2020 Volvo XC60

Overview

Stylish, modern, and undeniably desirable, the 2020 Volvo XC60 is the Swedish brand's twist on today's luxury compact SUV. Borrowing interior and exterior styling cues from the larger XC90 SUV gives the XC60 a head start in the desirability department, but it backs up its premium, contemporary image with a long list of standard and optional features that elevate it above many of its rivals. Inside its spacious cabin, buyers will find upscale materials and thoughtful details. Technology is front and center, from the 9.0-inch portrait-oriented infotainment display and 12.3-inch digital gauge display to the many standard driver-assistance features, including automated emergency braking and lane-keeping assist. An adaptive cruise control with semi-autonomous driving mode is optional. Three different powertrains are available—all variations of Volvo's 2.0-liter four-cylinder—including the turbocharged T5, the turbo- and supercharged T6, and the plug-in hybrid T8 (reviewed separately).

Where This Vehicle Ranks

#3 in Best Compact Luxury SUVs for 2020

1

Porsche Macan

STARTING AT: $52,250

SHOP Macan

2

BMW X3

STARTING AT: $42,945

SHOP X3

3

Volvo XC60

STARTING AT: $41,145

SHOP XC60

4

Mercedes-Benz GLC-Class

STARTING AT: $43,495

SHOP GLC-Class

5

BMW X4

STARTING AT: $52,095

SHOP X4

6

Mercedes-Benz GLC-Class Coupe

STARTING AT: $50,995

SHOP GLC-Class Coupe

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What's New for 2020?

All XC60s now come standard with the 12.3-inch digital gauge display and active-steering assist accompanies the SUV's City Safety feature. The base Momentum trim ditches its faux-leather upholstery in favor of the real deal and comes standard with rear parking sensors. The R-Design gains standard nappa leather, a stitched dashboard cover, and four-zone automatic climate control; gloss-black accents replace last year's matte-silver exterior trim. Buyers of the R-Design and Inscription models must now pay extra for the XC60's self-parking feature, and power-folding rear seats are removed from all trim levels.

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Pricing and Which One to Buy

We're suckers for the R-Design's racy appearance and we've enjoyed the T6 powertrain's peppy performance in our long-term XC60 test vehicle, so the R-Design T6 is our recommendation. The extra cost versus the base Momentum trim is worth it here, with all sorts of features becoming standard. The R-Design comes with a Harman/Kardon audio system, in-dash navigation, a power-operated rear liftgate, four-zone automatic climate control, blind-spot monitoring, and front and rear parking sensors.

Engine, Transmission, and Performance

Volvo offers three different powertrains—T5, T6, and T8—in the XC60, all mated to an eight-speed automatic transmission. Front-wheel drive is standard but upgrading to either the T6 or T8 powertrains adds all-wheel drive. Under the hood of base T5-badged XC60s is a turbocharged 2.0-liter four-cylinder making 250 horsepower. Its 6.4-second zero-to-60-mph time in our testing is adequate but unremarkable. The T6 is powered by the same turbocharged 2.0-liter four-cylinder as the T5, but a supercharger is added for more oomph. With 316 ponies in its stable, it feels peppier and its performance on our test track was measurably quicker. The plug-in hybrid T8 version borrows the T6's engine and pairs it with a set of electric motors for a total of 400 horsepower or 415 in the Polestar Engineered model, but we review those trims separately. The XC60 takes corners well, feels tied to the road while cruising, and changes directions with confidence, but doesn't inspire hooliganism like the Porsche Macan. The ride can feel a touch harsh when driving over rougher stretches of road, but on smooth sections it's agreeable and calm.

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Fuel Economy and Real-World MPG

In our real-world highway fuel-economy testing, the T5 and the T6 XC60s exceeded their EPA estimates with 29- and 28-mpg results, respectively; however, so did the Lexus RX350, which sailed on to a 31-mpg result.

Interior, Comfort, and Cargo

With interior styling and rich materials that mirror more expensive Volvos, the XC60 is like having your kladdkaka and eating it, too. The quiet, comfortable cabin also provides adult-sized accommodations in both rows. Clean lines and high-quality materials add a distinctly Scandinavian flavor to the XC60's cabin—and we'd expect nothing less from a modern Volvo. Decent cargo-hauling capability puts the XC60 midpack among its rivals in our testing; with its rear seats folded, we fit 20 of our carry-on suitcases. Interior cubby storage is limited, and the sole cargo-area bin is among the smallest we've measured.

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Infotainment and Connectivity

A 9.0-inch touchscreen infotainment system—which Volvo calls Sensus Connect—is standard on the XC60 and comes with both Apple CarPlay and Android Auto capability. Bluetooth connectivity and an onboard Wi-Fi hotspot powered by a 4G LTE data connection are also offered across the range. Navigation with real-time traffic and weather updates is available on the base Momentum trim and standard on all other models.

Safety and Driver-Assistance Features

Overall Safety Rating (NHTSA)

View Crash Test Results

The XC60 received a five-star safety rating from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) and snagged a Top Safety Pick award from the Insurance Institute of Highway Safety (IIHS). Volvo's commitment to safety is evident in the XC60, with driver-assistance features such as automated emergency braking and lane-keeping assist made standard across the range. Key safety features include:

• Standard automated emergency braking with pedestrian detection
• Standard lane-departure warning with lane-keeping assist
• Available adaptive cruise control with a lane-centering feature

Warranty and Maintenance Coverage

Of its rivals in this segment, the XC60 has an appealing warranty policy. Three years of scheduled maintenance is a convenience that Volvo buyers won't need to pay for separately, either.

• Limited warranty covers 4 years or 50,000 miles
• Powertrain warranty covers 4 years or 50,000 miles
• Complimentary scheduled maintenance is covered for 3 years or 36,000 miles

Specifications

Specifications

2018 Volvo XC60 T5 AWD
Vehicle type: front-engine, all-wheel-drive, 5-passenger, 4-door hatchback

PRICE AS TESTED
$44,690 (base price: $42,495)

ENGINE TYPE
turbocharged and intercooled DOHC 16-valve inline-4, aluminum block and head, direct fuel injection
Displacement: 120 in³, 1969 cm³
Power: 250 hp @ 5500 rpm
Torque: 258 lb-ft @ 1500 rpm

TRANSMISSION
8-speed automatic with manual shifting mode

CHASSIS
Suspension (F/R): control arms/multilink
Brakes (F/R): 13.6-in vented disc/12.6-in vented disc
Tires: Pirelli Scorpion Zero All Season, 235/60R-18 103V M+S VOL

DIMENSIONS
Wheelbase: 112.8 in
Length: 184.6 in
Width: 74.9 in
Height: 65.3 in
Passenger volume: 100 ft³
Cargo volume: 30 ft³
Curb weight: 4107 lb

C/D TEST RESULTS
Zero to 60 mph: 6.4 sec
Zero to 100 mph: 18.7 sec
Zero to 120 mph: 32.2 sec
Rolling start, 5–60 mph: 8.1 sec
Top gear, 30–50 mph: 3.6 sec
Top gear, 50–70 mph: 5.1 sec
Standing ¼-mile: 14.9 sec @ 91 mph
Top speed (governor limited, C/D est): 130 mph
Braking, 70–0 mph: 166 ft
Roadholding, 300-ft-dia skidpad*: 0.85 g
*stability-control-inhibited

C/D FUEL ECONOMY
Observed: 22 mpg

EPA FUEL ECONOMY
Combined/city/highway: 24/22/28 mpg

2018 Volvo XC60 T6
Vehicle type: front-engine, all-wheel-drive, 5-passenger, 4-door hatchback

PRICE AS TESTED
$63,290 (base price: $45,895)

ENGINE TYPE
supercharged, turbocharged, and intercooled DOHC 16-valve inline-4; aluminum block and head; direct fuel injection
Displacement: 120 in³, 1969 cm³
Power: 316 hp @ 5700 rpm
Torque: 295 lb-ft @ 2200 rpm

TRANSMISSION
8-speed automatic with manual shifting mode

DIMENSIONS
Wheelbase: 112.8 in
Length: 184.6 in
Width: 74.9 in
Height: 65.3 in
Passenger volume: 100 ft³
Cargo volume: 30 ft³
Curb weight: 4322 lb

C/D TEST RESULTS
Zero to 60 mph: 6.1 sec
Zero to 100 mph: 15.7 sec
Zero to 130 mph: 32.6 sec
Rolling start, 5-60 mph: 6.8 sec
Top gear, 30-50 mph: 3.3 sec
Top gear, 50-70 mph: 4.5 sec
Standing ¼-mile: 14.6 sec @ 97 mph
Top speed (governor limited): 131 mph
Braking, 70-0 mph: 170 ft
Roadholding, 300-ft-dia skidpad*: 0.87 g

C/D FUEL ECONOMY
Observed: 19 mpg
75-mph highway driving: 28 mpg
Highway range: 520 miles

EPA FUEL ECONOMY
Combined/city/highway: 23/21/27 mpg
*stability-control-inhibited

c/d testing explained