The Drive Report: Volvo XC60

Volvo XC60

Volvo Cars India has, for the longest time, steadfastly stood by the ‘don’t fix what isn’t broken’ policy, often to its own detriment. While its rivals have abided by the laws of planned obsolescence, Volvo is trundling along with facelifts, while preparing the stage for Volvo’s next-gen electric flagships. While that does put cars like the XC60 on the backfoot, the recently facelifted version proves that it’s still got plenty to offer to its customers.

For 2025, Volvo hasn’t felt the need to reinvent anything. There’s a new Forest Lake paint option, and beyond that, the XC60 looks more or less the same. Even the softer elements — the bumpers, the detailing — have been carried over from the 2021 facelift. And yet, it never comes across as dated. The clean surfaces, those crisp digital LED headlamps with the Thor’s Hammer signature, and the restrained use of chrome give it an easy, well-appointed presence. It’s the sort of design that doesn’t chase novelty because it doesn’t need to. It’s all very tasteful and very Scandinavian. In fact, it’s an oddly rebellious statement of sorts at a time when car designs are inevitably polarising.

A quiet and spacious cabin

Climb in, and the interior of the XC60 feels like a calm Swedish home rather than a typical SUV cockpit. The seats – deeply supportive with thoughtful contours – make even long drives feel easy, reducing fatigue and letting you arrive at your destination without feeling like you’ve “done time” on the road. The cabin hasn’t changed all that much from before. The big talking point is the new 11.2-inch touchscreen, which replaces the older 9-inch unit. It’s large but not imposingly so, adding to the serene and calming quality of this cabin. The novelty of having a massage seat is certainly there however not having Apple CarPlay seems like a glaring omission in this day and age. Material quality and ergonomics were ahead of their time, even in the 2021 model, so you don’t feel shortchanged in that regard.

Rear passengers get their own two-zone climate control, along with vents on the pillars and in the centre console, so cooling is never an issue. What you don’t get are sun blinds, which feels like an odd omission.

All the performance you need

There’s really nothing particularly new about the B5 powertrain. A 2.0-litre, turbo-petrol engine which makes a solid 250hp and an even more impressive 360 Nm of torque means this car can really deliver power when needed. Not in a frantic, intoxicating manner – the steering feels very light and power is decidedly linear – but it’s there when you need it. It’s there on steep inclines, it’s there on empty patches of tarmac and it’s certainly there when you want to quickly overtake. You do get a 48V mild-hybrid starter motor, but it’s really there to add to efficiency and not for explosive power.

The 8-speed auto is generally smooth, but it gets flustered if you hurry it. Put your foot down and there’s a noticeable beat before it drops a gear. The 8-speed auto is generally smooth, but it gets flustered if you hurry it. Put your foot down and there’s a noticeable beat before it drops a gear. Still, there are some design flourishes like the crystalline gear knob that make it a wonderfully tactile experience.

Comfort

Is pretty much the name of the game when it comes to modern-day Volvos, isn’t it? The XC60 remains decidedly softly sprung. This means that driving it slowly can make it feel a tad wallowy almost like a ladder-frame SUV, but on the plus side it does soak up some awful potholes with great altruism. As long as you don’t push this car into sporty territories, you’ll be fine. Straight-line speed can still thrill, but it's no corner carver. Allow it to stretch its legs on the highway and you have yourself a fairly comfy grand tourer and a reliable, all-wheel drive family car.

Verdict

The XC60 may not be the most contemporary offering in the segment, but with its ex-showroom price starting around Rs 67 lakh, it is competitively priced. It’s low on drama, high on comfort, offers ample space, quietude and utility.