Overview & Reviews

Crossover SUVs, thanks to their combination of utility and carlike handling, have become the mainstream choice for many drivers. The Volvo XC60 is the Swedish manufacturer's latest entry. Seating five, the XC60 competes in the growing small luxury crossover segment.

Since it's a Volvo, you might assume that the XC60 has safety going for it, and you'd be right. There's even a trick City Safety system that automatically brakes the vehicle to prevent or mitigate low-speed collisions. But the XC60 is also a stylish and functional vehicle, and it handles unusually well for a crossover, let alone one with a Volvo badge on the front. It belongs on your short list if you're shopping for a vehicle of this sort.

Current Volvo XC60
The Volvo XC60 is a premium crossover SUV that's available in three trim levels: 3.2, T6 and T6 R-Design.

The 3.2 has a 3.2-liter inline-6 that generates 240 horsepower, while the T6 has a 3.0-liter turbocharged inline-6 engine rated at 300 hp. The R-Design bumps output to 325 hp. Front-wheel drive is standard on the 3.2, with all-wheel drive optional. The T6s come with all-wheel drive. All XC60s feature a six-speed automatic with manual shift control. The XC60 T6 accelerates from zero to 60 mph in about 7 seconds flat, which is pretty quick for this segment.

Standard features on the 3.2 include alloy wheels, a power driver seat, cruise control, Bluetooth connectivity and iPod control. The T6 adds the turbocharged engine, leather upholstery and a power passenger seat. The T6 R-Design adds 20-inch wheels, adaptive xenon headlights, sport-tuned suspension and steering, a panoramic sunroof, privacy glass and special styling elements inside and out. Option highlights include heated front and rear seats, a power liftgate, parking sensors, keyless ignition/entry a navigation system, a back-up camera and Volvo's integrated child booster seats.

Safety features are plentiful and include stability control, antilock brakes with brake assist, front-seat side airbags, side curtain airbags and whiplash-reducing front seats. The standard City Safety feature allows the XC60 to automatically apply its brakes below certain speeds to prevent or lessen damage from collisions. A Collision Avoidance package is optional and adds a lane-departure warning system, a blind-spot warning system, adaptive cruise control and other driver aids.

In reviews, our editors have praised the XC60's stylish cabin with its avant-garde "floating" center stack, available real oak trim (metallic trim is standard) and high materials quality. The roomy and comfortably elevated rear seat has a convenient 40/20/40-split configuration. With all sections folded down, there are 67 cubic feet of maximum cargo capacity. Parents should love the optional integrated rear booster seats.

On the road, the Volvo XC60 delivers performance that's easily on par with its European rivals. The base 3.2 engine is just adequate, but the energetic turbocharged straight-6 provides plenty of power with no perceptible lag and is the gem of the two. The handling is hampered somewhat by numb steering, but most will find the XC60 provides a strong sense of vehicle control.

Used Volvo XC60 Models
The Volvo XC60 debuted for the 2010 model year. Initially, there were just the 3.2 and T6 trim levels, the former having 235 hp and the latter with 281 hp. The following year brought increased output for both engines (to 240 and 300 hp, respectively) as well as the debut of the sporty "R-Design" variants of each, for a total of four trim levels. The 3.2 R-Design lasted just one year, however. The T6 R-Design's power output also went up to 325 hp for 2012.

User Reviews:

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  Smooth operator - 2010 Volvo XC60
  By Slobo Todorovic - July 6 - 3:16 am

  Car (AWD 3.2L) rides extremely smoothly and feels great in city and highway driving. Even though Volvo is known for making comfortable cars, this model has probably best combination of suspension, tires and seats. It is extremely comfortable and quiet. Base engine has enough power and it is fun to drive in snow and in mountains. Base sound system and blue tooth are excellent. We did not get model with factory- installed navigation system but any aftermarket system can be nicely mounted on dash. We enjoy this car very much after owning it for 6 months (8 k miles)and would recommend it. It has nicer exterior lines than any other Volvo and is very comfortable for whole family.

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  First Volvo - 2010 Volvo XC60
  By Sara_J - May 5 - 3:26 pm

  This is our first Volvo and so far, I couldnt be happier. This is by far the most solid and comfortable car Ive driven. The seats are great, and the doors are bank vault heavy. I got the climate, convenience, BLIS, premium, and booster seats. So far, fuel economy has been just ok, but its actually better than the G35 that I just turned in. It goes without saying that my 3.2L version of the XC60 is not as fun to drive as the Infiniti sedan, but I havent found it to be lacking in power. I get lots of looks and questions; the car is just plain pretty and there arent too many on the road just yet. I drove just about every other crossover out there and think I made the right choice.

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  Dont get the BLIS! - 2010 Volvo XC60
  By Matt - April 23 - 10:00 am

  First Volvo Ive ever owned. Tested multiple vehicles in this class and the Volvo was the best deal. Pretty much satisfied with the whole vehicle except the optional BLIS. Since I picked up the car Ive been getting multiple BLIS "false indications" on the drivers side. Took it to the dealership and they duplicated the problem but Volvo didnt authorize repair, called it normal operation. Have had multiple e-mail exchanges with Volvo customer service and there response has been, its an "information system" and not a "safety system", it will give off "false indications" under certain driving conditions, which must be most of my driving conditions since its always coming on. Very frustrating!

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  Consistently great, Brooks Bros like no other - 2017 Volvo XC60
  By F. Knight - April 1 - 1:22 pm

  Comfortable, sizeable, yet very nimble

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  Safety and comfort - 2016 Volvo XC60
  By alex peirce - March 25 - 7:58 pm

  Review for Volvo Volvo has been around for decades and have been setting the safety standard for years. Not only are volvos safe, but there also comfortable, stylish/perform well, dependable, and affordable. I am a very picky person when it comes to cars and it takes a lot for me to consider a car. When I look at buying a car I look at the overall styling of it, if it is comfortable or not, if it is dependable, but above all I look at how safe it is and in my opinion volvo blows all of these categories out of proportion. SAFETY- As I said before Volvo has been setting the safety standard for years; they have come out with everything from the three point seat belt or pedestrian detection with full auto brake to auto pilot system on cars. Volvo cares deeply about the safety of their buyers and unlike other car brands that put luxury first or convenience they put safety first. All Volvos come standard with a pre-collision system called city safety. In my opinion volvo cars are the safest cars on the road today. COMFORTABLE- Volvo also cares about how comfortable its passengers are. Volvo has gone as far to have special seats designed by orthopedic surgeons to make the ride of a volvo more comfortable. They use very nice soft to the touch materials in their cars that its passenger appreciate. STYLING AND PERFORMANCE- Volvo has sleek designs that set them apart from other auto maker from there Thor Hammer headlights to their distinctive long LED taillights. When you see a Volvo on the road (especially the new ones) you can tell its a Volvo because of the sleek styling of it.I think that Volvo does a great job of making their cars head turners. For years Volvo did an ok job in the performance, but in the last decade they have really been improving the performance of their cars. All their cars come standard with turbocharge engines, but for those who want a little more of a driving experience like me, you can get a special line of Volvo called the R-Design. The R-designs come with special turbo engines tuned by the Swedish racing company Polestar (Polestar also tunes the suspension of the car). I own a Volvo XC60 R-Design which is a crossover and it feels like I’m driving a sports car like the Lexus IS or BMW 3 Series. Dependability- Volvos are very reliable I have never had a major issue with mine and neither have my family members who have one. There a little more expensive to work on but they’re worth it. AFFORDABILITY- Volvos have a long range of price tags, but for what they are there very reasonably priced. There prices range from lower $30,000-well over $90,000 in the U.S., but you can get a year old volvo in the 20s.

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  Great SUV - 2012 Volvo XC60
  By Andy - January 23 - 6:39 am

  This is a great purchase I made. The only thing I dont care for is the MPG but knew about it going into it so no big deal.

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  Strong - 2010 Volvo XC60
  By Jean - January 13 - 6:53 am

  I currently have around 4500 miles on my 3.2 XC60 with AWD. Ive driven it through a typical New England winter and found it holds the road well, even in heavy winds. I feel more confident and comfortable driving this vehicle than any other Ive had. Highway driving is fun, because the ride is smooth and comfortable.

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  2010 at 80K - 2010 Volvo XC60
  By cannice - January 12 - 5:24 am

  Within 2 months, Ive had significant repairs that should not happen for my vehicle.1.Both front axles were replaced. 2.A month later, determined that my windshield adhesive deteriorated causing a leak. This leak wreaked havoc to my airbag/sunroof sensors, sunroof motor and required full floor interior replacement. Ive incurred significant costs due to issues that should not have happened. Extended warranty does not cover glass issues. I expected higher quality from Volvo..very disappointed.

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  It is an expensive car. - 2016 Volvo XC60
  By nigran - December 18 - 4:48 pm

  I thought I had preparation to make a deal based on edmunds.com recommendations. I only realize that edmunds.com did not help the clients to make an intelligent guess. The value stated on the edmunds.com is much higher than Kelly Blue Book. So I am not sure if edmunds.com intends to help car seekers or help the car agents. When I got to the car dealer, they made a different gimmick and I end up paying a high price, even beyond what I intended to. There are too many packages and it was not clear what the difference is between Drive-E versus platinum.

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  Constantly in the shop - 2010 Volvo XC60
  By EX-Volvo - December 5 - 7:46 pm

  Ive "owned" my XC60 for 1 month - half the time its been in the shop. Dealership tells me theyre "working on it" - at this point, Ive been paying my lease for a car that I cannot drive. Worst part of this experience - little remorse expressed by dealership, no attempt to take the car back. Dealership tells me that its up to corporate which I found out was a lie (according to corporate). Dont buy this car. Very questionable business practices. Embarrassingly poor customer service