Petrichor fills the air, an earthy and crisp scent that is only detectable in the autumn after it rains. The woody, leafy scents waft through the rolled-down windows of the XC60, filling my nostrils as morning dew collects on the sill, and the soft glow of dawn warms the black leather interior. This is the new Volvo XC60, which has recently surpassed the legendary Volvo 240 to become the best-selling vehicle in the brand’s history, with over 2.7 million units sold.

Don’t fix what isn’t broke – it’s the same formula that Toyota follows with Canada’s best-selling RAV4. As such, there aren’t many significant changes for this 2026 model year. From the outside, you would be hard-pressed to notice the smokier taillights and the darkened grill with a cross pattern adorned like a freshly-tied bathrobe. Fresh paint colours are available, such as Mulberry Red, Aurora Silver, and Forest Lake, the latter of which decorates our test vehicle, making the XC60 appear as if it hasn’t aged a day since its 2018 reveal. 

The most significant upgrade inside the vehicle is the new 11.2-inch touchscreen, which features increased pixel density and a built-in Google operating system. This system allows you to interact with the vehicle similarly to how you would with your Android phone, tablet, or Google Home. By starting a command with “Hey Google,” you can verbally request actions such as turning up the heat, finding the nearest charging station, or navigating home. The ease of use and low learning curve make transitions into the XC60 intuitive and straightforward. However, it’s disappointing that Volvo removed the physical home button from the screen, replacing it with a haptic one, and also removed the drive mode selector located below the gear lever. Now, to access and cycle through EV or Hybrid modes, you need to tap a prompt on the touchscreen and select it from there.

All of the switchgear and knobs have been retained from the previous XC60, along with the accompanying ergonomics and functionality that they offer. We can’t say the same for the upcoming, all-electric EX60. These touchpoints hark back to a time when tactility reigned over technology, and it appears that many automakers, including Volvo, have lost that focus. With the electric Volvo EX30 and EX90, there aren’t any physical switches or levers to open the glovebox or operate the steering wheel, mirror, or seat memory adjustments. Those functions have been delegated to the touchscreen. Volvo even cut back on installing individual switches to operate the rear windows.

So it’s refreshing to use these robust and accessible physical switches again, not to mention the solid crystal Orrefors gear lever, which Volvo has unfortunately eliminated from all its new EX models. The XC60 also retains useful features, such as the headrest fold and the ability to adjust the passenger seat from the driver’s, but activating it requires navigating through a few sub-menus on the touchscreen. Still, the interior reminds us why the XC60 was such a game-changer back in 2018. Scandi-simplicity remains in vogue, much like the design philosophies of other Swedish brands, such as COS or IKEA. The use of light woods, bright leathers, and uncluttered surfaces instantly transports us to a calmer and more relaxed state of mind.

The mildly refreshed XC60 comes to the market at a time when change is uncertain, and many buyers are beginning to fall back on what they can rely on most: gasoline engines. The adoption of electric vehicles has slowed with many automakers like BMW and Toyota admiring their decision not to plunge so early into the EV space. Others, like Porsche, are paying the price and have even pulled out of their European LMDh program as a result. But Volvo is one of the few that has stood its ground and continued to offer mild hybrid and plug-in hybrid variants.

The XC60 mild hybrid comes with the 247 hp, B5 powertrain, while the plug-in hybrid (on test) and the Polestar Engineered trims both utilize the T8 AWD unit, consisting of a 2.0-litre turbocharged four-cylinder paired with a 143-hp electric motor, producing a combined 455 horsepower and 523 lb-ft of torque. Both models use an 8-speed automatic gearbox and will sprint from 0-100 km/h in 4.8 seconds, but the PE adds a stiffer chassis with manually-adjustable Öhlins shock absorbers and unique 21-inch wheels. 

Acceleration in the T8 PHEV is quick, but its grand output of 455 hp is deceiving, as that’s the combined total travelling to all four wheels via both modes of propulsion. What the press release doesn’t tell you is that it doesn’t all hit the ground at once. That means the XC60 T8 doesn’t feel as rapid off the line as a GLC 43 AMG or X3 M40i. The XC60 still uses a leaf spring suspension setup in the rear, making the ride harsher and more wooden on models without the air suspension. Even with the air springs, the XC60 doesn’t absorb low or medium-speed impacts as effectively. Body roll is always present, exhibiting significant top-heavy lean when thrown around corners at high speeds. This definitely isn’t a sporty or performance-tuned SUV – opt for the Polestar Engineered chassis if you’re looking for a sharper BMW M category rival. Instead, the XC60 excels at more leisurely paces when the engine can rest and breathe, allowing the batteries to take over and work in tandem for maximum efficiency. 

It’s here that the XC60 feels polished, gentle, and in its element, basking you with effortless steering, massaging seats, and a crispy 1410-watt Bowers & Wilkins High Fidelity audio system (which is entirely worth the $3,750 option on the Ultra model, standard on PE). The fully-electric variant may be coming next year but until then, the XC60 continues to age like fine wine and is a Swedish symbol of stability in a tumultuous market filled with EV uncertainty. And like with any wine, don’t forget to roll the windows down and let it breathe.

Specifications:

Model: 2026 Volvo XC60 PHEV T8 AWD
Paint Type: Forest Lake Metallic
Base Price: $83,200
Price as Tested: $83,200
Wheelbase (mm): 2,865
Length/Width/Height (mm): 4,708 / 1,902 / 1,651
Curb Weight: 2,120 kg
Engine: 2.0-litre turbocharged four-cylinder, electric motor, 14.7 kWh (net) lithium-ion battery
Horsepower: 455 hp combined [312 hp @ 6,000 rpm (engine) + 143 hp @ 15,900 rpm (electric motor)]
Torque: 523 lb­-ft combined [295 lb­-ft @ 3,000-5,400 rpm (engine) + 228 lb­-ft @ 0-3,280 rpm (electric motor)]
Transmission: 8-speed automatic
Engine & Drive Configuration: Front engine, Electric motor, AWD
Claimed Electric-only Range: 58 km
Tires: Pirelli Scorpion Zero All-Season; 22-inch