The Volvo XC60 is unlike most of its competition. It doesn’t feign sportiness, with a lineup that lacks a true performance model. Volvo’s bestselling model of all time also avoids shouty styling and doesn’t overwhelm its customers with countless à la carte options.
No, the XC60 stays true to its Scandinavian roots, and while this generation is now approaching its 10th birthday, it remains one of our favorite compact luxury SUVs and still feels fresh. The latter is mostly thanks to another makeover, although the updates for the 2028 model year are more substantial than those that were introduced for 2026.
A New Look
If you’re squinting to see what’s so different about the 2028 Volvo XC60, that’s because the design changes are evolutionary rather than revolutionary. Still, believe it or not, all of the bodywork ahead of the A-pillars is new. That includes the hood, front fenders, and the entire fascia, which now features a slimmer grille and new lighting elements.
Volvo’s stylists revised the brand’s trademark “Thor’s Hammer” motif that’s seen in the daytime running lights; it’s now more technical and appears to be on the lens instead of inside it. For the first time on U.S.-bound models, the XC60 features glare-reducing matrix LED headlights too.
Along with a new paint color called Heather Bronze, Volvo gives the XC60 a fresh set of wheel options, of which you can choose from 20- and 21-inch designs. The SUV’s backside has also been restyled, with the taillights, liftgate, and rear bumper all adopting a more sophisticated appearance.
A “Long-Range” Plug-in Hybrid
The biggest news for the new Volvo XC60 involves its powertrains, specifically the plug-in hybrid option. It still features a turbocharged 2.0-liter four-cylinder gas engine, but it pairs with a more powerful electric motor (total output remains 455 horsepower). That—combined with a battery pack that’s more than twice as big as before (38 kWh versus 15)—gives the new XC60 PHEV an estimated all-electric driving range of 78 miles, up from 35. That’s more than any other plug-in hybrid currently sold in the United States, and it has led Volvo to dub the T8-spec XC60 and XC90 “Long-Range” plug-in hybrids. Of course, the XC60 lineup will still include the 247-hp nonhybrid variant.
Inside, not much has changed. Passengers still enjoy an attractive and upscale cabin that Volvo says now features even nicer materials. There’s a new door-panel design, wood interior trim, and a nappa leather option called Cardamom. The top-of-the-line Bowers & Wilkins sound system remains, as does the tablet-like 11.2-inch center touchscreen. The Google-based infotainment system features the Gemini AI, if you’re into that type of thing, and the XC60’s software can be updated over the air.
Because Volvo prides itself on safety, the XC60 receives a host of driver-assistance upgrades. It adds more computer power as well as new sensors, cameras, and radar. These enable new features such as automated emergency steering, a lane-change function in Pilot Assist mode, an alert before opening the rear door when cyclists are approaching, and the 360-degree camera system now includes a 3-D view.
The 2028 Volvo XC60 will go on sale sometime early next year. We don’t yet know how much it will cost, but we’re told pricing will be similar to the outgoing models, which currently start at just over $51,000.