Fast Facts | 2026 Volvo XC60 T8
🏎️ Power: 455 horsepower and 523 lb-ft from a 2.0-liter + dual-motor hybrid system
🛣️ Fuel Economy: EPA-estimated 28 MPG or 63 MPGe
⏱️ 0–60 mph: 4.5 seconds
📦 Cargo: 21 cu ft behind rear seats; 63 with seats folded
🎯 Price: MSRP starts at $72,245, including destination
🎵 Tech: 11.2" touchscreen, 12.3" digital cluster, Google built-in, Bowers & Wilkins sound
Volvo is in the middle of an exciting electrified transformation. The company has rolled out all-electric models across its SUV lineup, from the three-row EX90 to the compact EX40. The latest addition, the EX60, will slot neatly in the middle as an all-electric alternative to Volvo's bestselling model, the XC60.
Given that, you might expect the humble XC60 to start feeling a bit dated. But somehow, despite looking largely the same as it did when this generation debuted back in 2017, Volvo's midsize luxury SUV remains a compelling choice, especially with the plug-in-hybrid T8 powertrain.
Packages and Pricing
The XC60 sits between the smaller XC40 and below the larger XC90 in Volvo's lineup, offering enough space for smaller families or a couple of large dogs. It hasn't fundamentally changed in eight years, but a 2026 refresh brings several meaningful updates.
Up front, Volvo subtly reshaped the nose, giving the grille a more angular look and refining the signature Thor's Hammer headlights. The changes are subtle, though. You'd be forgiven for not spotting them at a distance, or even up close, for that matter.
Inside, the updates are more substantial. The XC60’s vertical central touchscreen has grown to 11.2 inches and now floats slightly above the dash. Volvo also upgraded the Google-powered software, making the interface faster and more responsive, and replaced the physical home button with a capacitive touch section at the bottom of the screen. Thankfully, Volvo didn't get rid of the big, chunky volume knob down below.
The 2026 Volvo XC60 is available in three primary trims: Core, Plus, and Ultra. There are two different engine options: the base B5 mild hybrid and the T8 plug-in hybrid. Prices range from the low $50,000s for a B5 Core to the mid-$70,000s for a T8 Ultra.
My tester was a T8 Ultra model with nearly $7,000 in options, making its final MSRP $79,395, including a $1,295 destination charge. The Ultra trim adds 20-inch wheels, a head-up display, and a number of interior upgrades, including that lovely crystal shifter. The T8 designation, meanwhile, signifies Volvo's turbocharged 2.0-liter engine paired with an 18.8-kilowatt-hour battery and a plug. Total system output is 455 horsepower and 523 pound-feet of torque, with an EPA-estimated rating of 28 mpg combined, or 63 MPGe.
With up to 35 miles of maximum electric range, drivers who mostly make short trips and can charge regularly in between can achieve far better efficiency.
Rolling Sophistication
The XC60 is still one of the classiest SUVs on the market, especially inside, and doubly so if you're brave enough to choose the Blond interior. Those bright surfaces may not be ideal if your kids are still in the Crayola-and-crumbs phase, or if you regularly haul your fur buddies around without a hefty seat cover. But I found this clean design incredibly fetching.
Comfortable, too. Volvo's seats are simple but pleasant for long drives, with easy adjustability and a surprisingly thorough back massage function. Add in ventilation and the most powerful seat heating I've experienced, and this is a cabin you'll look forward to occupying in both hot and cold temperatures.
If you want the broader PHEV landscape before zeroing in on Volvo, this plug-in hybrid SUV roundup is a smart place to start ➜
Most of my testing was performed in very cold conditions, which made me extra appreciative of the incredible heat this steering wheel can put off. It's hot enough to toast your fingers through gloves.
The 11.2-inch touchscreen works great with gloves, too, as do the touch surfaces on the wheel. Rear seats are also heated, and I found plenty of both headroom and legroom in back. The panoramic sunroof just makes that bright interior even brighter, while USB-C ports for rear-seat passengers will keep devices charged.
Pop the hatch, and you'll find a great assortment of tie-downs for keeping cargo secure, plus buttons for lowering the rear of the SUV for loading. The XC60 offers 21 cubic feet of cargo space back there, 63 if you fold the seats down.
Google Inside
Volvo was an early adopter of Google's Android Automotive operating system, which brings some of your favorite smartphone apps — Google Maps, Waze, Spotify, YouTube Music — to the dashboard, even if you forgot your phone.
The interface is extremely simple, and it also serves up content on the 12.3-inch digital dashboard behind the steering wheel. Here you can toggle on a navigation view if you like, and get a few simple information panes as well.
Apple CarPlay and Android Auto are both supported if you do have your phone, and there’s a wireless smartphone charger low in the dashboard. The Bowers & Wilkins sound system was stellar with every track and audiobook I threw at it.
Drive Time
The T8 version of the XC60 uses its four-cylinder engine with an eight-speed automatic to power the front wheels, while an electric motor is exclusively used to drive the rear. This means you get all-wheel drive, but the different characteristics of those two powertrains make for an interesting feel in low-grip conditions.
I got to test this setup in Volvo's home country of Sweden, driving for hours in the snow and ice. Accelerate quickly, and you'll feel the rear motor spin up the back tires quickly, which can give the SUV a lively, rear-wheel drive feel. That makes it feel far more fun to drive than your average SUV in this category, yet it's still extremely capable in inclement conditions.
For shoppers still deciding whether this kind of powertrain fits real life, this PHEV buyer guide breaks down who should actually consider one ➜
Back on U.S. roads, the air suspension on the T8 I drove handled broken pavement reasonably well, though the ride leans a bit on the firm side.
The T8 drivetrain offers plenty of power and, thanks to that electric motor at the rear axle, good throttle response, too. That power can be a bit hard to modulate, and brake pedal feel is a bit vague, but still, this is an SUV that I always looked forward to driving. In my testing, I managed 35.5 mpg without recharging, better than its 28-mpg EPA-estimated combined rating would imply.
Still Stellar
The XC60 is still essentially the same second-gen SUV Volvo launched back in 2017. The competition has gotten tougher since then, and its stiffest competitor yet, the all-electric EX60, is coming. But for anyone who isn't quite ready to go fully electric, the XC60 remains a truly premium choice. Driving it feels every bit as classy as it looks.
⚡More Luxury SUVs Worth Cross-Shopping
Best Plug-in Hybrid Crossover SUVs
This GreenCars roundup is especially useful because it directly includes the XC60 T8 alongside other strong crossover-sized rivals.
Read More ➜
Best Luxury Plug-in Hybrids
A wider luxury-focused comparison set for readers who want to see where Volvo fits among premium plug-in options.
Read More ➜
Plug-In Hybrids
GreenCars’ PHEV hub is a strong next click for readers who want more on charging, ownership, best practices, and shopping advice.
Read More ➜
