2021 Volvo XC60 Performance

Which of the available mills you opt for will have a serious impact on the performance you get out of the XC60 SUV. The base four-pot has a turbocharger to give the hefty vehicle the power it needs to get around town, while the T6 variant adds a supercharger for the extra kick that really makes the XC60 feel like a premium machine. With a reasonable, but not exciting 250 hp and 258 lb-ft, the T5 should be skipped if a little pep in your step is essential to you. Of course, this is subjective, since a 0 to 60 mph time of 6.5 seconds would be considered quite good by those of us who have lived our lives in economy vehicles.

The T6 is definitely the route to go if you need to get anywhere in a hurry and don't want to lug a battery pack around. Attaching a supercharger to the already turbocharged motor grants it access to 316 hp and 295 lb-ft, which has a noticeable effect on sprint times. It shaves around a second off the manufacturer's claimed time for the standard T5, so there is definitely room for a little more fun here.

The most powerful X60 is the plug-in hybrid Recharge model, and for 2021, it uses the T8 powertrain setup: the supercharged and turbocharged engine augmented by a battery pack powering an electric motor to make a healthy 400 hp. While it's not quite a performance drivetrain, there's plenty of power there to swish passengers around in smooth comfort. The top-end of the range is the Polestar Engineered version, with 415 hp and 494 b-ft, which we had for our test drive. This is the way to go if a 0-60 sprint of 4.9 seconds is something you'd like. The regular PHEV is only a fraction behind, at five seconds flat.

Every model in the lineup is rated with a towing capacity of 3,500 pounds, assuming you spec on the correct equipment. Volvo limits top speed to 112 mph in all variants.

There are three powertrains up for grabs under the hood of the XC60. Available with either front- or all-wheel-drive is the T5 mill. The four-cylinder block is linked to a turbocharger and displaces 2.0 liters of premium gasoline to develop a respectable 250 horsepower and 258 lb-ft of torque, which is put to work by the eight-speed automatic gearbox. While not as punchy as most of the power plants you'll find on premium SUVs, the T5 does a good job of moving the midsize Volvo around. It does struggle a little when power is suddenly demanded for passing on the highway.

The T6 power plant is a little more eager. Paired to the same eight-speed auto, it uses both a turbo- and supercharger to develop 316 hp and 295 lb-ft for all four wheels. The smooth transmission feels far more at home with the additional power, quickly selecting the right gear for slowly rolling through town or when merging into faster traffic on the highway. While the XC60 never feels particularly eager with this setup, it is a consummate professional.

Recharge models use the T8 setup, combining the dual-charged engine with an 87-hp electric motor and a battery pack mounted down the center of the vehicle, making the Recharge an effortlessly swift premium car. A combined 400 hp is delivered smoothly, and it's always on tap for those freeway entrances or passing maneuvers. The Polestar Engineered variant ups this to 415 hp and makes for really satisfying take-offs.

Luxury vehicles are seldom economical to run since their engines usually focus on power rather than fuel efficiency, and they almost always require premium gasoline. Luckily, Volvo has a few options to choose from. The base T5 engine paired with the front-wheel drivetrain returns the best figures from the EPA with 22/29/25 miles per gallon across the city/highway/combined cycles. Switching to the all-wheel drivetrain negatively impacts mileage, with lower returns of 21/28/24 mpg.

Unsurprisingly, the T6 burns fuel the fastest, too, as seen by the lowest figures of 20/27/23 mpg from AWD T6 models. The fuel tank is decently sized at 18.8 gallons, which gives the midsize SUV a total range of 470 miles in mixed driving conditions with the most efficient configuration.

If fuel economy is the main thing you're after, the PHEV will manage 27 mpg combined and 57 MPGe, according to the EPA, as well as allowing for a 19-mile all-electric range. You can charge the battery up to full again in around five hours, depending on the outlet used.