The 2028 Volvo XC60 Plug-in Gets 78 Miles of EV Range and a New Face

Volvo's best-seller gets major changes under the skin, and on it

written by Nick Yekikian
edited by Kirk Bell
9/15/2026
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What's new: The Volvo XC60 gets its second face-lift in two model years and a totally new plug-in hybrid system.
Why it matters: The end result is an SUV that remains handsome and has the most range of any PHEV on sale right now.
Edmunds says: The XC60 now looks like the most compelling plug-in hybrid on sale.

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The keenest of Volvo fans are going to look at this and go, "Wait a minute, didn't Volvo just update the XC60?" The answer is yes. The 2026 model year brought with it a new face and some revised interior technology. But that hasn't stopped Volvo from doing it all again, and this time some major changes under the skin make the XC60 the longest-range plug-in hybrid on sale.

Even though the 2025, 2026 and now 2028 XC60s will all look different, Volvo hasn't strayed too far from the formula here. The front bodywork has been cleaned up, and the headlights feature new LED daytime-running light signatures. The rear also gets a little touch-up, and, much like the smaller XC40, new taillights make it a bit more obvious that you're looking at "the newest one." Even if the changes are iterative, it's still a heck of a lot better-looking to my eyes than the current BMW X3 and the upcoming Mercedes-Benz GLC, which, yeesh.

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But the biggest changes are what Volvo's done under the skin of the XC60 plug-in hybrid. The battery pack, which used to be under the center console, has been moved to the rear floor area and has swelled in size from 14.9 kWh (usable) to 37.9 kWh. The end result is 78 miles of EV-only range (more than double before), and a Volvo-cited 590 miles of total driving range when operating in hybrid mode.

All-wheel drive is standard on the XC60 PHEV, and total output from the electric motor and the turbocharged 2.0-liter four-cylinder engine is 455 horsepower. Volvo says with a Level 2 charger going from flat to full takes just under six hours. That's not exactly light speed, and some new PHEVs also offer the option of DC fast charging. But Volvo says most of its customers charge at home and only commute around 22 miles a day round trip, so they'll be able to get around on EV power alone for most of the week before needing to top up again. That will certainly help keep pricey gas-station visits to a minimum.

A new set of sensors on the XC60's exterior bring improvements to the safety systems, too. New cameras (which are higher-res than before), ultrasonic sensors and radar units combine with reworked software to result in more astute sensing abilities. XC60s with the Pilot Assist advanced driver assistance system also now get lane-change assist. The result should be fewer false warnings while you're out on the road, and since Volvos tend to be on the sensitive side, this is a welcome change.

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2027 Volvo XC60 pricing in Ashburn, VA

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Both the exterior changes and the rejiggered safety suite extend to the non-PHEV XC60 (aka the B5 trim). That vehicle's powertrain, however, remains untouched. It still uses a mild hybrid, turbocharged 2.0-liter four-cylinder and still makes 247 hp and 266 lb-ft of torque. All-wheel drive is standard and Volvo says this model will return 26 mpg combined (24 city/29 highway).

The XC60's interior feels very familiar. The screen layout is the same as before with a digital instrument cluster and the same 11.2-inch center touchscreen as found on the 2026 XC60. Just like in the recently refreshed XC40, the new camera array also allows you to manually move the 360-degree view to various angles around the SUV, a small but useful quality-of-life jump.

Volvo also reworked some of the ambient lighting elements so the interior feels a bit fancier at night, and because the battery pack has been moved to the floor it opened up room for more air vents. So there are now two vents on the rear pillars and two more at the back of the center console. Your rear passengers will thank you (hopefully).

Pricing for the reworked XC60 isn't available yet. Expect it to come later this year. As with the XC40, Volvo is skipping the 2027 model year and diving straight into its 2028s, but with far earlier availability than usual. Look for the revised XC60 on dealer lots in the spring of next year.

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by Nick Yekikian

Nick Yekikian has worked in the automotive industry since 2019. He has written close to a thousand car-related articles and tested and reviewed more than 200 vehicles over the course of his career. Nick is Edmunds' manager of news content and has also contributed to MotorTrend, Automobile Magazine and Super Street. When Nick isn't zipping around town in his latest used-car find, he's probably making digital art in Photoshop or playing disc golf with friends.

edited by Kirk Bell

Cars have been an important part of his life since Kirk learned to identify them by their headlights as a toddler. He grew up helping pit crew for his dad’s highly unsuccessful drag racing escapades, and he turned his knowledge of the car culture into a career when he became an editor at Scale Auto Enthusiast magazine starting in college. Kirk has been writing about full-scale cars for more than 20 years and was named to the North American Car and Truck of the Year jury in 2014. He was most recently senior editor at Motor Authority, where he specialized in luxury and performance cars. Kirk also authored and edited several car books, including the award-winning Hot Rod & Custom Chronicle and NASCAR Chronicle when was managing editor at Consumer Guide Automotive. Kirk enjoys nothing more than a track day, but he’s also a Wisconsin sport fan and he enjoys spirited drives in his 2006 Porsche 911 Carrera S.

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