Used 2023 Volvo XC60

No strange grilles, no disappointing interiors, just good sense enlivened with a touch of style. That’s the XC60. Even though this generation has been around since the 2018 model year, it’s still worth checking out.

Especially by those wanting to reduce their fuel bills and carbon footprint. The XC60 Recharge models are plug-in hybrids, capable of running for an impressive 36 miles on battery power alone.

The XC60 has also been given the highest ranking of Top Safety Pick+ by the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety (IIHS). Similarly, the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) gave it a maximum 5-star overall score.

Volvo deserves a lot of credit, of course, for creating so many safety features over the years. Many rivals have performed just as well in crash tests, but Volvo has done a good job of marketing itself as a leader in this particular field.

It’s also renowned for comfortable seats. Never underestimate the importance of comprehensive cushioning when you’re stuck in a traffic jam or halfway through a long road trip.

Volvo makes the 295-horsepower B6 drivetrain exclusive to just one variant of the 2023 XC60 lineup. Which shows that most buyers who aren’t going down the plug-in hybrid route are happy with the 247-horsepower B5 engine.

The B5 isn’t going to tingle many spines, but it provides the XC60 with an appropriate amount of muscle for a luxury compact SUV. The likelihood of tingling goes up with the B6 and reaches virtual certainty with the XC60 Recharge variants.

Although plug-in hybrid electric vehicles (PHEVs) are concerned primarily with making a gallon of gas go further, the extra muscle from an electric motor can also help to deliver a thrill or three. This year, every XC60 Recharge has a total of 455 horsepower and 523 lb-ft of torque.

That’s a lot, enough to send this 2-ton-plus machine blasting from standstill to 60 mph in a laughably brief 4.5 seconds. Yet in normal driving and using the 36-mile electric-only range, average fuel economy is roughly the equivalent of 63 mpg.

Except for the Polestar Engineered model (more on that in a moment), ride quality is tuned primarily for comfort and composure than for any handling heroics. The most expensive Ultimate trim also offers the option of an adaptive air suspension.

For anyone who wants to spend Porsche Macan money for a luxury compact SUV with a driver’s edge and yet still not end up with a Porsche Macan, there’s the XC60 Polestar Engineered variant.

Sporting the same substantial PHEV drivetrain as the XC60 Recharge, this version has shock absorbers from Öhlins — a highly respected supplier of suspension components and, like Volvo, a Swedish company. Polestar started life as an independent tuning house and has applied its expertise to fitting stiffer springs and a front strut tower bar for a much firmer (but more entertaining) drive.

In Core trim, the seating surfaces are simulated leather. The real stuff, leather, comes higher up the pecking order.

One interesting thing, though, is that Volvo offers City Weave fabric in Core models. It’s wool, which sounds like the last thing anyone in Arizona (or similarly hot places) would want, but it’s hard-wearing and retains a pleasant temperature no matter what the weather is doing.

Then there are the usual touches that are typical of Volvo, like the wonderfully comfortable front seats, the optional booster cushions for the rear seats, and the crystal glass gearshift knob in the Ultimate trim.

The quality of materials is top-notch. Just run a finger along the super-smooth Driftwood inlays (available from the Plus trim) and it’s hard to believe that sandpaper comes in such a fine grade.

Occupant space should be more than sufficient for most people. Rear legroom is an ample 38 inches and the cargo area goes from 17.1 to 63.3 cubic feet with rear sets folded. That also applies to the 2023 XC60 Recharge versions with their extra plug-in hybrid hardware. This is all absolutely great for the class.

Along with new trim levels coming in for the 2023 Volvo XC60 lineup, there’s also a choice of bright or dark exterior elements for the Plus and Ultimate versions. There’s no difference in price between dark or light.

The exception is when a non-Recharge XC60 in Core trim is ordered with the more powerful engine, where the bright treatment comes as part of the package.

A styling revision last year has kept this generation of XC60 looking, well, much like it always has. Which is arguably no bad thing.

The Polestar Engineered model wears 21-inch alloy wheels as standard. Available colors range from black to gray to white. The rest of the lineup has a broader choice.

1. Google/Android infotainment system
Before we go on, Apple CarPlay also is standard in the 2023 XC60. But this is an up-to-date system, favoring apps like Google maps. Users with a Google account can sign in and sync their calendar. It’s also capable of over-the-air updates.

2. 360-degree camera system
When maneuvering in tight spots, this system shows the driver a complete view around the vehicle. Parking sensors front and rear add another layer of reassurance. Standard in the two upper trims.

3. Pilot Assist
Not a hands-free driving feature, but Pilot Assist provides steering assistance with the adaptive cruise control to lessen some of the grind of long journeys. Standard from the Plus trim level.

4. Front seat cushion extensions
Yes, the regular front seats are great. But extra under-thigh support is always welcome, especially for taller types. These are standard in the Ultimate trim.

5. Adaptive air suspension
It’s an exclusive option with Ultimate trim, and it provides superb settings at both ends of the comfort/sport spectrum.

6. Bowers & Wilkins audio
The Ultimate trim has an excellent Harman Kardon setup standard. But this optional 15-speaker/1,400-watt surround-sound system, which costs $3,200, is one of the finest available in any vehicle.

In the lower reaches of the 2023 XC60 luxury SUV lineup, propulsion is supplied by a turbocharged 2.0-liter 4-cylinder engine making 247 horsepower and 258 lb-ft of torque. Referred to by Volvo as the B5 drivetrain, it also has a 48-volt mild hybrid system to help the engine achieve its peak output with optimum efficiency, while also providing a smooth action to the fuel-saving stop/restart function.

Front-wheel drive (FWD) is standard, with all-wheel drive (AWD) available as an option.

The B6 drivetrain, offered solely in the top Ultimate trim, has the same engine as the B5 but boosted to produce 295 horsepower and 310 lb-ft of torque. All-wheel drive is standard with the B6.

This year, Volvo has ditched the non-Extended Range XC60 Recharge variants. That means every version of the 2023 XC60 Recharge T8 eAWD plug-in hybrid can run in electric-only mode for 36 miles. This allows the XC60 Recharge to qualify for maximum federal tax credit and some state incentives.

The T8 setup has a turbocharged 2.0-liter gasoline engine driving the front wheels, accompanied by an electric motor supplying energy to the rear axle. Total T8 output is 455 horsepower and 523 lb-ft of torque.

Charging the T8’s lithium-ion battery to full takes between three to five hours on a 240-volt supply.

All drivetrains in the 2023 Volvo XC60 lineup employ an 8-speed automatic transmission.

2.0-liter turbocharged inline-4/mild hybrid system (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), 23/29 mpg (AWD)

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

2.0-liter turbocharged inline-4/electric motor (Recharge)
455 combined horsepower
523 lb-ft combined torque
EPA combined fuel economy: 63 MPGe (2022)
EPA-estimated electric-only range: 36 miles (2022)

Test Car

The second-generation Volvo XC60 debuted for the 2018 model year and received a comprehensive makeover for 2022. We’ve tested more than a dozen examples, including the 2023 Volvo XC60 Recharge AWD Ultimate Dark Theme pictured here. This one’s coated in Thunder Grey Metallic paint and has a sticker price of $74,690 (view window sticker).

Our testing included a 150-mile roundtrip from Kelley Blue Book headquarters in Irvine, California, to San Diego, with a particular focus on evaluating the adaptive cruise control and lane-keeping functions of Volvo’s Pilot Assist. The adaptive cruise system responded to slowing traffic in a confidence-inspiring manner, brought the vehicle smoothly to a full stop, then resumed promptly when the vehicle ahead started again. It took a bit longer to gain faith in the lane-keeping system – it’s not quite as smooth and proactive as other top systems — but it ultimately earned a solid passing grade. The trip included a mix of full-speed and stop-and-go driving, and a vast majority of the drive was spent with feet off the pedals and only a light hand on the steering wheel.