the Volvo family chariot looks bad in this get-up, for sure.
Interior
We want to get hold of whomsoever it was who designed and/or then signed off on the absolute travesty of an interior in the EX30, force them to sit in this 2026 XC60 with its nine-year-old cabin design, and ask them if they genuinely think the newer car represents any sort of progress in terms of either ergonomics or ambience. You can probably guess what we think: it's the XC60 which is the masterpiece of passenger compartments. Material finishing, the cultured look of the main fascia, the use of proper switches, stalks and dials in places as well as a full instrument cluster - it's just sublime. And while there's still a lot of tapping at the central 11.2-inch display involved in running many of the 2026MY XC60's in-car functions, the enhanced Google-powered infotainment is quick to respond, pin-sharp to look at and so much more intelligently laid-out with regards its menus and icons that you never become angry with it like you do with the set-up in the EX30. Still, to this day as much as when we first saw it in 2017, the midsized Volvo SUV's magnificent cabin remains an exquisite high point of the vehicle.
Practicality
There's a good amount of room in the back of the XC60 T8 PHEV, although its boot isn't massive at 468 litres with all five seats in use. Nevertheless, it will perfectly suit the sort of middle-class families that are the most likely end-users of this Volvo, while storage throughout the cabin is intelligently thought-out and adroitly sited. Also, we can't tell you what a much more usable-on-the-move infotainment/control interface does for the overall feeling of helpfulness in a car like this, so we're happy to award the 26MY XC60 the biggest of big ticks for this section of the review.
Performance
Up until this facelifted 2026MY car, with its slanted grille, the T8 variant of the XC60 was claimed to have 455hp and 709Nm, combined of 310hp and 400Nm from the 2.0-litre combustion engine, allied to another 145hp and 309Nm from the electric motor; as you can see, these are 'sum of their parts' figures. The resulting 0-62mph time was said to be achieved in 4.9 seconds.
However, to meet the latest emissions regulations and to improve the WLTP eco-stats of the PHEV SUV, there's been a change. The engine has been downrated to 250hp although the e-motor is tickled up to 155hp, both figures presumably with some decimal points of an additional horsepower between them as the system max is now quoted as 406hp, backed up by a combined 669Nm.
Now those figures essentially represent a 49hp/40Nm downgrade, of sorts, on older T8s with the 'eggcrate' grille (
an example of which we drove last year), but we can tell you two things to assuage any worries you might have: number one, on paper, the latest XC60 T8 is no slower to 62mph than its predecessors, laying claim to the same 4.9-second benchmark; and number two, in practice this super-swift Volvo feels as stridently, gloriously and maybe even (whisper it) needlessly quick as it ever has.
Midrange, this thing is devastating. Also, we don't ever remember the Volvo four-cylinder petrol sounding as delicious as this. Maybe our ears have just reattuned themselves in an age full of quiet EVs and so any combustion motor accordingly makes a noise that's subliminally alluring, but there's a kind of muffled, hard-edged snarl to the 2.0-litre when it's working hard that's most pleasant indeed. Not, though, that you need to mercilessly thrash the XC60's mill, as there's abundant torque all around the dial, a sweet and crisp throttle, and nicely judged brakes that have enough regenerative decelerative power in 'B' (engaged by simply clicking the stubby and illuminated Orrefors glass gearlever backwards once already in D) that you can almost drive the Volvo in a one-pedal mode if required.
While we love the performance, though, you're probably better considering the PHEV nature of its drivetrain as an aid to speed rather than as a proper 'green' initiative. While a claimed near-50-mile all-electric range is still above average these days, an 18.8kWh gross, 14.7kWh usable battery pack is not enormous and we were seeing more like 30-35 miles of propulsion from the electric motor alone in the XC60. Furthermore, after some initial, highly impressive returns (including a farcical 2,183.1mpg indicated in our first 17 miles running to Retford train station and back with a full battery and careful use of the throttle), once the Volvo had depleted its reserves of volts then the economy tumbled to an overall 33.4mpg across 276 miles of driving on test, at an average 38mph. Also, while you can tap a few icons on the main screen and get the SUV to charge its battery on the move, we wouldn't advise this, as your consumption will then tumble into the high-20s - even if you are nigh-on coasting as gently as you can from the top of the Woodhead Pass in the direction of Manchester airport (other long and predominantly downhill routes are available in the UK).
Ride & Handling
SPA-chassis-based Volvos have always majored on comfort over cornering acuity and while the latest XC60 is fairly decent on a nuggety road, with involving steering if you switch it up into the 'Firm' setting (again on the screen) and an impressive level of body control on its standard-fit air suspension (as a top-grade Ultra Black Edition), it's not going to engage its driver quite as much as some comparable SUVs from rival manufacturers with a more dynamic edge to their corporate outlook. Your problem here is that the not-so-hot 2,150kg kerb weight never quite goes away when it comes to sensations of mass transfer, grip and balance.
For ride and refinement, though, it's very, very good, although there are a few occasions where there's a little lumpiness evident from the big 20-inch wheels when the suspension's general composure is upset. Nevertheless, the broader ride comfort picture is a positive one and the minimisation of sounds from exterior contributors making their way into the XC60 is thoroughly commendable. Also, do we need to mention just how sensational Volvo's seats are? Really? We do? Well, they are. Stellar, that is. The best in the business. And so any stress of long-distance motoring is eased away thanks to the sheer comfiness of the driver's perch. Thus, despite it being well into its dotage in this generation, the Volvo still feels like one of the best, most edifying things in its class.
Value
Perhaps the one salient point that holds the Volvo back from the highest overall mark in the final reckoning is the considerable expense of the thing. In fairness, no technically similar competitor with more than 400 horsepower at its disposal is going to be markedly cheaper than the XC60 T8, while the acceptably rapid 335hp T6 PHEV kicks off at a much more reasonable £56,765 in Core specification if you want to save a few pennies on your Swedish SUV.
But the T8 powertrain is only available in top-level Ultra or Ultra Black Edition trims, and that means it's 71 grand before you've even started. Again, in the XC60's defence, it comes with absolutely everything you could conceivably want from a premium vehicle like this loaded in from the start, so there's not a lot of cost options to go at beyond the paint. Yet you'll still find a truly incredulous response from some onlookers about the notion of a £72,655 Volvo, even in an age when a top-grade EX90 EV is a six-figure machine basic...
Verdict
Aside from the elevated list price of the Volvo XC60 T8 AWD Ultra Black Edition (phew, what a
long full name that is!) and the fact that, as PHEVs today go, it isn't the longest-legged nor most efficient example we've seen, the updates enacted on this prestigious SUV for the 2026MY might not be extensive, but they are carefully curated and have served to ensure the XC60 remains right at the top of its game, this late in its life. We're hoping that the incoming EX60, the all-electric analogue of the car tested here, will be more like this Volvo and not the EX90 and EX30 EV relations, but we rather suspect (sadly) that won't be the case. So, Gothenburg, take a good look at your own glittering work here: this is the template for how five-seat luxe SUVs really ought to be.
