The luxury compact SUV segment is packed with excellent competitors from various premium brands. But the Volvo XC60 T8 PHEV doesn’t blend in with its rivals. Since its 2018 redesign, the Volvo XC60 has set itself apart with its unique headlights and taillights, tasteful body lines, and an uncluttered, upscale interior made of high-quality materials. The Swede, though, doesn’t have the handling chops of some of its rivals or the softest ride.
As with most premium SUVs, the Volvo XC60 T8 PHEV will haul the family around in comfort, provides good cargo space, and comes standard with a long list of advanced driver aids such as automatic emergency braking and evasive steering assist. The XC60 also has a performance variant like its German rivals (BMW X3, Mercedes-Benz GLC, Audi Q5) do. It’s the Polestar Engineered model that packs the 415-horsepower plug-in hybrid Recharge T8 powertrain that has an all-electric range of 18 miles. The XC60 slots in between the smaller XC40 and larger XC90 SUVs.
For the 2022 model year, Volvo refreshed the XC60 with reworked front and rear fascias and updated engines. The former T5 and T6 engines have been fitted with a new 48-volt mild hybrid system and are now called B5 and B6. EPA-estimated fuel economy is up slightly by about 1-2 mpg combined compared to last year’s engines. The Recharge model keeps the plug-in hybrid T8 powertrain. Volvo also added a new Google-based infotainment system that features Google Assistant, Google Maps and Google Play.