Volvo XC60

FIRST DRIVE Volvo's best-selling car ever gets a subtle refresh for 2025. We put it to the test

- Alastair Crooks

VOLVO'S future might be electric, but it's still investing in its current crop of petrol-powered models, with the popular XC60 the latest to be revamped. Yet simply calling it “popular” might be an understatement, because in June, the mid-sized SUV became the bestselling Volvo in history with 2.7 million sales, surpassing the legendary 240. Since the XC60 was launched in 2008, there have only been two generations and although the current version has been around since 2017, a midlife refresh has only been introduced this year. That's not by chance, though - Volvo will soon launch the similarly sized EX60 to provide an all-electric alternative to the XC60. The strategy feels extremely similar to the arrival of the new electric EX90 last year to sit alongside the XC90, which coincidentally received its own refresh in 2024.

The changes mirror the new XC90 too, with the XC60 gaining a more sophisticated look, a bigger touchscreen and much slicker tech. While the XC60 has been one of our favourite premium family SUVs of recent years, there are plenty of shiny new rivals to contend with, such as the fourth-generation BMW X3 and third-generation Audi Q5, both of which were launched only last year.

From the outside, there's not too much to unpack with the updated XC60. There's a fresh grille design with diagonal slats that ape the ones found on the latest XC90, plus Volvo's new logo in the centre, while the rear lights have gained a darker tint.