Volvo is a Swedish brand that makes some of the most striking and luxurious monikers in the respective segments, and the same also holds for the compact luxury crossover SUV from the brand, the 2022 Volvo XC60. Launched at a base MSRP of $43,450, the 2022 XC60 offers posh Scandinavian styling, upscale cabin experience, all the relevant features, and unmatched safety potential.
Offered in seven trim configurations, this compact luxury crossover gets three powertrains which include the newly launched B5 and B6 mild hybrid motors and a Recharge PHEV motor. Being in continuous production in the second generation form for close to five years, Volvo has also provided this 2022 model with updated infotainment, more standard features, tweaked cabin materials, and a larger battery pack for the PHEV trim. Competing with the Genesis GV80, BMW X3, and Audi Q5, here are 10 things you need to know before buying the 2022 Volvo XC60.
10 Sharp And Progressive Brakes
Even with a heavy curb weight of 4,105 lbs and smaller brake rotors than some of the segment rivals, the 2022 Volvo XC60 managed to stop from high speeds with no issues. The 70-0 MPH braking could be done in 165 feet and all the trims also come with a regenerative braking system as standard.
The XC60 retains the same braking hardware as the older model years with 13.6" front rotors and 12.6" rear rotors. The braking features like ABS with EBD, automated emergency braking, hill hold control, hill descent control, and brake assist are standard too. In comparison, the BMW X3 did the same 70-0 MPH braking in 175 feet.
9 Classy Exterior
The striking design language of the second generation Volvo XC60 has always been appreciated since the initial launch and even after many years of being in production with not a lot of changes, it still looks the part. The masculine front end is highlighted by the LED headlights with Thor hammer LED DRLs, a beautiful Volvo logo etched onto the middle of the grille, and a sharp bumper and hood design.
The iconic front grille with the LED DRLs neatly integrated coupled with the LED taillights, panoramic sunroof, and 18" aluminum alloy wheels add to the character of the ride too. The sharp body lines on the side profile make it feel very premium and the subtle silver and chrome accents are onboard too.
8 A Frugal Daily Driver
Get the FWD model with the B5 engine and the 2022 Volvo XC60 offers a decent gas mileage of 22 MPG in the city and 28 MPG on the highway. However, the more powerful B6 engine returns a slightly lower 21 MPG in the city and 27 MPG on the highway. Both of these engines come with a mild-hybrid assist as well.
However, if you get the most powerful T8 plug-in hybrid variant, it offers 63 MPGe combined. For the 2022 model year, the XC60 Recharge gets a bigger battery pack and can do a superior electric-only range of 35 miles. It can be charged in public charging stations and at home as well. Most of the rivals miss out on a PHEV variant too.
7 Most Of The Safety Features Are Standard
Being a Volvo, safety is one of the areas which sees no compromises. This luxury compact crossover comes loaded with most of the driver-assistance features like automated emergency braking with pedestrian detection, lane departure warning, lane keeping assist, and a forward collision monitoring system.
The optional features list gives you more features like adaptive cruise control with stop-and-go and semi-autonomous driving mode as well. All the basic safety features are standard for even the lowest of the trim configurations, and it received a 5-star crash safety rating in the NHTSA crash test. It was given the top safety pick + title by the IIHS for the respective segment too.
6 Perfect Warranty Coverage
Most of the luxury European offerings do not have a great reputation when it comes to reliability and that does adversely affect the ownership experience. The warranty coverage is also far from decent for some of these monikers. However, the XC60 comes with impressive warranty coverage for the segment.
The limited warranty and powertrain warranty are covered for four years or 50,000 miles. If you get the PHEV variants, the hybrid components have warranty coverage of eight years or 100,000 miles. There is complimentary maintenance coverage for three years or 36,000 miles as well. The 2022 XC60 received an overall consumer rating of 76 out of 100 in the JD Power survey.
5 PHEV Trims Are Onboard
If you want superior grunt and fuel efficiency than the regular B5 and B6 powertrains, the coveted Recharge trim is the one to get. This trim comes with a 2.0-liter turbocharged and supercharged inline-4 engine mated to dual electric motors producing a combined output of 400 hp and 472 lb-ft of torque.
The 0-60 MPH comes in 5 seconds and the quarter-mile takes 13.6 seconds. The dual electric motors also help in giving out instant torque at the lower rev range, making it an excellent city commuter. This SUV has a top speed of 165 MPH and comes with an 8-speed automatic transmission and AWD drivetrain. The gas mileage and electric-only range are impressive too.
4 Turbocharged Motor Is Reasonably Peppy
The gasoline-powered variants of the 2022 Volvo XC60 come with two different engine names, namely B5 and B6. Both of these get the same 2.0-liter forced induction inline-4 motor mated to a 48-volt mild hybrid system and comes with an 8-speed automatic transmission.
The B5 variant has a lower state of tune with 247 hp and 258 lb-ft of torque and comes fitted with a turbocharger. However, the B6 comes with both turbocharger and supercharger on the same engine block, giving out an output of 296 hp and 310 lb-ft of torque. The acceleration times are faster for the B6, and it has a maximum towing capacity of 3,500 lbs.
3 Gets A Google-Based Infotainment System
The older 9" Sensus Connect infotainment was a bit of a letdown when it comes to the interface, and it felt long in the tooth as well. However, the all-new Google-based 9" touchscreen infotainment system is one of the finest infotainments offered in the segment. It comes loaded with many features and the interface is top-notch.
The standard features include Android Auto, Apple CarPlay, SiriusXM radio, Google automotive services, voice recognition, Bluetooth connectivity, and Wi-Fi 4G hotspot connectivity. The audio is handled by a 14-speaker Harman Kardon audio system too.
2 Polestar Engineered Trim Offers Fast Acceleration
The top-of-the-line XC60 Recharge Polestar Engineered is the one to get if you want an enthusiastic driving experience from the compact SUV segment without any compromises in the comfort factor. Coming with the same T8 powertrain as the lower Recharge trims, albeit in a superior 455 hp and 523 lb-ft tune, it is going to be a hoot to drive out on the open roads.
The 0-60 MPH comes in just 4.2 seconds and the quarter-mile mark is reached in 12.6 seconds at 111 MPH. The acceleration numbers and performance are up there with the best of the segment. However, the Porsche Macan turned out to be more powerful than the XC60 Recharge Polestar Engineered, even though it misses out on the plug-in hybrid system.
1 Roomy Interior And Cargo Area
The interior of the 2022 Volvo XC60 is packed with luxurious material and the cabin feels uber comfortable for a daily driver. The seats come wrapped in premium leather and Volvo also offers multiple color combinations and optional features, all of which improve the comfort factor even further.
The front row offers top-notch headroom, legroom, and shoulder room, even for the taller folks. The rear row is pretty spacious too. There were many storage spaces on offer inside the cabin as well. In terms of cargo space, the 2022 XC60 offered 17.8 cu ft. However, the BMW X3 and Audi Q5 turned out to be better in this regard.