2026 Volvo XC60 T8 Ultra PHEV Review: Let Scandi-cool convince you away from German plug-ins
Best-selling Volvo of all time, this XC60 SUV.
I’m shocked too. Surely not ahead of those boxy wagons and sedans the Scandi brand pumped out for decades?
True story. Volvo’s shifted over 2.7 million XC60 mid-sizers since 2008; eclipsing the brick-like 240 that epitomised strength, safety and peak pragmatism between 1974 and 1993.
Times have changed. For starters, Australian Volvo showrooms are strictly SUV spaces now the V60 wagon and S60 sedan have retreated. Everything’s electrified too – mild hybrid, plug-in hybrid or BEV – but the brand’s rowed back on ditching all combustion engines here by 2026.
Changing market conditions and all that.
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Just unleashed is this refreshed XC60 medium SUV, bringing a fresh face, faster and larger infotainment and new interior materials, plus price rises of up to $1900.
Powertrains are unchanged, meaning there’s the choice of a 48-volt mild hybrid 2.0-litre petrol turbo in the B5 model, or our tester, the T8 plug-in with 89km of pure electric range.
The XC60-sized full electric EX60 joins the line-up by the middle of next year, slotting into Volvo’s BEV range comprising the little EX30, EX40 and flagship EX90 SUVs. By then, the intriguing ES90 large electric sedan will also be here.
As ever, our prestige Swede (with slight Chinese accent) pitches itself against the might of the Germans. The entry-level XC60 B5 Bright at $74,990 before on-roads is around $11,000 under the equivalent BMW X3.
But all-wheel-drive PHEVs are way chunkier. A T8 Plus is $92,990 plus costs, while the luxury-packed T8 Ultra is $101,990, or from around $112,000 on the road.
Plug-in rivals? The BMW X3 30e ($104,800), Lexus NX 450h+ ($84,500) Mercedes Benz GLC 350e ($99,900) and incoming Audi Q5 e-hybrid quattro (c.$100,000).
2026 Volvo XC60 T8 Ultra PHEV price and equipment
These PHEVs are a fair whack over the mild hybrid XC60s, but you’re buying into mighty performance and an EV-only range that’ll easily cover most commutes and school runs.
Both the T8 Plus and T8 Ultra use a 233kW/400Nm 2.0-litre four-cylinder turbo engine allied with a rear-mount 107kW/309Nm electric motor. Combined they give 340kW/709Nm; good enough for a 4.8s 0-100km/h sprint. Ample for the family SUV.
This generation XC60’s been with us since 2017, and the minor updates for MY26 include a new XC90-esque front grille, new alloy wheel designs, darkened taillights and new exterior colours.
More pressing was updating cabin tech. Gone is Volvo’s old 9.0-inch portrait infotainment screen, replaced by a more substantial (and dash-dominating) 11.2-inch effort. It is swift to respond to commands (we’re told it’s twice as rapid as before) and there’s a 21 per cent higher pixel density, if you really want to wow your mates.
Standard equipment in the base Plus is solid.
Key inclusions are 19-inch alloys, auto full-LED lighting, hands-free tailgate, Orrefors crystal gear shifter, leather steering wheel, Nordico synthetic leather upholstery, power and memory front seat, two-zone climate control and natural driftwood trim.
There’s a 12.3-inch digital driver’s display, 11.2-inch infotainment with live services, head-up display, Apple CarPlay, built-in Google with Google Play Store access, 10-speaker audio, wireless phone charging, four UBS-C ports, a power outlet in the boot, and a 10A home charging cable.
Move up to the Ultra – which is a significant $9000 more – and you add 21-inch dark alloys, dark body trim, active air suspension, panoramic roof, Nappa leather upholstery, a tailored dashboard, heated and ventilated front seats, Bowers & Wilkins High Fidelity audio, premium audio and a heated steering wheel.
Drivers support kit and safety features are shared across all grades, and being Volvo, very comprehensive.
The highlights include seven airbags, integrated booster cushions for the rear seats (brilliant things for parents with kids coming out of child seats), a 360-degree camera view, road sign information, lane keep, adaptive cruise control, blind spot assist, cross traffic alert and a rear collision warning.
2026 Volvo XC60 T8 Ultra PHEV: What we think
Our drive was a short one on a Volvo “come and try” day for Australian media, so we couldn’t deep dive living with the XC60 PHEV in various conditions in differing states of battery charge.
What I can share is that, justifying the $100k+ price for this PHEV Ultra, it feels damn expensive inside. Like “Take zat, Germans!” levels of design and goodies to make you feel thoroughly spoiled.
You can pick a charcoal interior, but real Scandi flair comes with the “Blond” colour choice, which is really white/cream, and nicely contrasted with charcoal elements on the dash and doors.
You sink into Nappa chairs which are triple stitched, perforated and thoughtfully sculptured. There’s proper wood for the dash trim, while amazingly, somehow, the crystal gear changer isn’t tacky. This transparent number isn’t cut a billion ways like a footballer fiance’s ring of bling, but more like a Nordic ice sculpture. Lovely.
There are other delightful touch points. The simple steering wheel; a knurled twist-to-go start button; chrome air vents and soft touch goodness through the doors.
The not-suitable-for-kids cream interior is made even lighter thanks to the giant glass roof. Meanwhile the audio does a solid concert hall impression, and there’s tech aplenty with the duo of screens and rubberised (phone won’t fly around) wireless charge pad.
There’s a small selection of buttons underneath the iPad-like centre screen, but none, regrettably, controls climate. For that you must prod the screen. Fine if you’re stationary, not as easy if you’re crashing along city roads or enthusiastically tackling country corners.
The infotainment is generally very good; fast to operate, reasonably intuitive and the Google kit brings good entertainment to enjoy when stationary.
Rear seat space isn’t massive, although the chairs themselves are comfy things. The PHEV’s batteries mean no spare – just a repair kit – and while the 21-inch rims look superb under the arches, their skinny tyres don’t offer much give when you hit potholed city streets.
But the PHEV element doesn’t restrict much else, including doing SUV-like things. It’ll tow 2250kg and offers close to 600L boot space, which bests most of the German rivals.
Where our XC60 can’t match the ever-popular Deutschlanders is in outright driving competence and joy. But that can work to Volvo’s advantage. This T8 won’t have you seeking out twisty backroads as you would in a BMW X3 or Porsche Macan… its pillowy ride is better suited to easy highway cruising or nights out at the theatre. And that’s perfectly fine.
Our Ultra’s air suspension helps the cushioning – it really is excellent and blissfully relaxing – and complemented by impressive noise-cancelling insulation.
From five drive modes, slot into “Power” and the 2.0L turbo petrol and electric motor work together for rapid performance, all-wheel-drive, and the lowest suspension setting.
Unlike softer SUVs from the likes of Genesis, Lexus and most from dozens coming out of China, the XC60 holds its composure in the corners, refusing to go wobbly. Overall, it feels really nicely judged for everyday drives over most types of roads.
Bloody quick thing too, with the petrol and battery combo. The electric motor fills any torque gaps, and acceleration is mighty. Too mighty really for the type of car it is, and it’s so cosseting inside you barely notice you’ve rapidly hit three figures. Sub-five seconds to 100km/h was supercar quick in the 1980s… now it’s commonplace in electrified two-tonne SUVs.
But the XC60 T8 PHEV feels at its most relevant in town, running on battery power alone. Our test showed 89km on electric only was a tad optimistic, and we’re reaching a point when 100km+ is becoming the true luxury mark for PHEVs, so our Volvo falls short.
You sense this T8 could use slightly more than the 19kWh battery offered to really boost its appeal and help justify the price jump over mild hybrid XC60s.
We used the petrol engine to recharge the battery (naughty, I know), so we could test it in EV-only mode in the city. As a word of warning, we averaged over 8L/100km once the battery ran dry, and this crept up even more when forcing it to send electrons to the battery.
No DC charging’s possible, and on a domestic socket you’re starting at three hours to brim it using the supplied charger.
Of note, Volvo’s taken a far more successful approach to driver aids than many brands. These XC60s are brimming with active safety, yet rarely do they prove nannying or distracting.
Calibrating them takes time and lots of R&D, and it’s paid off. Not many customers spend $100k to have their car be annoying.
2026 Volvo XC60 T8 Ultra PHEV: Verdict
It’s a lot of money for a medium SUV, but this T8 Ultra has the required luxe, cabin cool and rather blissful drive experience you should demand when dropping over $100k.
It’s not always that way. You can hop into entry-level German SUVs for similar money and feel rather hard done by. But this mid-size Volvo feels every inch a high-class ride, with cabin materials and not over-the-top interior design oozing Scandi style.
Not the longest EV range by today’s high standards, and it’s by no means a driver’s car, but good grief this Volvo’s lovely and relaxing to live with.
In its own quiet way, the XC60 PHEV’s a superb and pampering alternative to the shoutier Germans.
SCORE: 4/5
2026 Volvo XC60 T8 Ultra PHEV specifications
Price: From $101,900 plus on-roads
Basics: PHEV, 5 seats, 5 doors, SUV, AWD
Range: 89kms EV only (WLTP)
Battery capacity: 18.8kWh Lithium-ion
Battery warranty: 8-years/160,000 km
Energy consumption: 26.2kWh/100km (NEDC)
Fuel consumption: 1.6L/100Km Combined (ADR)
Powertrain: 2.0-litre four-cylinder, 233kW/400Nm
Motors: 1 rear, 107kW/309Nm
Combined output: 340kW/709Nm
AC charging: 6.4kW, Type 2 plug
DC charging: N/A
0-100km/h: 4.8 seconds
