2021 (71) Volvo XC60 2.0 T6 RC PHEV Inscription Expression 5dr AWD Auto

By Jonathan Crouch

Introduction

Think of a premium-badged mid-sized SUV and you probably think of something German - maybe also a Jaguar or Land Rover product. We'd also suggest though, that you should be looking at the car we're going to look at here, Volvo's elegant and beautifully crafted second generation XC60, proof that in Sweden, they build SUVs just a little differently. Safe, efficient, clever, practical and stylish, it's yet another model that re-establishes this Scandinavian maker as a credibly prestigious automotive brand. Here, we look at the earlier 2017-2021-era versions of this MK2 design.

History

Today, the majority of Volvo's business is done in selling SUVs - cars like this XC60. Here, we look at the second generation version of this car, which built upon a success story than made its predecessor the best selling Volvo model ever. That original XC60 model was launched back in 2007 and sustained the Gothenburg manufacturer in the difficult period that covered the transfer of company ownership from Ford to the Chinese conglomerate Geely Automotive. Geely took control in 2009 and promptly invested £6.27 billion in new product development, but it wasn't until 2014 that we saw the first signs of it, with the launch of the car that inspired this one, the XC90. That large luxury SUV showed off the new 2.0-litre 'Drive-E' engines and 'SPA' 'Scalable Product Architecture' that all future large and mid-sized Volvo models would use, components subsequently shared with the S90 and V90 executive saloon and estate models that followed shortly afterwards. It was this second generation XC60 though, launched in the Summer of 2017, that showcased this technology to the widest audience. This mid-sized premium SUV was the most important of Volvo's more luxurious 'SPA'-platformed cars - the smaller XC40 model used the company's smaller 'CMA' 'Compact Modular Architecture' chassis that was intended for the brand's more compact contenders. That car was essentially a family hatch with Crossover cues. This one in contrast, had to be in every way a proper SUV, offering everything you get in a prestigious XC90 but in a slightly more compact five-seat package. Volvo introduced its mild hybrid engines to this car in 2019, which could be had in B4 diesel and B5 or B6 petrol forms. In 2021, the T8 Plug-in Hybrid which had been available since 2018 was joined by more affordable T6 Plug-in Hybrid variant. At about the same time in Spring 2021, a lightly facelifted XC60 range arrived complete with the new Android-based infotainment system. It's the earlier 2017 to 2021 versions of this car though, we look at here.

What You Get

If you like the look of this MK2 XC60, you'll probably be one of those people who already liked the shapely lines of the second generation version of its larger XC90 stablemate. Much of the same design language is, after all, carried directly over, creating a sleek, distinctly Scandinavian SUV that isn't particularly flashy but delivers an understated, confident demeanour that potential buyers will like. Inside up-front, high-quality materials, intelligent use of space and attention to detail work together to create a distinctly Scandinavian cabin that's simple and elegant. The first thing you'll probably notice is the 9-inch portrait-style touchscreen on the centre console that de-clutters the cabin of buttons and gives it a classy, sophisticated air emphasised by intricate detailing and rich Scandinavian design. There's more technology in the instrument binnacle where the normal conventional dials and read-outs are replaced by virtual ones in an 'Active TFT Crystal Driver's Information Display'. Getting into the back, the rear doors could do with opening out a few more degrees which would help in getting bulky objects like child seats in through the slightly restricted doorway aperture, but once inside, there's decent space for shoulders and heads and the kind of room for knees and legs that you'd expect from an SUV 4.7-metres in length. The rear headrests are well placed and comfortable - and they also fold down at the touch of a button on the centre-dash touchscreen up-front. The boot is accessed via a standard power-operated tailgate that you can adjust to suit the height of your garage ceiling. When raised, it reveals a cargo area rated at 483-litre boot (it's 468 in the PHEV model), extendable to 1,410-litres once you fold the rear bench (it's 1,395-litres in the PHEV).

What to Look For

Dealers will tell you that the XC60 is the brand's most reliable model (the XC90 is the least reliable). There aren't many major issues here, other than a few electrical and software things to look out for; go thoroughly over all the dash and infotainment functions of the car you're looking at. We've come across a few issues with the Android Automotive OS-based infotainment system, so make sure that everything on that works as it should. These problems all seem to relate to earlier versions of this system and include things like the infotainment screen on the dashboard display constantly restarting, incompatibility with various apps such as Sirius XM and radio.com, problems with voice commands and the Google Assistant, Bluetooth disconnections, telematics failures and failed over the air updates. We've come across a few electrical issues. One owner of a PHEV variant found that his headlights malfunctioned, and that a propulsion system alert appeared without warning when driving, plus the battery drained for unknown reasons while charging. Another owner complained of engine surging between 3000 and 4000rpm. Volvo reported some rare issues with the 2.0-litre diesel engine over potential engine fires and the brand had to recall around 70,000 UK models fitted with this unit. At the time of this review, the brand didn't have a fix for this issue but just told owners to pay attention to any unusual smells coming into the interior or if the engine warning light illuminates or if the engine hesitates under acceleration. There was also a software issue with the vehicle connectivity module that sends location information to the emergency services after a collision. This applies to models made between March 2017 and October 2018. Make sure that the car you're looking at has had the dealer update that corrects this, if it applies. Otherwise, it's just the usual things; look out for stone chips and alloy wheel scratches. Check the interior for child damage. And insist on a fully stamped-up service history.

Replacement Parts

(approx based on a 2021 XC60 Recharge Pure Electric Twin Motor T8 ex VAT) A wiper blade will cost you from about £12. Front brake pads sit in the £51-70 bracket; rears will sit in the £34-39 bracket. Front brake discs sit in the £61 bracket; a pair of rear discs are about £95. A pollen filter is around £11-£35. An oil filter is in the £10-£22 bracket. An air filter is in the £20-£29 bracket. A water pump is in the £51-£70 bracket. A thermostat is in the £43 bracket.

On the Road

If you were to place entertaining driving dynamics as a priority for your premium-badged mid-sized SUV, then let's be honest, this Volvo probably wouldn't be the first model you'd turn to. But you shouldn't gauge from that an expectation that this XC60 will be a complete duffer when the road turns twisty. It's very far from that, this model described as 'confident and predictable', which is what we found it to be and precisely what most likely buyers will want it to be. There's unruffled poise and exemplary refinement, plus you get supple standards of ride comfort from the multi-link rear suspension. The 'Drive Mode Settings' driving dynamics system allows you to tailor throttle response, steering feel and shift timings from the standard 8-speed auto gearbox to suit the way you want to drive. If you do decide to push on a bit, grip and traction are actually quite impressive aided by the standard AWD system, while cornering body roll is also decently well controlled. All the engines on offer are of a 2.0-litre, four cylinder configuration and come bolted to the same stiff, sophisticated 'SPA' chassis that underpins Volvo's larger XC90 model. We'd recommend the volume 190bhp D4 diesel variant most will want which offers a good combination of performance and efficiency. Alternatively, there's a pokier 235bhp D5 Power Pulse diesel variant that's nearly as frugal. These two units were replaced in 2019 by a B4 mild hybrid version of the same powerplant. Or a 254bhp T5 petrol derivative if you'd prefer to fuel from the green pump. The T5 unit was replaced in 2019 by B5 and B6 mild hybrid versions of the same powerplant. At the top of the line-up are T6 and T8 Plug-in Hybrid models, the T6 with 350hp and the T8 with 455hp. These variants both mate a turbocharged/supercharged petrol unit together with an 87bhp electric motor powered by a battery pack neatly packaged away in the transmission tunnel. When fully charged, this variant can offer up to 28 miles of all-electric driving range.

Overall

For quite a number of buyers, this second generation XC60 will represent exactly the way a premium mid-sized SUV should look, should feel and should operate. And, like its larger XC90 stablemate, it delivers something refreshingly different to what's on offer from obvious rivals. So there's plenty to like. The brand's chosen four cylinder 2.0-litre 'Drive-E' engine formula offers everything you need and nothing you don't in this class of car. The Twin Engine T8 plug-in hybrid variant delivers technology that rivals are struggling to match. And the inclusion of a segment-leading range of standard-setting safety features shows just what can be achieved in this regard by an SUV of this kind. And in summary? Well this car might not please magazine road testers, but we can't help feeling that it's been cleverly perfected for the actual priorities of its targeted market. This then, is the Swedish SUV. Evolved.