Popular SUV to live on
The ageing Volvo XC60 was set for the chop as part of bold plans by the Swedish brand to go all-electric but it's now been granted an indefinite stay of execution in the wake of slowing EV sales.. To help keep it relevant, the near ten-year-old mid-size SUV, which remains Volvo's best-selling car globally, has undergone a huge facelift that heralds a big overhaul inside and out while under the bonnet the XC60 gets the firm's next-gen plug-in hybrids that deliver up to 200km of EV range.. On sale in Australia from next year, it's expected the refreshed XC60 will continue to be priced from around $75,000 (plus on-road costs) for the entry mild-hybrid B5, with the most expensive T8 plug-in hybrid to cost around $90,000..
Originally, the XC60 was primed to be replaced by the EX60 in the Swedish manufacturer's line-up and, if you're wondering why the all-new, battery-powered successor wasn't adapted for combustion or hybrid power, engineers told Carsguide it wasn't possible without massive reengineering of its SPA3 platform that was designed specifically for EVs.. That means the facelifted XC60 will continue to have to fight off newer opposition like the BMW X3, Audi Q5 and Mercedes-Benz GLC.. In the flesh, the XC60, that is now the biggest-selling Volvo of all time with more than 3 million sold, gets a completely new front end, with the fresh fenders, bonnet and bumper that aligns it with the EX60 EV, and provides a cleaner, more modern look..
A pair of new matrix LED lamps display a sharper take on the firm's Thor's hammer graphic, while at the rear new LED lamps and a restyled bumper provide a wider, lower look.. Other changes are new 20- and 21-inch alloy wheels, plus a fetching Heather Bronze brown paint.. Within, there's now the option of a Charcoal Nappa leather and non-leather options that can be blended with Brown Ash wood for the first time for a proper Scandinavian experience, although the cabin design remains dated..
When it comes to tech an earlier facelift already upsized the infotainment to the car-maker's latest 11.2-inch hardware, with the Android based touchscreen running Volvo's most recent software that introduced Google Gemini, allowing for natural speech voice control and an AI-powered onboard assistant you can have a chat with when you're bored.. As you would expect from the XC60 that was rated the maximum five stars for protection in ANCAP testing, safety has not taken a back seat with the updates and to ensure it will exceed new driver-assist regulations every single radar, camera and sensors have been replaced, with the tech run by a single processing unit that can now be updated over-the-air.. Adding to its semi-autonomous armoury is a new door-opening alert, lane-change assist and a new 3D 360-degree camera view..
Under the bonnet in Europe there are three powertrains - an entry B5 mild-hybrid, plus two plug-in hybrids.. All are all-wheel drive and use a 2.0-litre turbocharged four-cylinder.. The B5 produces 184kW and 360Nm of torque, for a 0-100k/h dash of 6.9 seconds..
To provide for the long range both hybrids ditch the current car's 14.4kWh (usable) battery pack for a much larger 37.9kWh that still lives under the rear seat between the axles.. To help offset the extra mass and to enhance efficiency there's an all-new e-motor that drives the rear wheels and produces 130kW of power.. Combined, the T6 variant produces 262kW for a 0-100km/h sprint of 5.7 seconds..
Now capable of travelling up to 200km on a single charge, the XC60 can travel almost 2.5 times further than the 79km the old version achieved and, with a full tank of fuel, the Volvo can cover a total of 1240km.. When it comes to the EV range, that's 70km further than the Mercedes GLC 400e is capable of with its much smaller 25.3kWh (usable) battery.. At the top of the XC60 tree is the more powerful plug-in T8 that pumps out 339kW for a 0-100km/h sprint of 4.8 seconds..
Even on the larger 21-inch wheels, the most powerful Volvo mid-sizer can still drive up to 189km on electric power alone.. AC charging is limited to just 11kW, with a 0 to 100 per cent top up taking 4 hours using a three-phase charger.. Unlike other rivals, like the Mercedes GLC plug-in hybrid, the Volvo doesn't even offer DC fast-charging, which will limit its efficiency on longer drives..
Chat to the people who have designed and developed the XC60, and they are convinced most owners will still prefer the Volvo, thanks to its longer 200km EV range.. In fact, the Geely-owned car-maker thinks many Australians will never trouble the combustion engine on the Monday-to-Friday commute, making it the perfect alternative stop-gap between a combustion and EV, with added bonus of ultra-low running costs.. Set to share the showroom floor with the Volvo EX60 EV (from $86,990 plus on-roads) that arrive in Australia with a range of up to 810km before the end of the year, exact timing, specification and pricing for the 2027 Volvo XC60 will be announced next year..