Used 2022 Volvo XC60

The Volvo XC60 is a safe and practical choice in compact luxury SUVs. It carries the Volvo reputation for safety with an impressive list of standard driver assistance tech features. Plus, it earns the coveted Top Safety Pick+ award from the IIHS. This makes the XC60 good for small families or just anyone who prioritizes safety above all else.

Safety isn’t the only thing the XC60 is good at. Its new mild-hybrid engines strike a satisfying balance of performance and efficiency. For better performance and a smaller carbon footprint, there are multiple plug-in hybrid options available as well. The XC60 also has a lot of cargo space and some of the most comfortable seats you’ll find in any compact SUV, but it’s no longer standard with leather seating.

In the middle of the 2022 model year, Volvo has introduced a new version of the XC60 PHEV called the Extended Range. Equipped with a larger battery and more powerful motors, this new XC60 PHEV has a pure-electric range of 36 miles, which is almost double the standard XC60’s electric range of 19 miles. What’s more, the Extended Range version is remarkably quick. With 455 horsepower and 523 lb-ft of torque, this XC60 Recharge hits 60 mph in only 4.5 seconds.

This Volvo isn’t the most exciting SUV to drive in this class since it’s up against tough competition like the BMW X3 and Audi Q5. However, its safety, efficiency, and overall practicality make it a smart buy in this segment.

The Volvo XC60 is a compact luxury SUV that prioritizes comfort and efficiency over exciting driving dynamics. The two mild-hybrid engines are great and deliver more than enough power and torque for the daily commute while returning good fuel economy. However, the handling of the XC60 isn’t quite up to par with its formidable German rivals, which tend to drive more like sport sedans.

The Volvo XC60 is a comfortable SUV to drive. Its mild-hybrid engines and plug-in hybrid powertrain are all nice and quiet, contributing to a high level of serenity in the cabin. The ride quality is smooth and comfortable both in the city and on the highway.

While the XC60 Recharge Extended Range model is powerful and quick, it’s easy to drive smoothly with minimal inputs to the accelerator pedal. When you put your right foot down all the way, though, this 5-seat Volvo launches with authority and the reassuring grip of all-wheel drive.

This XC60 Recharge has a one-pedal driving mode, which captures kinetic energy to recharge the battery every time you lift off the accelerator pedal. It’s easy to drive this XC60 in this mode while almost never touching the brake pedal. While we enjoyed using this mode, it can be a bit strange on long downhills, where the XC60 slows a bit too much as it recharges its battery and will even come to a complete stop if the driver allows. The solution is to press the accelerator a bit as you’re going downhill, which feels a bit odd.

Overall, however, we’re impressed with the refined overall driving experience of the new 2022 Volvo XC60 Recharge Extended Range model. If we were Volvo, we’d consider equipping this PHEV with paddles on the back of the steering wheel, so the driver could adjust the amount of regenerative braking.

The Volvo XC60 has a beautiful 5-passenger interior full of high-quality materials. It’s one of the best interiors in the competitive compact luxury SUV segment. The interior design really makes you feel like you’re sitting in a premium vehicle. As lovely as the materials are, some buyers may be disappointed that leather seating is no longer standard. Some available features that make this interior nicer include Nappa leather seating, 4-zone automatic climate control, Harman Kardon premium audio, and more.

The seats are supremely comfortable, and there’s a good amount of space in both rows of seats. The XC60 also has an impressively roomy cargo hold with under-floor storage.

Note: The new XC60 now has a new infotainment system powered by the Android operating system. If you log in with your Google account you’ll have access to features such as your Google calendar and previous searches. Google Maps will help you find the nearest charging stations if you’re in a PHEV XC60, and Google Assistant lets you use natural speech patterns to audibly control features like navigation and climate control. You don’t need a Google account to access Google Maps or to use Google Assist and its spoken “Hey, Google” interface.

Two other items of note: The top available XC60 audio system, a Bowers & Wilkins unit that features 15 speakers and 1,110 watts of power, is far better than our stereo at home. Also, the XC60 Recharge driven by KBB had seats covered in a great blended wool upholstery. Grippy and seemingly durable, the fabric feels warm in winter and cool in summer. We like it a lot, but it’s available only in one color: gray.

The Volvo XC60 gets a modest facelift for 2022. The front and rear fascias, the wheel designs, and the grille design have all been updated, keeping the look of the XC60 fresh. The appearance of this SUV changes a bit depending on the trim. For example, the R-Design trim has a sportier look with tasteful black trim, and the Inscription models look more luxurious with more chrome.

The size of the Volvo XC60 is average for a compact luxury SUV. Its dimensions are about the same as the BMW X3, Audi Q5, and Mercedes-Benz GLC-Class.

MILD-HYBRID ENGINES
The B5 and B6 models of the Volvo XC60 use new mild-hybrid engines that strike a nice balance of performance and efficiency.

RECHARGE PLUG-IN HYBRID
The Recharge models of the XC60 use a plug-in hybrid powertrain that’s both turbocharged and supercharged, which adds some driving excitement to this efficient hybrid. The new XC60 Recharge Extended Range model is especially sweet, with 36 miles of pure electric range (vs 19 for the standard XC60 Recharge).

The standard XC60 model is the Momentum trim with the B5 powertrain, a 2.0-liter turbocharged mild-hybrid engine. Standard features on the base trim include LED headlights, 18-inch alloy wheels, a panoramic moonroof, City Weave interior upholstery, dual-zone automatic climate control, a memory driver’s seat, a 12.3-inch digital driver display, an Android-based infotainment system with Google Maps and Google Assistant, and 4 USB-C ports.

Standard safety features in the XC60 include blind-spot monitoring with steering assist and cross-traffic alert with Autobrake, lane-keep assist, and rear parking sensors.

A few options available for the B5 models include all-wheel drive, a Climate Package with heated seats and a heated steering wheel, and an Advanced Package with more luxury and tech features.

The B6 models of the XC60 have a more powerful engine and standard all-wheel drive. The Recharge model uses a plug-in hybrid powertrain, while the Polestar Engineered model uses the more powerful PHEV powertrain used in the new XC60 Recharge Extended Range model.

The B5, B6, and Recharge models are all available in R-Design or Inscription trims. Simply put, R-Design is about sporty aesthetics while Inscription is more luxury-oriented. They have similar standard content, including Nappa leather seats, 4-zone automatic climate control, and Harman Kardon premium audio, but they come with different appearance packages inside and out.

A couple of options available for the XC60 include a Climate Package with heated seats and a heated steering wheel and an Advanced Package with more luxury and tech features. One of the most significant benefits is the Pilot Assist semi-autonomous driver assistance system that includes adaptive cruise control. This is a great feature, but you still need to keep your eyes on the road and your hands on the wheel.

Volvo has introduced a new version of the XC60 PHEV called the Extended Range. Equipped with a larger battery and a more electric motor, this new XC60 PHEV has a pure-electric range of 36 miles, which is almost double the standard XC60’s electric range of 19 miles. What’s more, the Extended Range version is remarkably quick. With 455 horsepower and 523 lb-ft of torque, this XC60 Recharge hits 60 mph in a fleet 4.5 seconds.

The Polestar Engineered model is the most performance-oriented variant of the XC60. It’s a plug-in hybrid with the Extended Range powertrain, plus it adds a unique, sporty appearance package and more standard tech features.

The Volvo XC60 is powered by your choice of two mild-hybrid engines or a plug-in hybrid powertrain. The base engine in the B5 model is a 2.0-liter turbocharged 48V mild-hybrid inline-4. The B6 models add an “E-charger,” which is an electric supercharger improving performance but slightly hurting fuel economy.

The standard XC60 Recharge has a plug-in hybrid powertrain featuring a turbocharged and supercharged gasoline engine and an electric motor that drives the rear wheels. This model has a pure-electric range of 19 miles on a full charge. It has a combined 57 MPGe rating from the EPA, and it makes 400 horsepower.

In the new XC60 Recharge Extended Range model, introduced in mid-2022, a larger 18-kWh battery is used, which enables more power (455 horsepower, 523 lb-ft of torque) and a greater pure-electric range of 36 miles. The performance-oriented Polestar Engineered model has the same powertrain.

Of note: On the Recharge and Polestar PHEV models, the front wheels are driven by the gasoline engine while the rears are driven electrically.

Front-wheel drive (FWD) is standard on the B5 model, and all-wheel drive (AWD) is optional. On the B6 and Recharge models, all-wheel drive comes standard.

2.0-liter turbocharged 48V mild-hybrid inline-4 (B5)
247 horsepower @ 5,400 rpm
258 lb-ft of torque @ 1,800-4,800 rpm
EPA city/highway fuel economy: 23/30 mpg (FWD), 22/28 mpg (AWD)

2.0-liter turbocharged/E-charged 48V mild hybrid inline-4 (B6)
295 horsepower @ 5,400 rpm
310 lb-ft of torque @ 2,100-4,800
EPA city/highway fuel economy: 21/27 mpg

2.0-liter turbocharged/supercharged plug-in hybrid inline-4 (Recharge)
400 net horsepower @ 6,000 rpm
472 net lb-ft of torque @ 2,200-5,400 rpm
All-electric range: 19 miles
EPA combined fuel economy: 57 MPGe, 25 mpg with gasoline only

2.0-liter turbo/supercharged plug-in hybrid inline-4 (Recharge Extended Range & Polestar)
455 net horsepower
523 net lb-ft of torque
All-electric range: 36 miles
EPA combined fuel economy: 63 MPGe, 28 mpg with gasoline only