Volvo XC60 Plug-in Hybrid review – an upmarket, understated plug-in SUV

Verdict – is the Volvo XC60 Plug-in Hybrid a good car?

The XC60 Plug-in Hybrid – formerly known as the XC60 Recharge – is a handsome car inside and out, with a relaxed nature that makes it ideal for drivers who favour comfort and refinement for long stints behind the wheel over sporty handling. Significant upgrades under the metal have made the XC60 Plug-in Hybrid noticeably more useful, thanks to a longer range and punchy acceleration provided in part by the electric motor. Its only problem is a high starting price, putting it up against models with more badge prestige like the Ranger Rover Velar P400e. Look past that, though, and the XC60 Plug-in Hybrid is the better car.

Volvo XC60 Plug-in Hybrid models, specs and alternatives

While many plug-in hybrid cars prioritise economy above all else, the Volvo XC60 Plug-in Hybrid (PHEV) was at least as much about speed as it was efficiency when the T8 launched. In 2020, the XC60 Plug-in Hybrid range was expanded to include a new T6 entry-level model, making it more affordable. It was originally known as the XC60 Recharge, but was renamed simply the ‘Plug-in Hybrid’ following a rejig of the brand’s naming conventions as a whole in 2024.

A 2021 facelift saw the XC60 Plug-in Hybrid given a subtle makeover, along with a new Android-based operating system inside that's one of the best in the class. An increase in electric range also made it less likely for the petrol engine to kick in during the daily commute.

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If you’re after a fast SUV of a similar size and price, the Porsche Macan S and Jaguar F-Pace S offer comparable performance, while the Range Rover Velar P400e and Audi Q5 TFSI e plug-in are close rivals for the XC60 Plug-in Hybrid models on paper. You could also consider a Volvo XC60 with a conventional engine, which won’t be as quick but could save you more than £10,000.

Price is where the XC60 Plug-in Hybrid falls behind somewhat – it’s come down in price slightly over the years, but it’s still expensive even in entry-level T6 form, costing over £54,000. This is due to the fact it comes with plenty of standard equipment and a sophisticated powertrain in two different power outputs. The front wheels are powered by a turbocharged 2.0-litre petrol, while the rear wheels are powered by an electric motor and battery pack.

Such a complex configuration is expensive to build and buy, but it brings three key advantages, the first of which is incredible on-paper fuel economy of up to 282.1mpg (T8) or 313.4mpg (T6) and a pure-electric range of around 50 miles. These official figures will be hard to match unless you make the most of the XC60 Plug-in Hybrid’s battery range, but the second advantage – low company-car tax thanks to CO2 emissions ranging from 22g/km to 30g/km – will be more palpably felt.

Then there’s the speed; all versions of the XC60 Plug-in Hybrid are rapid. Even the base T6 model sprints from 0-62mph in 5.7 seconds, with the standard T8 completing the benchmark in 4.9 seconds. The driving experience itself is slightly at odds with this performance, though, as the steering is light and uncommunicative, while the suspension leans towards comfort and body lean rather than sharpness and level cornering. This isn’t a problem in lesser XC60s but the Plug-in Hybrid T8’s power doesn’t sit well with its cosseting nature if the car is driven hard.

Inside, every XC60 is a thing of beauty, with excellent built quality and premium materials. You can choose from three trim levels: Core, Plus and Ultimate, which replaced the Momentum, R-Design and Inscription trims in early 2022. Inside, the dashboard design is carried over from the larger XC90. That means a portrait touchscreen takes centre stage, while digital dashboard dials, leather seats and sat nav are all standard.

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The rear doors’ aperture isn’t as wide as you might like, so loading child seats can be a bit fiddly, but head and legroom are generous. The boot, at 483 litres, is larger than the boot in the BMW X3 xDrive30e, and it’s also flat, unlike the BMW which suffers from having a step in the boot floor.

The XC60 last placed in 69th out of the top 75 models in our 2022 Driver Power customer satisfaction survey, while Volvo as a company came 13th out of 32 brands in 2023. Equally, it’s safe too, earning a full five-star rating when it was crash tested by Euro NCAP in 2017.