Volvo XC60 plug-in hybrid long-term test
Our deputy editor wanted a comfortable family SUV which could help to slash his running costs. Can the latest Volvo XC60 plug-in hybrid fit the bill?...
The car Volvo XC60 T8 Plug-in Hybrid AWD Ultra Run By Darren Moss, Deputy Editor
Why it’s here To show that Volvo can match the best premium rivals for quality while also costing less
Needs to Provide comfortable and economical family transport while also functioning as a mobile office
Mileage 2622 List price £70,860 Best price £70,860 Price as tested £73,205 Official MPG 282.1mpg Test MPG 43.5mpg
22 June 2026 – Come rain or shine
Recently, the UK weather has done its annual trick of lulling us into a false sense of warm, sunny security. And to make the most of it, I’ve been travelling as much as possible with the roof open on my Volvo XC60.
Learning how to operate the roof required a bit of fiddling initially, because the controls aren’t labelled. So I had to learn that opening or closing the shade requires a press in the appropriate direction, while to open the roof you have to slide your finger across like you’re using your smartphone. I’m used to it now, but some labels would have been useful.
Some panoramic roofs rob you of headroom, but I’m pleased to report that the spatial sacrifice in the XC60 is kept to a minimum. I can still sit comfortably behind my own driving position, and I’m 6ft1in if I’ve eaten my morning Weetabix. And the opening is pleasantly large, letting in plenty of air and light. In fact, it’s large enough that if the mood takes you, you can squeeze through the opening – handy if someone has parked too close to you and you need an escape route.
This being a British summer, the weather can turn on a dime, and you’re just as likely to need an umbrella on your weekend outing as suncream. So on those days when my roof must remain firmly closed, I’ve taken to carrying a couple of umbrellas in the XC60’s boot.
There’s a netted-off storage pocket at the side of the boot which seems tailor made for this purpose, giving me somewhere dedicated to store my rain-ware away from the main boot area, so they don’t become lost amid my weekly shop or charging cables. As a bonus, there’s a 12-volt socket back there, which could be useful if we ever go camping and need to blow up a bed.
While 12-volt power is useful, though, it’s something of a shame to see that the XC60 isn’t available with Vehicle to Load functionality, which would let you utilise a more conventional three-pin plug than the far less common 12-volt power supply.
Some cheaper plug-in hybrids such as the BYD Seal U DM-i offer this functionality as standard, so it’s a disappointment to see it missing on the Volvo, even on the options list.
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