In 2025, the XC60 officially became Volvo’s best-selling car of all time. Coincidentally, it was also around that time that the new and updated plug-in hybrid version made its way to the Philippines.
I would’ve said the XC60 deserves to be the best-selling Volvo ever, but I couldn’t, because I had never driven any iteration of it. The pre-refresh XC90 and the C40, yes, but not this one. Admittedly, I was a bit naive and thought I wasn’t missing out.
Until recently, Hariphil Asia Resources offered me a test drive of its new PHEV. Over the course of the weekend that I had it, it proved me wrong in many ways. I was missing out. Big time.
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Styling
The XC60 looks very much like a Volvo through and through. It stays true to the brand’s design philosophy, and while it doesn’t exactly look astounding and out-of-the-box, it also remains clean and well-put-together.
The styling fits the dimensions of the vehicle. The front fascia isn’t too imposing and doesn’t make it look like a bigger SUV, and the side profile has just a little bit of ruggedness to it. Still, it’s quite classy and looks like the premium vehicle that it is.
I’m a huge fan of the wheels on the XC60—the design looks intricate and really stands out. The rear, we often say in jest, is very CR-V-like, but jokes aside, it looks pretty good. The taillights somehow cut the tailgate in half, adding more depth to the rear. I also find the subtle chrome touch below very tasteful.
Interior
This is probably my second-most favorite part about the XC60. The interior just feels very premium. It’s not as luxurious or as spacious as an XC90, but it’s a darn good cabin that I didn’t mind getting stuck in in traffic. There’s an abundance of leather, and the wooden trim on the dashboard just ties everything together, matching the seats and side panels perfectly. The crystal shifter is also rather elegant and just subtly pops in the middle. There’s just the right amount of contrast inside, and it’s pleasing to the eyes.
Speaking of just right, the space also feels like so. It’s roomy enough to make it very, very comfortable for four passengers. The headrests and bolstering for both first- and second-row seats are excellent. Having a fifth person onboard, however, is something I would advise against. The tunnel in the middle and the bulky center console will make life miserable for that unlucky passenger.
In terms of storage space, there’s plenty. The trunk is quite big, and with a flat floor and a dedicated space for the charging cables, it’s very easy to use. It also helps that the ride height can be lowered for easier loading and unloading. The fact that the rear seats are also positioned at an angle ever so slightly opens up more space. The tonneau cover comes standard, but since there aren’t any third-row seats here like in the XC90, you’ll rarely have the need to remove it and worry about where to stow it afterwards.
Engine performance
I liked the interior, but I did say it wasn’t my favorite, didn’t I? Well, that’s because it’s the powertrain here that really got me going. That and the overall driving dynamics, but let’s get to that in a bit.
The electrified engine here comprises a 2.0-liter turbopetrol paired with an electric motor capable of 455hp and 709Nm of torque. How’s that for a family car? On paper, it does 0-100kph in 4.9sec, but honestly, it felt faster than that in reality. Even with the hybrid battery depleted, the motors can still assist in propulsion, so you get the electric boost on tap virtually all the time. At which point it won’t aid in fuel economy and savings, however, but purely for performance. And that’s fine. Because when you step on the throttle, the XC60 jumps off the line.
If you wanted to focus on efficiency, however, you have 80km of range on a single charge, which is more than enough for a round trip between Laguna and Manila. That’s as long as you don’t drive flat out every chance you get, of course, because this Volvo will tempt you to do so. In any case, the routine would just have to be drive, deplete the battery, then charge when you get home. Rinse and repeat, and you’ll be feeling your fuel savings in no time.
In my case, however, I wasn’t able to charge the battery at all when I had the XC60. Despite that, it lasted me well over 100km before it ran out of juice since I never drove it in full EV mode. I also wasn’t easy on the throttle, so the fact that I got 11km/L after 300km of driving is very impressive. That includes a spirited drive from Sta. Rosa to Nasugbu, so again, very impressive.
Ride and handling
I haven’t said this in a while about any car or bike, but it felt intoxicating driving the Volvo XC60. It’s got air suspension that optimizes comfort and handling at all times, and I can certainly say that it does. I don’t exactly feel or know what’s happening to the vehicle underneath, but I had zero complaints whether I was attacking twisties or cruising on the highway. That’s when you know the computers are doing their job at really ‘optimizing’ the ride.
Through corners, it felt planted, and it felt like I was driving a powerful, turbocharged wagon, not a somewhat chunky crossover. Comfort was also top-notch, with the vehicle just absorbing minor road bumps all while keeping the cabin incredibly quiet. Even with four passengers, ride comfort also didn’t suffer whatsoever. I’d say the XC90 was still better at cruising on the open road, but everywhere else, I’d rather be driving the XC60. It’s not that the gap in comfort between the two is that big, either, mind you.
But what I suppose ereally surprised me here is the overall feel behind the wheel. I had low expectations with this being a plug-in hybrid, so I thought it might feel numb the moment you gun it, but that’s not the case at all. I genuinely enjoyed driving this Volvo.
Extra features
Okay, let’s start with the standard stuff here. There’s a large 11.2-inch vertical infotainment system paired with a 12.3-inch digital instrument cluster. The former comes with Google Services and can be installed with apps, but I didn’t really care for any of those. That was more for an actual owner rather than a reviewer like me. There’s also built-in Google Maps, which was quite handy. That said, I stuck with Apple CarPlay as per usual (Android Auto is also available), and the navigation showed up on the instrument cluster, anyway.
What I absolutely loved about the XC60 is the audio system. The Harman Kardon setup fitted here is, by far, one of the best I’ve ever tried. It reminded me a lot of the experience in the Range Rover Sport, only I feel the surround sound in the XC60 more vibrant and alive—perhaps that’s because the Volvo has a smaller cabin.
The XC60 also gets a host of advanced driver-assist systems. For starters, there’s a very clear 360-degree-view camera to aid in parking duties, along with ingenious parking sensors. I say so because the beeps come from the direction of the sensor that’s detecting any objects. Plus, the beeps from the front are different from the ones at the rear. In true Volvo fashion, there are also plenty of active safety tech like autonomous emergency braking. My biggest gripe here is that in true modern-car fashion, a lot of the controls are buried deep in the large touchscreen. The only consolation here is that there are actual buttons and knobs to control the entertainment system, but that’s about it.
Verdict
I came into this review not really expecting a lot, but boy, was I proven wrong after a weekend with the Volvo XC60. This might just be the most complete ‘family car’ I’ve ever had the privilege to try, and it’s something I’ll consider in the future, if budget permits.
It’s the complete package—you can keep charging your battery to enable electric, gas-free drives at all times when you’re just in the city. When the road ahead clears up, you’ll get to enjoy all that power on tap, with an all-wheel-drive system to go along with it. It’s luxury plus performance in one classy and stylish crossover. Honestly, even with this spec, I wouldn’t change a thing.
I normally don’t give out perfect scores, but I think this one deserves it. Volvo hit the mark with the XC60, and if you’re the target market, this might be one of the best five-seat SUVs that P4.55 million can buy. It’s worth every penny.
SPECS: 2026 Volvo XC60 T8 Ultra PHEV
Price: P4,550,000
Powertrain: 2.0-liter turbocharged I4 + rear electric motor
Transmission: Eight-speed automatic
Power: 449hp (combined power)
Torque: 709Nm (combined torque)
Layout: AWD
Seating: 5
Score: 10/10
