At end of 2022, Volvo Cars Australia announced it will be switching from selling internal combustion engine and hybrid vehicles to just electric vehicles (EVs) by 2026 citing the increasing take up of EVs across Australia as one of the catalysts for making this strong commitment.
Strong demand continues to remain though for Volvo’s petrol and hybrid models including for the previous Driven Women Magazine Car of the Year, the XC60. So, it was nice to get reacquainted with this high-quality SUV offering from Volvo in the form of this Volvo XC60 Ultimate B5 Bright. On the exterior the ‘Ultimate’ adds a front grille in high gloss black with chrome frame, 20″ 5-Multi Spoke Black Diamond Cut wheels, and roof rails in bright Aluminium.
The B5 Bright is powered by a mild hybrid, 2.0 litre four-cylinder turbocharged petrol engine and has a maximum power output of 183kW and max torque of 350Nm. This XC60 is capable of accelerating from 0-100km/h in 6.9 seconds and on to a top speed of 180 km/h (limited), but there was a bit of turbo lag. Like all Volvo cars from 2021 onward this XC60 also comes with an orange Care Key. The Care Key allows Volvo owners to set limitations on the car’s top speed, before lending their car to other family members or to younger and inexperienced drivers. Keyless start is available as standard as well as handsfree entry on all four doors, but if you do need to press the button to open/close it’s annoyingly small and on the side of the key fob.
The mild hybrid engine is paired with an 8-speed automatic transmission and the on-road security of all-wheel drive, another feature that could benefit inexperienced drivers. This official combined fuel consumption of this XC60 is 7.6 L/100km and for time with the XC60 I used 8.7L/100km of petrol. My XC-60 was also fitted with the optional Air Suspension with Four-C Active Chassis ($2,700) and I found the XC60’s ride was smooth and comfortable, plus this would automatically lower the vehicle when you came to a stop.
The Ultimate treatment adds some Swedish chic in the cabin, with a crystal gear shift by Orrefors, a tailored dashboard, a tailored steering wheel in charcoal, which is heated, CleanZone with air purifier, and a graphical head-up display. The lovely cabin aroma is largely thanks to the optional perforated Nappa leather accented upholstery ($3,150). This XC60 is also fitted with the optional Lifestyle Pack, which includes the Panoramic Roof and Premium Bowers & Wilkins Sound System ($6,100).
The Swedish design highlights continue and make the cabin of the XC60 feel like a high-end wellness spa. Under the beautiful timber veneer roller cover there’s a wireless phone charger and two cup holders in the centre console that have grippy sides and a removeable base for easy cleaning. At the front of the centre console there is one 12V socket with two USB-C ports located under the arm rest. Staying hydrated is made easy with large drink bottle storage cubbies in front doors.
Both front seats have power adjustment for recline, forward/back, seat height on the front and rear of the cushion, front leg extension, side bolster support and 4-way lumbar with the driver’s seat also getting two memory positions. The seats are heated and cooled and have the optional Front Seat Massage Function ($1,100). The massage function was lovely there are five programs to select from with adjustment for intensity and speed of the massage. These selections are made from the 9” vertical centre touch screen display and as you can see it does get bad fingermarks on it.
Smart phone integration is via wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, but I was unable to connect via Android Auto. The XC60 is supplied with 4 years of Google Automotive Services, including Google maps, and after this period, new terms and costs may apply. Other media sources include DAB, FM, and Bluetooth with built in You Tube that can be viewed when you are stationary. The voice control worked well for changing the radio station, making phone calls and it was only OK for setting a destination on the sat nav, which can be displayed on the 12.3” digital driver’s display or you can tailor other info on the display to your personal preference.
I found that there was ample head and leg room for me in the rear seats but taller individuals may find head room to be tight. For younger passengers there are two ISOfix/three rear tether child seat restraint points and the two outer seats have built in booster seats that are suitable for children 15-30kg and up to 120cm tall. The centre seat folds down as an arm rest with two flip out dink holders and the drink bottle storage in the rear doors are only suitable for small to medium sized bottles.
Rear passengers get individual digital temperature control via two central air vents with individual direction and on/off control and vents in the B pillar. You can also adjust climate settings from the front of the cabin and lock them out if required. Below the air vents there are two USB-C ports.
To access the boot, you can use the gesture open feature or open/close from tailgate, the button in cabin or on the key fob, which is annoyingly small and on the side of the fob. The boot is a good size with four substantial tie down points, two lights and one 12V socket, with a temporary use spare tyre under boot floor. The XC60 lowers its back end when parked to make it easier to reach items in the boot or you can raise and lower the vehicle from the buttons in the boot. If extra space is required the rear seats have a 40/60 split fold mechanism or you can open central peak a boo hole for longer items.
Volvo XC60s built prior to 1st January 2024 have a 5-star ANCAP (2017) safety rating (excluding the hybrid T8 model), but new XC60s built after this date are currently unrated by ANCAP. On this a Volvo Cars Spokesperson said, “The integrity and safety credentials of our vehicle are not defined by an expiration date. We pride ourselves as being the leaders in safety and our vehicles are built accordingly. Lifecycle dates of vehicles may fluctuate but our safety credentials remain.”
This XC60 has frontal airbags, Side Impact Protection System with airbags in front seats, Inflatable Curtains and a Whiplash Protection System. A 360-degree reversing camera with front and rear parking sensors is also standard as are the auto headlights and rain sensing wipers.
Active driver safety aids fitted to the XC60 include City Safety with Pedestrian, Vehicle, Large Animals and Cyclist Detection, Intersection Collision Mitigation and Brake Support, Steering Support, Adaptive Cruise Control including Pilot Assist, Driver Alert, Lane Keeping Aid, Oncoming Lane Mitigation, Blind Spot Information with Cross Traffic Alert and Rear Collision Warning, Run-off road Mitigation, and Emergency Brake Assist.
All new Volvos come with a five year/unlimited km warranty, which includes 24-hour road side assistance. You can also purchase a service plan up front that covers scheduled servicing for the first three years or 45,000km, whichever comes first. For the XC60 models this costs $1,750 and for five year’s or 75,000km it’s $3,000.
The Volvo XC60 Ultimate B5 Bright still shines bight among the very competitive mid-size SUV market. The Volvo XC60 range starts at $72,990 excluding on-rad costs with the Ultimate B5 Bright starting at 79,990 and as tested this XC60 is $95,990 excluding on-road costs. You can design your XC60 online and visit your preferred Volvo Cars retailer for more information.
| Pros | Cons |
| The front massage seats | Could not connect to Android Auto |
| The cabin ambience | Touchscreen gets bad fingermarks |
| The many safety features | The small buttons on the key fob |
Photographs by Driven Women Magazine.