Skip advert
Advertisement

2019 Volvo XC60 review - engine, transmission and technical details

It’s a premium mid-sized SUV, so unsurprisingly popular, but is Volvo’s XC60 actually any good?

Evo rating
RRP
from £43,845
  • Solid, comfortable, safe and sophisticated, executed with a Swedish flair that now defines modern Volvos
  • Only really advisable as a cruiser; it just gets worse the sportier you spec it

Engine, transmission and technical details

As briefly mentioned above, all XC60 models utilise essentially the same 2-litre four-cylinder engine, in petrol and diesel forms. Both share a 1969cc displacement, and depending on their outputs feature a pretty wide spectrum of forced induction methods. Petrol engines are either single-turbocharged or turbo and supercharged, and produce 247bhp and 306bhp in B5 (petrol) and T6 forms. The T6 engine is also used in the T8 Twin-Engine plug-in hybrid variant, with a combined (not equivalent, mind) output of 394bhp, or 399bhp in T8 Polestar Engineered form. Both plug-in hybrid variants use the petrol engine to drive the front axle, with the rear driven exclusively by the 86bhp electric motor on the rear axle.

Advertisement - Article continues below

Diesel variants are somewhat more simple, with the sole D4 model producing 187bhp from a twin-turbocharged version of the diesel engine variant. It’s the mild-hybrid versions that add a new complication to the range, as B4 and B5 (diesel) variants combine a twin-turbocharged diesel with a mild-hybrid system that produce 195bhp and 235bhp respectively.

All engine variants in the XC60 include an eight-speed automatic transmission, operated by either a normal lever, or in some cases, a dubious crystal selector. All-wheel-drive models (bar the T8) utilise a front-wheel-drive-biased system, only sending power to the rear wheels when required.

Skip advert
Advertisement
Skip advert
Advertisement

Most Popular

Peugeot 208 GTi review – can it take the fight to the Alpine A290?
2026 Peugeot 208 GTi
Reviews

Peugeot 208 GTi review – can it take the fight to the Alpine A290?

After a six year hiatus, Peugeot has revived GTi with a modern take on its iconic hot 208. We find out if has the same spark as its predecessor with a…
23 Sep 2026
The subtle trick that makes Audi’s old interior better than a touch screen
evo Fast Fleet Audi TT RS
Long term tests

The subtle trick that makes Audi’s old interior better than a touch screen

Its tech is no longer state of the art, but it’s got ease of use nailed
22 Sep 2026
Porsche 911 Carrera T review – the ultimate all-round sports car
Porsche 911 Carrera T
Reviews

Porsche 911 Carrera T review – the ultimate all-round sports car

One of a handful of manual sports cars that remain, the Carrera T is also the most 'affordable' way into a manual 911
22 Sep 2026