2023 Volvo XC60

It's a similar case on the inside where the XC60 wows passengers. The SUV features rich materials and a minimalist design with few sharp edges and lines. Volvo’s designers have done a great job of making the XC60’s cabin a nice place for passengers and the simple lines will ensure the SUV’s interior ages well.

Only Electrified Powertrains. Before Volvo goes all in on electric vehicles, the automaker is hard at work on introducing electrified powertrains for all of its vehicles. The 2023 XC60 is a great example of Volvo’s transition, as it’s only available with electrified engines.

The base B5 powertrain starts things off with a turbocharged 2.0-liter four-cylinder engine that’s paired with a mild-hybrid system. The 48-volt mild-hybrid system helps the engine deliver its power more efficiently. Combined output is rated at 247 horsepower and 258 pound-feet of torque. The B5 powertrain is fine for daily use, but an XC60 SUV with the base powertrain can feel slow off the line. The B5 is the only powertrain that’s available with front-wheel drive.

We prefer the B6, which adds a supercharger into the mix. Power is increased to 295 hp and 310 lb-ft of torque. With the B6 powertrain, the XC60 feels punchy when passing and offers swift acceleration. Unfortunately, the B6 powertrain is only available on the Ultimate trim and is a $5,550 upgrade.

For even more power, there’s the T8 powertrain. It's based on the B6 configuration but adds a plug-in hybrid component with two electric motors. Output is raised to 455 hp and 523 lb-ft of torque. While the XC60 Recharge is the heaviest XC60, it’s also the quickest with a zero-to-60 mph time of 4.5 seconds. Thanks to its 18.8-kWh battery pack, the Recharge can travel up to 35 miles on electricity.

The most efficient XC60 is the model with the B5 powertrain, which is rated to get up to 26 mpg combined. That’s slightly above average for the class.

Comfortable Accommodations. In addition to having an upscale interior design, the XC60 also has some of the most comfortable seats in the class and a large cargo area. Passengers in the front get six-way power-adjustable front seats as standard equipment. The seats offer an excellent amount of support and cushion to provide all-day comfort. Volvo has some of the best seats in the industry.

While most compact SUVs don’t have a comfortable amount of space for passengers in the back, the XC60 offers up to 38 inches of rear legroom, 38 inches of rear headroom, and 56.3 inches of rear shoulder room. These figures make the XC60’s rear seats comfortable enough for adults.

The XC60 has an impressive amount of cargo space for a compact SUV. With the rear seats in place, the XC60 offers up to 22.4 cubic feet of cargo space. With the rear seats folded, the XC60 has a total of 63.3 cubic feet of total cargo space. These figures make the XC60 one of the largest SUVs in the class.

Impressive Standard Safety Features. Volvo is one of the few automakers that puts safety first. Every Volvo comes packed with an extensive list of standard safety features and it’s the same case with the 2023 XC60. The XC60 comes with a lot of standard safety features that other automakers charge extra for.

Standard safety features on the XC60 include forward collision warning, forward and reverse automatic emergency braking, lane departure warning, lane keeping assist, blind spot monitoring, rear cross-traffic alert, traffic sign recognition, and rear parking sensors. Optional safety features include a surround-view camera, adaptive cruise control, a driver attention monitor, and front parking sensors.

Safety ratings for the 2023 XC60 aren’t available yet, but the compact SUV aced its crash tests last year. The NHTSA gave the XC60 a five-star overall safety rating, while the SUV was named a Top Safety Pick+ by the IIHS. These scores should carry over for the 2023 model year.

Final Thoughts. The 2023 Volvo XC60 is a unique take on a compact luxury SUV. Instead of focusing on performance, it takes a comfort-forward approach with cozy seats, a spacious interior, and a premium design. The hard-to-use infotainment system, lackluster base engine, and firm ride are the SUV’s main shortcomings. Despite these drawbacks, the XC60 is an appealing option for consumers that want something different.

In comparison, the Genesis GV70 doesn’t have the same spacious interior as the XC60 but is a value option with a lengthy list of standard features and punchy turbocharged engines. The BMW X3 is a sportier option with more powerful engines, a more aggressive design, a larger interior, and more intuitive tech features.

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