No car is perfect, but few come closer to fulfilling their mission than the Volvo XC60 Recharge.
When I first drove this XC60 in 2017, I was impressed. A brand that had lost its way under Ford’s ownership had really come alive when it was given an influx of cash and the freedom to be itself under the watchful eye of Geely. After seven years, with a few updates to powertrains, technology, and styling along the way, this premium family hauler feels as fresh as ever.
The Style
Volvos by definition aren’t flashy. The XC60 certainly isn’t. It’s a handsome crossover that hews close to the conventions of the category. From the profile, you might not be able to distinguish it from a BMW or Audi. Move to the front and the Thor’s Hammer headlights, and grill with its diagonal bar and badge, clearly identify its Swedish heritage. My XC60 was equipped with the Dark Theme which includes black trim, the dark grille, and 22-inch alloy 5-spoke diamond cut matte black wheels. It elevates the overall appearance adding a touch of elegance to this mid-size family hauler.
The XC60 is available in three trim levels – Core, Plus, and Ultimate. The XC60 Core with the 247-horsepower, 4-cylinder 48-volt hybrid powertrain starts at $46,450. It is well equipped with a panoramic sunroof, a full suite of safety features, and a 9-inch center display infotainment system now powered by Google. Each trim level steps it up a bit and when you get to the Ultimate trim, there’s everything you expect from a top-of-the-line premium SUV with a price to match: $76,270.
The Driving
Under the hood of the XC60, things get a little more exciting. The 2.0L four cylinder engine is turbocharged and paired with two electric motors to generate a total system output of 455 horsepower. That compares very favorably to top of the line BMW, Mercedes, and Genesis SUVs in this class. Power is distributed to all four wheels via an 8-speed automatic transmission. Delivery is smooth and confident. When you summon all the ponies, it will go from 0 to 60 in just over 4 seconds. Toggle over to electric mode and with a light touch on the throttle you can go up to 35 miles without using any gas. The XC60 is capable of one-pedal driving which aids in smoothness around town and also can increase range when properly executed.
The star of the XC60 is Volvo’s scalable platform architecture. It provides a solid foundation for the car, resulting in precise steering and a well controlled suspension. If you prefer a more supple ride, then you’ll want to eschew the 22’s. They look great and provide excellent grip and cornering feel, but the low sidewall means you feel every pothole and expansion strip in the pavement. The active air suspension my car was equipped with helps mitigate that issue a bit, but at the cost of an additional $1,800. For my money, the Plus trim with its 19-inch wheels provides the best combination of ride and handling for a vehicle designed for people not lap times.
The Inside Story
One of the highlights of the XC60 Ultimate I tested is the wool blend, City Weave fabric on the seats. While leather today is seen as a more premium material, wool was actually more common in luxury vehicles in the early days of the automotive industry. It is natural, renewable, and made using a process that’s more environmentally friendly than leather. Yes, you can get leather upholstery and as you would expect, it is buttery soft and expertly tailored.
Overall, the interior is light, airy, comfortable, and luxurious. In addition to the wool seating surfaces, the rest of the materials – leather, aluminum, wood, and crystal – are artfully used. Overall it feels like an exercise in restraint. Elegant in its simplicity, but luxurious in the overall feel. There’s plenty of room for four adults, with rear seat legroom that is superior to both the X3 and GLC. The Volvo opts for more passenger space over cargo capacity so you’ll have to pack light if you’re planning on filling all the seats for a family vacation.
The Technology
Two years ago Volvo made the switch from their in-house developed Sensus software and put themselves in Google’s hands. Now operating on top of the Android Automotive Operating System, it brings together navigation, entertainment, and other connected services under one umbrella. One of the biggest advantages of the system, above and beyond access to a wide variety of apps and their seamless integration, is the move to Google’s natural voice commands. Unlike the previous system, Google does a great job of recognizing and interpreting commands which makes selecting the right radio station, adjusting cabin temperature, or setting a destination in the navigation as easy as if you were talking to a copilot who makes the changes for you. Of course, if you prefer, you can connect your iPhone and use CarPlay instead. I still wish there was a tuning knob for the radio, and while the HVAC controls have a permanent place at the bottom of the screen, I would prefer physical controls for that as well.
Safety First
You can’t talk about a Volvo without talking about safety. As a leader in passive safety (they invented the three point seatbelt in 1959 and then opened their patent so every manufacturer could use it for free), Volvo continues to deliver industry-leading safety. The XC60 has all the the systems you expect to find in a premium vehicle including: blind spot detection, rear cross-traffic alert, and forward collision warning with automatic emergency braking. What not everyone else delivers are things like run off-road prevention, oncoming lane mitigation that helps prevent head-on collisions, and the whiplash protection system Volvo invented in 1998 and introduced to all their cars in 1999.
The Final Verdict
The 2024 Volvo XC60 Recharge hits the sweet spot of the American premium car market in the bulls-eye. While some of us (your author included) prefer a vehicle that’s a little more sporting, the vast majority of car buyers are looking for a vehicle that’s stylish, comfortable, reliable, efficient, utilitarian, and safe. For them the XC60 Recharge ticks all those boxes. It’s an outstanding SUV that blends in.
