Is the 2026 Volvo XC60 a good car?

The 2026 Volvo XC60 earns a 6.5/10 expert rating, and the standout strength is Look and feel at 9/10. The updates help it feel more current, especially the new Volvo Car UX infotainment system, the larger 11.2-inch touchscreen, Google Gemini integration, and standard adaptive cruise control. That said, the XC60 is still held back by sluggish performance and unimpressive driver assistance tech, even though its stylish design, premium interior materials, and comfortable seats make it a compelling choice if you care more about comfort and cabin polish than outright capability. The market signal is solid, with 34.6% of listings marked as good or great deals.

Is the 2026 Volvo XC60 reliable?

The 2026 Volvo XC60 is presented as a comfortable, premium SUV with a modernized cabin and a powertrain that uses a 48-volt mild-hybrid system with regenerative braking. The expert notes also point to a smooth-enough road-trip character and a cabin that makes the XC60 feel calm and pampered, which supports the idea of an easy daily driver. Volvo also includes two complimentary services with a lease or purchase, and the connected-services plan runs for four years, which helps ownership feel more supported early on.

The trade-off is that the XC60 is described as rapidly aging, and its driver-assistance tech is not especially polished in real-world use. For a used buyer, that means long-term ownership risk is more about living with dated execution and uneven assistance behavior than about the SUV’s comfort-focused mission.

What should I look for when buying a used 2026 Volvo XC60?

Accident-free inventory is excellent at 98.8% — clean inventory, standard diligence applies.

You should still run a history report and verify that the specific vehicle has a clean service and accident record, even with a strong accident-free share in the market. Prioritize a thorough inspection of the cabin electronics, driver-assistance behavior, and wheel-and-tire condition, since the XC60’s tech and larger wheels can be expensive or frustrating if they’re not working properly. It also makes sense to focus on how the SUV drives in everyday traffic, because the powertrain and assistance systems are a bigger part of the ownership experience here than raw speed.

Key things to evaluate:

• Trim level: The XC60 T5 is offered in Core, Plus, Ultra, and Black Edition trim levels. The base setup is light on luxury extras, while higher trims add the richer cabin materials and features that make this SUV feel special.
• Powertrain: The turbocharged 2.0-liter four-cylinder makes 247 horsepower and 266 pound-feet of torque, and it uses an eight-speed automatic plus a 48-volt mild-hybrid system. Efficiency is not a strong point, and the power delivery can feel delayed.
• Safety package: Pilot Assist combines adaptive cruise control with lane-centering assist, and the XC60 also includes forward-collision warning, oncoming collision mitigation braking, and intersection braking assist. The system lacks a touch-sensing steering wheel, and there’s no hands-free highway driving or low-speed traffic jam assist.
• Infotainment: The XC60 gets an 11.2-inch touchscreen, Google built-in, Google Maps, Google Assistant, Google Gemini, and Google Play. Apple CarPlay and Android Auto are supported, but CarPlay requires a wired connection.
• Fuel efficiency: The official EPA rating is 26 mpg in combined driving, and the test results came in at 24.7 mpg on one loop and 21.7 mpg on a mountainous route.

Which 2026 Volvo XC60 trim should I buy?

The 2026 Volvo XC60 is offered in 4 trim levels: Core, Plus, Ultra, and Black Edition.

Here's the short version:

• Base trim: Core gets you into the XC60 lineup, but you miss out on the richer luxury touches and the more upscale presentation that define the higher trims.
• Sweet-spot trim: Plus is the most balanced choice if you want a step up from the base model without chasing the most expensive extras.
• Premium/top trim: Ultra is the trim that best delivers the XC60’s appeal, with the sumptuously outfitted cabin and the features that make the SUV feel genuinely premium.
• Off-road trim: The XC60’s off-road mode exists, but the 22-inch wheels and 8.2 inches of ground clearance make this a poor fit for serious trail use.

The safety package includes Pilot Assist, but the system’s real-world behavior is not as polished as you might expect from a Volvo.

Is now a good time to buy a used 2026 Volvo XC60?

The market looks moderately favorable if you’re selective and willing to compare listings carefully.

• Deal availability: 34.6% of listings are priced as good or great deals.
• Inventory: There are 866 listings available.
• Clean inventory: 98.8% of listings are accident-free.

If you find a listing below $52,559.01, that's toward the low end of the year-round range and worth acting on quickly.

Is the 2026 Volvo XC60 safe?

The 2026 Volvo XC60 did not earn a Top Safety Pick or a Top Safety Pick+ rating from the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety (IIHS). It earns a five-star overall rating from NHTSA, with five-star ratings in each individual crash test except for rollover resistance.

It earns a 4/10 safety score from our experts.

The XC60 includes forward-collision warning that can detect pedestrians, cyclists, and large animals, plus oncoming collision mitigation braking and intersection braking assist. Pilot Assist is standard and combines adaptive cruise control with lane-centering assist, but the system is not especially sophisticated in real-world use. The SUV also lacks a touch-sensing steering wheel, and the lane-keep assist behavior is inconsistent enough that you should not assume it will reduce workload the way better systems do.

Should I buy a 2026 Volvo XC60 or consider a different year?

If you're weighing the 2026 against nearby model years, here's how to think about it:

Choose the 2026 if:

• 34.6% of listings are priced as good or great deals.
• Accident-free inventory is excellent at 98.8% — clean inventory, standard diligence applies.
• The new Volvo Car UX infotainment system, larger 11.2-inch touchscreen, Google Gemini integration, and standard adaptive cruise control make this year feel meaningfully fresher.

The bottom line: If you want the most modern-feeling XC60 cabin and can live with its sluggish performance and uneven driver-assistance tech, the 2026 model is the one to target. If you’re more price-sensitive, a nearby model year may still deliver the XC60’s comfort and premium feel with less money tied up in the purchase.

These recommendations are based on CarGurus' proprietary market data from August 21, 2026, CarGurus experts' opinions, and generative AI.