13 April 2nd - April 8th, 2026 phoenixnewtimes.com PHOENIX NEW TIMES | NEWS | FEATURE | FOOD & DRINK | ARTS & CULTURE | MUSIC | CONCERTS | CANNABIS | Questions? Feedback? Email me at [email protected] • Follow me on RATING (out of 5 McFly’s) 2026 VOLVO XC60: SCANDINAVIAN CALM WITH JUST ENOUGH SWAGGER 2026 VOLVO XC60 The 2026 Volvo XC60 pulls up The 2026 Volvo XC60 pulls up like it just finished a yoga session like it just finished a yoga session and closed a business deal on the and closed a business deal on the way out. Starting around $51K, way out. Starting around $51K, it sits right in that sweet spot of it sits right in that sweet spot of luxury without screaming for luxury without screaming for attention. Under the hood is a 2.0L attention. Under the hood is a 2.0L turbocharged mild-hybrid making turbocharged mild-hybrid making about 247 horsepower, paired about 247 horsepower, paired with an 8-speed automatic and with an 8-speed automatic and standard AWD. It’s not trying to be a standard AWD. It’s not trying to be a street racer, and honestly, that’s not street racer, and honestly, that’s not the point. It’s smooth, composed, the point. It’s smooth, composed, and quietly confident. and quietly confident. Fuel economy lands around Fuel economy lands around 23/30 MPG, which is solid for 23/30 MPG, which is solid for a luxury SUV in this class. It’s a luxury SUV in this class. It’s efficient enough to not annoy you, efficient enough to not annoy you, but you’re still paying for premium but you’re still paying for premium gas because… Volvo. The plug-in gas because… Volvo. The plug-in hybrid version exists too, and that hybrid version exists too, and that one gets spicy with power, but the one gets spicy with power, but the standard setup is all about balance, standard setup is all about balance, not chaos. not chaos. Inside is where the XC60 Inside is where the XC60 really flexes. This thing is clean. really flexes. This thing is clean. Like, “minimalist house with Like, “minimalist house with no clutter” clean. High-end no clutter” clean. High-end materials, simple layout, and a materials, simple layout, and a big updated screen with Google big updated screen with Google built-in make it feel modern built-in make it feel modern without being overwhelming. It’s without being overwhelming. It’s quiet, comfortable, and borderline quiet, comfortable, and borderline therapeutic to drive. You don’t get therapeutic to drive. You don’t get in this car to rage. You get in it to in this car to rage. You get in it to decompress. decompress. Driving it feels effortless. The Driving it feels effortless. The ride is smooth, the steering is light ride is smooth, the steering is light but precise, and everything just but precise, and everything just works the way it should. It’s not the works the way it should. It’s not the most athletic SUV in the segment, most athletic SUV in the segment, but it doesn’t need to be. It’s more but it doesn’t need to be. It’s more about feeling good than going fast. about feeling good than going fast. The XC60 isn’t trying to win The XC60 isn’t trying to win drag races or flex at valet. It’s for drag races or flex at valet. It’s for someone who wants luxury without someone who wants luxury without noise, tech without frustration, and noise, tech without frustration, and a daily driver that feels like a deep a daily driver that feels like a deep breath. It’s calm, classy, and very, breath. It’s calm, classy, and very, very easy to live with. very easy to live with. Comfort: Value: Fuel Economy: Looks: The Drive: Safety & Security: Overall: Sound System: Bells & Whistles:
