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Is a used Volvo XC60 a good buy?
Few SUVs offer as relaxed a driving environment as a Volvo XC60. Where many upmarket off-roaders are all about sporty styling add-ons and showy design features, the XC60 plots a more restrained course.
In a nod to the brand’s Swedish heritage, the Volvo XC60 majors on the relaxed, airy and understated elegance of Scandinavian design, offering simple lines inside and out, and a light, bright interior that features plenty of wood (depending on trim version) and leather. No super-sporty carbon-fibre effect trim here.
So although the Volvo XC60 is designed as a competitor for cars like the BMW X3, the popular Mercedes GLC and Audi Q5, it does so in its own way. Keep reading to find out which version of the XC60 is for you.
Engine options have included a pair of diesels, two plug-in hybrids (T6 and T8), and turbocharged petrol engines. Mild hybrid technology was introduced to some petrol and diesel models in 2019 boosting both their performance and fuel efficiency (look for models badged with a 'B'), and diesel engines have since been dropped from Volvo's cars.
There’s also a performance-focused Polestar Engineered model, which has an enhanced chassis, engine, gearbox and brakes for a sportier feel. You can spot these by their gold brake callipers and gold seatbelts.
An older version of the Volvo XC60 was sold up until 2017 and is still a popular choice among SUV buyers after safe and classy family transport, but it’s the newer, much more plush and high-tech second generation model we’re focusing on here.
Launched in 2017, the Volvo XC60 plug-in hybrid appears to offer the best of both worlds. The pace and acceleration to rival a high-performance SUV, yet with the CO2 emissions and fuel economy of a Toyota Prius - provided you remember to regularly recharge the batteries.
Although it’s now sold under Volvo’s Recharge banner, the Volvo XC60 plug-in hybrid was originally known as the Twin Engine, in either T6 or T8 guise. It sits on the same platform as the one the larger Volvo XC90 is built around, so it’s not lacking in space or road presence.
In all cases, power is sourced from a combination of a 2.0-litre petrol engine and an electric motor. The total outputs vary according to when the XC60 was built, but there’s no such thing as a sluggish Volvo XC60 plug-in hybrid. There’s a sliding scale of performance, ranging from the quick T6 to the rapid T8 Polestar Engineered, with the ‘standard’ T8 sitting in the middle.
Cars built before the 2021 update offered a claimed 122.7mpg fuel economy, but the introduction of the 18.8kWh battery increased this to 282.1mpg. Impressive figures, but you’ll need to top up the battery regularly and mainly do short journeys to achieve them.
Cars with a 10.4kWh battery came with a 4.5m charge cable with a three-pin plug for domestic charging, but this was increased to 7m for the 11.6kWh battery. Today’s XC60 plug-in hybrid comes with a 7m cable for domestic charging and a Type 2 cable.
Read our full Volvo XC60 review
Which used Volvo XC60 should you buy?
The list of standard features has, in the main, stayed consistent. Highlights include 18-inch alloy wheels, an automatic transmission (six-speed at launch, eight-speed on later cars), four-wheel-drive for safe and secure all-weather performance, LED headlights, dual-zone climate control, a 12.3-inch digital instrument panel, a nine-inch portrait-style touchscreen media system and a suite of active and passive driver assistance systems.
There are also a few enhancements bespoke to the plug-in hybrid. These include an 'Orrefors' crystal gear lever knob, auxiliary fuel-fired heater with pre-conditioning function, electric rear axle drive and recharging port on the nearside front wing.
What used Volvo XC60 trim levels are available?
The names of the trim levels have changed since the XC60 went on sale in 2017. Back then, drivers could choose either R-Design and Inscription models, with Pro equipment packs also available on both. Today, the T6 comes in Core and Plus trims, while the T8 comes in two versions of the Ultimate trim (Dark Theme and Bright Theme).
Volvo XC60 Momentum
Momentum is the most basic trim available in the Volvo XC60, but basic isn’t really an appropriate term here. Equipment includes LED lights, front and rear park assist, cruise control, automatic lights and wipers, keyless entry and sat-nav built into the portrait-aspect nine-inch touchscreen media system. There’s also leather seats, the front pair of which are heated.
The 18-inch alloy wheels do perhaps look a trifle undersized and the twin circular exhaust pipes aren't as posh-looking as the more intricate items on models higher up the range, but the overall effect is still impressively classy.
Volvo XC60 R Design
Volvo XC60 R-Design takes the styling down a (slightly) sporty route, with tweaks to the bumpers, side skirts and a rear roof spoiler. There are also larger wheels, tinted windows and sports suspension. The tweaked suspension makes the car a bit more responsive on twisty roads, but you will find it slightly less relaxing as a result due to the firmer ride.
Volvo XC60 Inscription
Inscription models emphasise the luxurious nature of the Volvo XC60, rather than the more sporty angle of Volvo XC60 R-Design cars. On the outside, there are dramatic 19-inch alloy wheels or even the option of supersized 22-inch alloys and a smattering of chrome trim. Inside, the Inscription takes a subtler approach. You get a soft Nappa leather interior, electrically adjustable seats and smart-looking driftwood-inspired veneer inlays.
Volvo XC60 Inscription Expression
The Inscription Expression trim is unique to the Volvo XC60 Recharge T6 plug-in hybrid and it cost around £50,500 when new. It’s essentially a more basic Momentum trim (not available on the plug-in hybrid) with a selection of added extras.
These include a high gloss black front grille with chrome inserts, chrome lower side mouldings with Recharge logo, 18-inch diamond-cut alloy wheels, chrome window surrounds and lower front bumper, and dual integrated exhaust pipes.
Volvo XC60 Pro
There are also ‘Pro’ versions of each XC60 trim level listed above. These add extra tech kit such as active headlights which swivel as you turn the wheel, keyless entry, a power-operated bootlid and a heated steering wheel.
Volvo XC60 Polestar Engineered
When it was new, the Volvo XC60 Recharge T8 Polestar Engineered was the most expensive car in the range. It cost around £63,000, but because it’s popular with company car drivers, there’s a healthy supply of used examples on BuyaCar.
As the name suggests, this is more than a simple makeover. The Polestar Engineered package includes a 318hp 2.0-litre petrol engine and an 87hp electric motor to give the XC60 serious performance credentials. The 0-62mph sprint is completed in 5.4 seconds, a figure associated with the fastest hot hatchbacks.
Along with everything you get on the R-Design Pro model, the Polestar Engineered pack adds a premium sound system by Harman Kardon, metallic paint, front aluminium tread plates, Polestar badges, gold seatbelts and 21-inch polished/black alloy wheels.
Polestar Engineered front and rear brake calipers and floating front brake discs combine to give the XC60 superior stopping power, with a Polestar Engineered chassis to improve the handling around corners. An upgraded engine and gearbox, chrome exhaust pipes and gearshift paddles complete the comprehensive makeover.
Volvo XC60 Core
The Recharge T6 Core is the current entry-level version of the Volvo XC60 range. Standard features include 18-inch diamond-cut alloy wheels, keyless start, cruise control, dual-zone climate control, 12.3-inch driver display, leather-faced upholstery, heated front seats and a full suite of driver assistance systems.
Current options, depending on the trim level, include metallic paint, 19-inch to 22-inch alloy wheels, soft leather upholstery with seat ventilation, sports seats, integrated child seats, dark tinted windows and a tracking system for added security.
Volvo XC60 Plus
For an extra £4500, the Plus trim builds on the Core model by adding more equipment and improved safety features. Highlights include adaptive cruise control, an electric tailgate with handsfree function, 19-inch alloy wheels, rear footwell and side step illumination, ambient door lighting and a heated steering wheel.
You also get an electric driver’s seat with memory function, front seat cushion extensions, Harman Kardon premium sound system, puddle lights, heated windscreen, parking camera, keyless entry and start, a driver awareness pack and heated seats.
Volvo XC60 Ultimate
The range-topping Volvo XC60 Ultimate trim comes with a high level of standard kit including electronic air suspension, active bending headlights, headlight washers, 20-inch alloy wheels, electric panoramic sunroof with curtain, head-up display and dark tinted windows.
Ultimate trim also adds a Bowers & Wilkins premium sound system, soft leather upholstery, ventilated seats with massage function, electric folding rear headsets and a choice of lime or driftwood inlays.
An XC60 plug-in hybrid in Ultimate trim will also come with a choice of design themes. If it’s Dark, it will feature high gloss black front grille, door mirrors, window surrounds, roof rails and front and rear bumper accents. If it’s Bright, these elements are finished in chrome.