Volvo XC60 2026 News

The ageing Volvo XC60 was set for the chop as part of bold plans by the Swedish brand to go all-electric but it's now been granted an indefinite stay of execution in the wake of slowing EV sales. To help keep it relevant, the near ten-year-old mid-size SUV, which remains Volvo's best-selling car globally, has undergone a huge facelift that heralds a big overhaul inside and out while under the bonnet the XC60 gets the firm's next-gen plug-in hybrids that deliver up to 200km of EV range. On sale in Australia from next year, it's expected the refreshed XC60 will continue to be priced from around $75,000 (plus on-road costs) for the entry mild-hybrid B5, with the most expensive T8 plug-in hybrid to cost around $90,000. Originally, the XC60 was primed to be replaced by the EX60 in the Swedish manufacturer’s line-up and, if you're wondering why the all-new, battery-powered successor wasn't adapted for combustion or hybrid power, engineers told Carsguide it wasn't possible without massive reengineering of its SPA3 platform that was designed specifically for EVs. That means the facelifted XC60 will continue to have to fight off newer opposition like the BMW X3, Audi Q5 and Mercedes-Benz GLC. In the flesh, the XC60, that is now the biggest-selling Volvo of all time with more than 3 million sold, gets a completely new front end, with the fresh fenders, bonnet and bumper that aligns it with the EX60 EV, and provides a cleaner, more modern look. A pair of new matrix LED lamps display a sharper take on the firm's Thor's hammer graphic, while at the rear new LED lamps and a restyled bumper provide a wider, lower look. Other changes are new 20- and 21-inch alloy wheels, plus a fetching Heather Bronze brown paint. Within, there's now the option of a Charcoal Nappa leather and non-leather options that can be blended with Brown Ash wood for the first time for a proper Scandinavian experience, although the cabin design remains dated. When it comes to tech an earlier facelift already upsized the infotainment to the car-maker's latest 11.2-inch hardware, with the Android based touchscreen running Volvo's most recent software that introduced Google Gemini, allowing for natural speech voice control and an AI-powered onboard assistant you can have a chat with when you're bored. As you would expect from the XC60 that was rated the maximum five stars for protection in ANCAP testing, safety has not taken a back seat with the updates and to ensure it will exceed new driver-assist regulations every single radar, camera and sensors have been replaced, with the tech run by a single processing unit that can now be updated over-the-air. Adding to its semi-autonomous armoury is a new door-opening alert, lane-change assist and a new 3D 360-degree camera view. Under the bonnet in Europe there are three powertrains – an entry B5 mild-hybrid, plus two plug-in hybrids. All are all-wheel drive and use a 2.0-litre turbocharged four-cylinder. The B5 produces 184kW and 360Nm of torque, for a 0-100k/h dash of 6.9 seconds. To provide for the long range both hybrids ditch the current car's 14.4kWh (usable) battery pack for a much larger 37.9kWh that still lives under the rear seat between the axles. To help offset the extra mass and to enhance efficiency there's an all-new e-motor that drives the rear wheels and produces 130kW of power. Combined, the T6 variant produces 262kW for a 0-100km/h sprint of 5.7 seconds. Now capable of travelling up to 200km on a single charge, the XC60 can travel almost 2.5 times further than the 79km the old version achieved and, with a full tank of fuel, the Volvo can cover a total of 1240km. When it comes to the EV range, that's 70km further than the Mercedes GLC 400e is capable of with its much smaller 25.3kWh (usable) battery. At the top of the XC60 tree is the more powerful plug-in T8 that pumps out 339kW for a 0-100km/h sprint of 4.8 seconds. Even on the larger 21-inch wheels, the most powerful Volvo mid-sizer can still drive up to 189km on electric power alone. AC charging is limited to just 11kW, with a 0 to 100 per cent top up taking 4 hours using a three-phase charger. Unlike other rivals, like the Mercedes GLC plug-in hybrid, the Volvo doesn't even offer DC fast-charging, which will limit its efficiency on longer drives. Chat to the people who have designed and developed the XC60, and they are convinced most owners will still prefer the Volvo, thanks to its longer 200km EV range. In fact, the Geely-owned car-maker thinks many Australians will never trouble the combustion engine on the Monday-to-Friday commute, making it the perfect alternative stop-gap between a combustion and EV, with added bonus of ultra-low running costs. Set to share the showroom floor with the Volvo EX60 EV (from $86,990 plus on-roads) that arrive in Australia with a range of up to 810km before the end of the year, exact timing, specification and pricing for the 2027 Volvo XC60 will be announced next year.

Premium medium-sized SUVs are a small but consistently popular segment of the new-car market, and it’s easy to understand why. While providing an aspirational mix of luxury, performance and technology, they’re still spacious, practical, versatile and – perhaps most importantly – relatively accessible SUVs. Basically, they’re the sporty family friendly reward purchase for people who’ve earned it –which means they have a lot to live up to. As part of our ongoing 2026 CarsGuide Car of the Year awards, here are our top 10 mid-size SUV model ranges from the sub-$130K category in alphabetical order and why they made the cut. Our top three, including the category winner, will be announced on February 6. Nearly four years late to Australia, the Q4 e-tron is available in elegant SUV wagon and racier SUV coupe body-styles that are both pleasingly spacious and practical. And despite leveraging a shared dedicated-EV architecture with other Volkswagen Group vehicles, the interior quality, layout and presentation are on-brand, matching the slick and easy driving experience, with a lovely balance of speed, agility, control and comfort. But the lack of full single-pedal braking and spare wheel are disappointing, while the 55 twin-motor/AWD’s prices are too high. Still, the Q4 e-tron is smart, stylish and sophisticated. And the 45 is all the Audi SUV EV you need. The third generation of Audi’s popular Q5 steps up in several ways, including in price, size and tech, adopting new mild-hybrid assistance for the petrol and diesel choices as well as a PHEV option. Chunkier than before, the Mexican-made medium-sized SUV sits on an evolved architecture. With the same wheelbase as before, it isn’t as roomy as its increased length suggests, whilst the screen-heavy dash looks modern but lacks physical buttons for too many vehicle functions. On the other hand, the boot is big, all powertrains deliver on performance, refinement and efficiency, whilst the handling and ride qualities have improved noticeable from before. Not class-leading, then, but certainly now highly competitive. BMW’s renaissance continues, following on after the excellent X5 and X1, with the fourth-gen X3, sharpening its reputation as the driver’s choice among mid-sized SUVs. Larger yet lower than ever, with ample space, the futuristic, tech-heavy interior is artfully executed, while there’s more equipment as standard nowadays. It’s mild-hybrid xDrive AWD all-round for the punchy inline petrol and diesel engines, along with a PHEV AWD providing ample muscle as well as impressive economy. As you’d hope, the chassis dynamics are first class, with an immersive and flowing driving experience that’s second to none. Expensive options, divisive styling, a fiddly transmission selector and no spare don’t overshadow a brilliantly executed luxury/performance SUV. Another VW Group EV, Spanish brand Cupra’s take on the Audi Q4 e-tron effortlessly melds style and attitude, elevating the genre in the process. With point-and-squirt acceleration, sharp steering and immersive handling – and all without ruining ride comfort – Tavascan is the keen driver’s delight. You can thank the sober German engineering underneath. The interior is spacious for its compact proportions, the ergonomics are fine and the front seats are brilliant, but the scaly-looking dash texture seems cheap, the lack of a spare wheel jars and, being sourced from China, we expect more standard equipment in the base Endurance. Still, there’s personality aplenty in this unique EV SUV and we’re here for it. Challenger brand Genesis’ take on the BMW X3, the GV70’s styling has the visual swagger of a Bentley, while providing a comfortable and functional cabin experience. The Series II facelift brings sweeping improvements, especially to refinement and tech updates, with lots more equipment, upping the lush Korean luxury SUV’s value quotient. Neither petrol engine is a slouch, but the V6’s considerable performance better suits the commanding roadholding and aggressive aesthetics more, while the GV70 Electrified EV’s effortless, isolated pace make it a peaceful retreat. Too bad the former is thirsty and the latter lacks a spare. Whichever you choose, Genesis’ mid-sized SUV is highly enjoyable – and better than you might think. One of this decade’s greats, the Ioniq 5 has been a breathtaking symbol of Hyundai’s tremendous engineering ambition, creating an EV benchmark that’s still yet to be equalled for the money. Yes, prices are creeping up, but the 5’s ability to deliver elevated performance, efficiency, driving athleticism, refinement and pleasure shade rival efforts. And that’s not even taking in the timeless design, vast cabin, thoughtfully presented ergonomics and exceptional practicality. We wish it included a spare wheel and some of the interior plastics look more Aldi than Audi, but otherwise there’s so much that’s radiant about the Ioniq 5. It remains a modern motoring masterpiece. And that’s before even considering the supersonic 5 N that out-Porsches any Macan. The second-gen NX cracks the German mid-sized luxury SUV code that its underwhelming predecessor could not, without abandoning hard-won advantages like exquisite quality and reliability. Basing it on the enduring fifth-gen RAV4 ensures a robust and refined platform, along with affordable hybrid tech access. Yet the NX transcends those with its unique design, sumptuous interior, great seats and ample practicality. The base turbo is rapid, the hybrids are efficient and the PHEV flagship powerful, while the steering, handling and ride qualities are also up to brand expectations. Inevitably, a spare wheel isn’t offered and the PHEV’s electric-only range pales against Chinese alternatives, but the NX provides luxury without the risk. A step forward in quality, ride comfort and refinement over the patchy previous model, the second-gen GLC from 2022 has remained Mercedes-Benz’s best-seller for sound reasons. Along with advanced technologies, a sturdy cabin, top-shelf safety and family-orientated practicality, the GLC provides the luxury of choice – from an attainable 200, through to indecently-quick AMG versions. The newly released PHEV is on the money for buyers seeking efficiency. And the GLC Coupe boasts a sleeker silhouette. The model’s sheer ubiquity may put some people off, options can be very expensive, servicing isn’t cheap, the stop/start tech can be annoying and most models are not exciting to drive, but there’s solid engineering behind the GLC. Devised before the global EV sales slowdown, the second-gen Macan was meant to be a bold, electric-only statement of intent, with Porsche’s formidable engineering expertise delivering a breakthrough experience. Though almost identical at first glance, everything changes, including the body structure and alluring double-screen interior presentation. But it is the 800-volt architecture (shared with the Audi Q6 e-tron) that moves the game on, providing tremendous steering, handling and ride-comfort attributes, along with a powertrain ranging from a brisk (and very on-brand) rear-mounted electric motor opener to the twin-motor AWD missiles. The Macan II’s driver-focused tactility, alacrity and control rewrite the rulebooks. Mission accomplished, then, but we wish it wasn’t so expensive. Launched in 2017, the second-gen XC60 proved to be a compelling premium contender, with lovely proportions, a gorgeous interior, stellar seats and state-of-the-art Volvo safety. An advanced platform provided a sophisticated base, adding to the luxury aspirations of the Swedish family SUV, and enhanced by progressive powertrains, including a rorty PHEV. The XC60 II was ahead of its time. Which explains why the 2025 facelift is so minor – a more-contemporary nose, updated multimedia and fresh trim are the main changes. But the driving experience feels as dated compared to the leading BMW X3 as the styling. Which is classic Volvo: evolve over time. The beloved 240 of the ‘70s lived nearly 20 years and XC60 II could be next!