2018 Volvo XC60 SUV Crossover Review & Ratings

Performance

The 2018 XC60 luxury crossover SUV has three engine designations and all are mated to an eight-speed automatic transmission that feeds power to all four wheels. The T5 has a 2.0-liter turbocharged inline-4 engine producing 250 hp and 258 lb-ft of torque. The T6 adds a supercharger to the T5 setup and produces 316 hp and 295 lb-ft of torque. The T8 is a hybrid of an electric motor at the rear wheels and the T6 engine with a total output of 400 hp and 472 lb-ft of torque. With the T6 power plant under the hood, it delivered smooth power that was urgent enough in most situations. It launched to 60 mph from a standstill in six seconds, which was an expected performance in its class. The transmission felt refined whether shifting up or down and it worked coherently with the engine. On the road, body roll was evident when its suspension was set up softly. In the sportier setting, however, the handling was well-composed and the vehicle had sufficient grip on the pavement. The steering felt balanced in the effort required and maneuvering around city streets did not feel cumbersome. The brakes stopped the XC60 from 60 mph in 114 feet, which was stellar in its class. The bite from the brakes was linear and there were no signs of shakiness even when braking hard. The pedal was firm and controlling the brakes felt natural.

Technology

The base Momentum trim comes standard with LED headlights and taillights, remote engine start, power liftgate, automatic climate control, power-adjustable front seats, driver-seat memory settings, auto-dimming rearview mirror, satellite radio, Bluetooth, Apple CarPlay, Android Auto, and an infotainment system with 9-inch touchscreen and 10-speaker sound system. Advanced safety and driver aids also come standard with the base trim. The R-Design trim adds LED front fog lights and turn signals, keyless entry, a hands-free liftgate, illuminated door handles, a digital instrument cluster, paddle shifters, and selectable drive modes. The top-of-the-line Inscription trim comes with all the features from preceding trims apart from the paddle shifters and adds ambient interior lights and a cooled glovebox. The Luxury Seat package is only for Inscription models and it adds power-adjustable heated and ventilated front seats with massage, heated rear seats, and a heated steering wheel. Available for all trims, the Vision package adds auto-dimming side mirrors and more advanced safety and driver aids. The Convenience package adds heated windshield washers, power-folding rear seats, power child locks, an additional 12V power outlet and the Momentum trim also gets selectable drive modes, keyless entry, and a hands-free tailgate. The Advance package adds adaptive LED headlights, headlight washers, and a heads-up display. Standalone options for all trims include an adaptive air suspension and a 15-speaker Bowers & Wilkins sound system. Some features in the R-Design and Inscription are standalone options for the Momentum and they include the digital instrument cluster, navigation system, ambient interior lights, and keyless entry.

Safety

The 2018 XC60 was tested by the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety (IIHS) and it scored “Good” in crashworthiness and “Superior” in front crash prevention. Its headlights however only scored “Acceptable” for crash prevention and mitigation. Overall, it earned the 2018 Top Safety Pick recommendation from the IIHS. Advanced safety and driver aids that come standard in the base trim include automatic high beams, lane keeping assist, road departure mitigation and protection, oncoming collision avoidance and mitigation, bike/pedestrian/animal detection, driver attention alert, and road sign recognition. More items are added through packages such as are blind-spot monitoring, rear cross-traffic alert, front and rear parking sensors, adaptive cruise control, and a 360-degree parking camera.

Appearance

The 2018 XC60 has a length of 184.6 inches, a height of 65.3 inches, a width of 78.7 inches, and a wheelbase of 112.8 inches. Volvo makes vehicles that tend to be in the upper segment of the price spectrum and the XC60 is understated yet elegant. The body panels aren’t too sculpted and chrome is used sparingly. Overall, the XC60 doesn’t have a busy look and the streamlined minimalist approach is pleasing to the eye. The base trim starts with 18-inch wheels but all trims have the option for up to 22-inch wheels. The sunroof and roof rails come standard in the base trim. The top-of-the-line Inscription trim has its own styling elements that set it apart from the lineup.

Comfort

Stepping into the cabin felt slightly high and it could definitely be a stretch for shorter passengers. The doorway was spacious for entering the cabin but the sloped windshield required tall passengers to duck their head. The front and rear seats offered a good amount of headroom and legroom, but passengers beyond six feet in height will find their head touching the sunroof. The two rows of seats can accommodate up to five people on board. The leather upholstery felt premium and the seats were plush on long road trips. The massage, heating, and ventilation functionality worked without a problem. The range of adjustability for the front seats allowed most passengers to fit comfortably in the seats. Despite the firm suspension for agile cornering abilities, comfort was still attainable in its ride quality. Imperfections in the pavement were dampened well and rough surfaces didn’t feel jarring even with the 20-inch wheels. Road and wind noise was still heard but wasn’t a nuisance to the interior atmosphere.

Cargo

There is 22.4 cu-ft of space behind the second row of seats, and folding those seats down opens up 63.3 cu-ft of space available for cargo.