We’re big fans of the Volvo XC60, not only here at CompleteCar.ie, but the Irish market in general. It’s been a strong seller for Volvo in previous years, and even halfway through 2024, it’s ahead of its main rivals - the BMW X3 and Mercedes GLC - even though the XC60 is an older design than both of these cars.
The plug-in hybrid versions did receive a larger battery in 2022, and now this new Black Edition has been launched to help keep the XC60 ahead of its competitors in the sales charts. Other opponents worth considering include the Jaguar F-Pace, Audi Q5, Alfa Romeo Stelvio and Lexus NX.
To see how the Black Edition helps keep the XC60 at the front of the pack, we hit Irish roads in the T6 plug-in hybrid.
How much is the Volvo XC60 in Ireland?
The Irish Volvo XC60 range starts from €67,995, which gets you behind the wheel of the Core model with the T6 plug-in hybrid powertrain. While the Core tag sounds like it should be a pretty basic set-up, the reality is that it comes with a lot of standard equipment.
You get 18-inch alloy wheels, a panoramic sunroof, automatic LED headlights, front and rear parking sensors and a reversing camera, auto wipers and a powered tailgate, while inside the list includes two-zone climate control, leather upholstery with heated front seats, a multifunction steering wheel, a 12-inch driver’s display and a 9.0-inch portrait touchscreen infotainment system that runs Google software - including the company’s excellent mapping - and a host of other connected-car services. There’s Apple CarPlay, too, while wireless smartphone charging is also included, along with Bluetooth.
Next up is Plus trim, which is €6,000 more than Core. The extra cash adds 19-inch alloys, additional cabin lighting, keyless entry, hands-free tailgate opening, a heated steering wheel and windscreen, a 360-degree camera system, adaptive cruise control with Volvo’s Pilot Assist tech, blind-spot detection with cross-traffic alert, rear collision warning, heated rear seats, a Harman Kardon sound system and electric driver’s seat with memory function.
For another €7,400, the Ultra features everything above, and also comes with 20-inch wheels, tinted rear windows, active air suspension, a head-up display, full LED headlights, a crystal drive selector and wooden interior trim, ventilated front seats and a Bowers & Wilkins high-end sound system, while electric adjustment is added to the front passenger seat.
All three trims can be had with the T6 plug-in hybrid powertrain. This makes up to 350hp and manages 0-100km/h in 5.7 seconds, which is pretty rapid, while the battery system gives the XC60 an official electric range of 79km.
For €4,000 extra, the Ultra model can be upgraded to the T8 plug-in hybrid system. Peak power increases to 455hp, and the 0-100km/h time drops to 4.9 seconds. Since the plug-in part of the powertrain remains unchanged, the T8’s electric-only range stays at 79km.
What’s the Black Edition all about?
In basic terms, the Black Edition is exactly as described - an all-black variant that sits at the top of the XC60 range. On the outside there’s ‘Onyx Black’ metallic paint and gloss-black 21-inch alloy wheels, while all of the bright silver trim has been replaced by piano-black fittings.
The roof rails, window surrounds and lettering are all now black, as well, and even the Volvo badge on the nose has succumbed to the dark side, so just the Volvo text is picked out in chrome. From a distance, this all-black update makes the XC60 difficult to pick out in a line-up, with only the ‘Thor’s Hammer’ daytime running lights giving the game away.
The black theme continues inside, with charcoal (i.e. almost black) Nappa leather upholstery, but the rest of the list mirrors that of the standard car. The Black Edition spec can be added to both Plus and Ultra trims, adding €2,400 to the former or €1,000 to the latter. And just like the standard Ultra trim, the T8 plug-in powertrain adds €4,000 to the list price.
A look inside the Volvo XC60
Cabin comfort is a Volvo forte, and on the whole the XC60 lives up to the company's reputation. Build quality is hard to fault, although the XC60's cabin is looking a little old these days courtesy of the nine-inch portrait touchscreen in the middle of the dashboard. While it was considered large when the XC60 was launched, the latest wave of 12 inch-plus landscape displays found in rival models mean the Volvo's seems measly in comparison.
One area where the touchscreen makes up ground is the Google-based operating system. This slick set-up is pretty easy to use once you're used to the slightly fiddly menu system, while the Google Maps-based navigation software is as good here as in the company's smartphone app. It is rapid in operation and can route you away from hold-ups quickly and easily, while signing in with a Google account means that you can sync the Volvo's navigation with your personal settings, too.
Interior space is good up front and in the rear, although middle-seat passengers in the back draw the short straw for legroom, courtesy of the tall transmission tunnel that gets in the way. The last round of updates saw the inclusion of twin USB-C sockets in the back, so passengers don't have to fight over charging ports.
Seat comfort is another Volvo speciality, and the XC60 has supportive cushions that fit occupants in all the right places. The seats are soft, but not so much that they cause you to roll around when pressing on through corners.
Cabin storage is decent, with a long centre console featuring a roll-top cover that hides storage for the smartphone charging pad and a couple of cup holders. Behind this is a soft armrest that has a deep cubby beneath it and two more USB-C sockets for you to connect devices to. Glovebox storage is generous, too.
While the Volvo XC60 has gone PHEV-only, this does penalise it in terms of boot space - the high-voltage battery needs to go somewhere, and the most obvious place is under the boot floor. However, a capacity of 468 litres in five-seat mode is only 15 litres less than in the now-discontinued diesel model, so Volvo has done a better job than some rivals when it comes to accommodating its plug-in tech.
The power-opening tailgate is useful, while the back seats have a 60:40 split and go almost completely flat. The load cover can be lifted on rails to access the boot without having to roll it back completely, too, while the T6's charging cables can be stored at one side of the boot, although they do eat into overall space.
How safe is the Volvo XC60?
The XC60 is bursting with safety kit even in Core trim. Equipment includes road sign recognition, lane-keep assist and lane-departure warning, two sets of ISOFIX child seat mounts in the back, a full suite of airbags (including a driver’s knee bag), side-impact protection, whiplash-reducing headrests, hill-descent control and hill-start assist, slippery road alert and oncoming lane mitigation - which can steer the car out of danger if it detects the car is leaving its lane.
However, some safety features are reserved for the Plus and Ultra trims. Adaptive cruise control is only offered in these two models, and this comes with Volvo’s Pilot Assist self-driving tech. This part of the adaptive cruise system sees the car look after small steering movements, acceleration and braking at speeds ranging from stop-start traffic to motorway running. It’s a smooth set-up, and feels perfectly safe to use, while the system is designed to ensure the driver is still paying attention even when the electronics are in control. If you come to a complete halt in stopped traffic, you must press the accelerator to set off again, because the car won’t do it for you.
Higher-spec models also feature Volvo’s ‘BLIS’ blind spot detection system, with lights in the door mirrors warning you of traffic on either side. The system can also brake the car if it senses the risk of a collision when reversing.
All of this helped the XC60 earn a five-star Euro NCAP rating in 2017, where it achieved a 98 per cent rating for occupant safety, 87 per cent for child occupant safety, a 76 per cent score for pedestrian and vulnerable road user safety, plus a 95 per cent score for its safety assistance systems.
How many child seats can I fit in the Volvo XC60?
The XC60’s back doors open wide to help with access to the rear seats, while the car’s ride height helps when loading up, too. There are two sets of ISOFIX child seat attachments on the back seat, and they are easy to access, courtesy of hinged plastic covers. The centre seat is narrower than the outer chairs, though, so fitting a third child seat in the back using the seatbelt could prove tricky. If you’re fitting forward-facing seats, the front seat backs are made of hard plastic, so should hold up well to kicking feet...
One neat feature that Volvo offers is built-in booster cushions. For €300 extra, the bases of the two outer chairs can pop up to provide a built-in seat for children aged four and up (Volvo recommends rear-facing seats for kids younger than this), and they have two levels to cater for different heights.
Up front, the passenger seat has an airbag cut-off switch so that you can mount a child seat safely, while the driver’s door armrest has two buttons to remotely activate the child locks on the back doors, as well as the usual electric window switch cut off.
Driving the Volvo XC60
The Black Edition doesn’t really alter how the XC60 drives, so at its heart it’s still a comfortable, refined SUV that has loads of performance on tap. Excess performance, really, with up to 350hp and a whopping 659Nm of torque when both the turbocharged petrol engine and the electric motor for the rear wheels are working together. The 5.7-second 0-100km/h time is an indication of that.
Nonetheless, this car doesn’t feel like an SUV that’s designed to be sporty to drive in the same way an alternative from BMW or Porsche might; the XC60 just happens to have plenty of go when you need it and be effortlessly quick at all times.
As part of the Ultra specification, there’s adaptive damping and air suspension fitted, and these elevate the capability of the chassis for sure, adding self-levelling and allowing the driver to choose more body control or more comfort as suits their preference. It’s a competent car that can safely cover distance at a good pace in all weather conditions.
As with all plug-in hybrids, it’s at its best with the battery topped up from an external source and is wonderfully quiet when running on electric power. What’s more, it can do that for a significant, useful distance.
How economical is the Volvo XC60?
If you try really hard and you stay away from motorway speeds, it should be possible to exceed 60 kilometres on a charge of the XC60’s battery pack, meaning it’ll cost buttons to run this car if you have a short commute and an option to charge it up at home or work. It’s not horrendously thirsty when you take on a longer trip without the possibility of charging the battery, either, averaging under 8.0 litres/100km in our experience of the car.
The reasons you’d buy a Volvo XC60
Despite its advancing years, and the advent of plenty of fresh-faced rivals, the XC60 remains one of the classiest premium SUVs of its size on the market. Its plug-in hybrid system works well, allowing for genuine efficiency on one side and serious performance on the other, all packaged up in a safe, family-friendly vehicle that is held in high esteem. And the Black Edition? Well, if you like that look and can afford the upgrade, then why not?
Ask us anything about the Volvo XC60
If there’s anything about the Volvo XC60 we’ve not covered, or you’d like advice in choosing between it and other vehicles, you can avail of our (completely free) expert advice service via the Ask Us Anything page.
