Volvo XC60 vs Chevrolet Bolt

The 2026 Volvo XC60 T5 was offered in various trims, including Core, Plus, Ultra, and Black Edition, with prices ranging from $51,095 to $62,195. The T5 Ultra model, provided for review, featured numerous upgrades that increased its MSRP to $68,870. The vehicle's exterior, highlighted by the new Forest Lake paint and 22-inch wheels, added a significant presence, while the nearly decade-old design continued to age gracefully. Inside, the XC60 Ultra boasted a beautifully detailed interior with Scandinavian design elements, including plush Nappa leather, premium wood trim, and classy metal speaker grilles. The minimalist approach to controls required some adjustment, but the overall experience was one of calm and luxury.

The 2027 Chevrolet Bolt retained a familiar look with slight styling changes, such as a thin slot behind the Chevy Bowtie logo and an integrated grille insert. The Bolt EV, now offered in a single body style, maintained its tall and narrow stance, prioritizing utility and interior space. The interior saw a more dramatic makeover, featuring a larger digital instrument panel and infotainment touchscreen. The cabin, dominated by hard plastic surfaces, reinforced the Bolt's budget feel, though the RS trim offered Evotex synthetic leather with red stitching. Despite its econobox-like footprint, the Bolt provided ample headroom and thigh support, with a flat floor reducing the penalty for center-seat passengers.

The 2026 Volvo XC60 T5 featured a turbocharged 2.0-liter four-cylinder engine producing 247 horsepower and 266 pound-feet of torque, paired with an eight-speed automatic transmission. The powertrain included a 48-volt mild-hybrid system, offering a 6.5-second sprint to 60 mph. However, the vehicle experienced delays in response due to turbo lag or transmission reluctance, impacting power delivery. The XC60's fuel efficiency fell short of its EPA rating, achieving 24.7 mpg on a Southern California loop. The 22-inch wheels affected ride quality, but the air suspension in Comfort mode filtered most unpleasantness. The XC60 excelled on curvy roads, though the light steering lacked feedback, and the brakes faded under hard use.

The 2027 Chevrolet Bolt featured a new 65-kilowatt-hour lithium-iron phosphate battery pack and a motor from the Chevy Equinox EV, delivering 210 horsepower and 169 pound-feet of torque to the front wheels. The Bolt's acceleration was quick compared to gas-powered subcompact SUVs, with a 0-60 mph time in the low seven-second range. One-pedal driving was available, with medium or high levels of brake regeneration. The ride was firm but not overly stiff, and the Bolt's low center of gravity contributed to its agility on curvy roads. The EPA estimated a range of 262 miles on a full charge, with a Tesla-derived NACS charge port standard on all models.

The 2026 Volvo XC60 excelled in long-distance travel comfort, with top-shelf front seats featuring Nappa leather, heating, cooling, massage, and extending leg supports. The rear seats, however, were less comfortable, with firm cushions and low positioning. The XC60 offered a four-zone automatic climate control system and a panoramic sunroof. In-cabin storage was acceptable, with tamboured covers for cupholders and large bins in the front lower door panels. The XC60 provided 21.6 cubic feet of cargo space behind the rear seats, expandable to 63.3 cubic feet with the rear seats folded.

The 2027 Chevrolet Bolt offered an upright driving position with ample space for larger occupants. The rear seats provided plenty of headroom and thigh support, with a flat floor reducing the penalty for center-seat passengers. The Bolt's cargo capacity was 16.2 cubic feet behind the rear seats, with a large bin underneath the floor for additional storage. The rear seatbacks folded flat with the cargo floor, and the release latches were easily accessible. The Bolt lacked a frunk but offered ample storage for personal items, including a large bin with movable dividers, a big floor tray, and a deep center armrest bin.

The 2026 Volvo XC60 featured an updated infotainment system with an 11.2-inch touchscreen display and Volvo Car UX software. The system included a four-year subscription to Digital Services, providing access to Google built-in apps. The infotainment system supported Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, though Apple CarPlay required a wired connection. The optional Bowers & Wilkins audio system offered 15 speakers and 1,410 watts of power. The system functioned well, though navigating saved favorite stations was challenging.

The 2027 Chevrolet Bolt came with an 11-inch digital instrument panel and an 11.3-inch center touchscreen, running on a Google-based operating system. Apple CarPlay and standalone Android Auto were not supported, requiring Bluetooth pairing for personal music libraries. The optional Technology package added a surround-view camera system, a digital rear-view mirror, and a wireless charging pad. The infotainment system was user-friendly, with logical menus and quick responses. The Bolt's navigation system helped drivers find charging stations and preconditioned the battery for optimal charging rates. The Bolt also offered vehicle-to-load charging capabilities.

The 2026 Volvo XC60 did not earn a Top Safety Pick or Top Safety Pick+ rating from the IIHS due to an Acceptable rating in the side-impact crash test. However, it received a five-star overall rating from the NHTSA. The XC60 featured advanced safety tech, including forward-collision warning, oncoming collision mitigation braking, and intersection braking assist. The Pilot Assist system, however, was unsophisticated, with issues in lane tracking and braking. The lane-keep assist system required more muscle for course corrections and issued false lane departure warnings.

Crash test results for the 2027 Chevrolet Bolt were not available at the time of writing, but it was expected to achieve high scores based on its platform. Standard safety features included forward collision warning, adaptive cruise control, lane-keep assist, and blind-spot monitors. The optional Technology package added a surround-view camera system, a digital rear-view mirror, and traffic-sign recognition. GM's Super Cruise hands-free automated highway driving system was available for an additional cost, making the Bolt one of the few budget EVs with such an advanced system.