2019 Volvo XC60

2019 is the second year of the second-generation XC60 (2018–). It carries over the 2018 powertrains and adds a front-drive T5. The volume T5 AWD uses a 250-hp 2.0L turbo four; the T6 makes 316 hp and the T8 plug-in hybrid 400 hp.

The T5's 258 lb-ft is typical for a turbo four in a compact luxury SUV. The T6 makes 295 lb-ft, and the T8's rear electric motor lifts combined torque to 472 lb-ft.

Edmunds tested a 2019 XC60 T5 at 6.1 s to 60 mph, slightly quicker than Volvo's 6.4 s claim. That is competitive with turbo-four rivals.

The T5 turbo four pulls willingly once boost builds, but it hesitates at low rpm and sounds coarse when worked hard. Stop-start is abrupt, with no 48V starter-generator yet. The T8 hides its engine/motor transitions well.

Every 2019 XC60 uses the Aisin 8-speed automatic. It shifts smoothly once underway and rarely hunts on the highway, but it is hesitant pulling away and slow to kick down.

Volvo rates the 2019 XC60 at 3,500 lbs across all powertrains, below the 4,400 lbs of the Audi Q5 and BMW X3.

New for 2019, the T5 comes in front-drive form, with AWD optional; AWD remains standard on the T6 and T8. The system is a clutch-based on-demand setup (electric rear axle on the T8) with no low range or torque vectoring.

About 8.5 in of ground clearance, an Off Road drive mode and hill descent control on AWD models cope with gravel, snow and dirt tracks. There is no low range, locker, skid plate or off-road trim.

Three distinct 2019 powertrains: the T5 turbo four (now FWD or AWD), the T6 turbo-and-supercharged four, and the T8 plug-in hybrid. One electrified option, but no six-cylinder or full EV.

The EPA rates the volume 2019 T5 AWD at 23 MPG combined, slightly under average for a compact luxury SUV. The new FWD T5 manages 24 MPG.

20 MPG city from a conventional turbo four, with no hybrid assistance in stop-and-go traffic.

27 MPG highway is in line with, or slightly behind, turbo-four rivals such as the Audi Q5 and Mercedes GLC.

The EPA does not publish a total range for gas models. 23 MPG combined across the XC60's 18.8-gallon (71 L) tank gives about 430 miles.

The EPA's current annual estimate for the 2019 T5 AWD is $3,550, driven by 23 MPG combined and the premium-fuel requirement. That is high for a compact SUV.

The EPA lists premium gasoline for every 2019 XC60 gas powertrain (T5 FWD, T5 AWD, T6 AWD), which adds cost at every fill-up. There is no regular-fuel option.

NHTSA lists every 2019 XC60 variant (T5 FWD, T5 AWD, T6 AWD) as Not Rated. The same second-generation body was first tested for 2020 and got 5 stars overall (5 frontal, 5 side, 4 rollover), so that rating is carried over within the generation.

The 2019 XC60 earned an IIHS Top Safety Pick, but the award applies only to builds with specific headlights. Crash results are Good in small overlap (driver and passenger), moderate overlap, original side, roof strength and head restraints. The later updated side test is Acceptable.

Every 2019 XC60 gets City Safety AEB, Lane Keeping Aid, Run-off Road Mitigation and Oncoming Lane Mitigation as standard. On the volume T5 Momentum, blind-spot monitoring and cross-traffic alert require the Premium package. Adaptive cruise with Pilot Assist requires the Advanced package.

IIHS rates the standard City Safety system Superior for vehicle-to-vehicle front crash prevention and Advanced for daytime pedestrians. Nighttime pedestrian detection was not yet tested in that era.

When fitted, BLIS with Steer Assist and Cross Traffic Alert can actively intervene. On the volume Momentum trim, though, they come only in the optional Premium package, and there is no safe-exit alert.

Lane Keeping Aid, Run-off Road Mitigation and Oncoming Lane Mitigation are standard. True lane centering comes only with Pilot Assist in the optional Advanced package. Reviewers find it competent but prone to wander on faded lane markings.

Pilot Assist pairs full-speed stop-and-go adaptive cruise with steering support and works smoothly. On the 2019 volume Momentum, however, adaptive cruise is not standard and requires the Advanced package.

The 2019 XC60 offers no hands-free highway driving. Pilot Assist is a hands-on Level 2 system that requires the driver's hands on the wheel.

IIHS rates the XC60's headlights Acceptable or Marginal depending on trim and options. The base LED reflectors without curve adaptation are Marginal. Only the curve-adaptive LEDs reach Acceptable, which is why the 2019 award is limited to those builds. No configuration is rated Good.

The second-generation XC60 has an upright greenhouse and good forward sightlines, but thick rear pillars limit over-the-shoulder views. A rearview camera is standard, while the 360-degree camera requires the optional Advanced package on the Momentum.

IIHS rates LATCH ease of use Acceptable. The two outboard rear seats have full LATCH hardware and the center seat has a tether anchor only. Rear door openings and legroom are reasonable for the class.

Every 2019 XC60 is a two-row, five-passenger compact luxury SUV. 2019 is a carry-over year of the second generation that began with the 2018 model year.

Front headroom is middling. The panoramic moonroof that is standard on the 2019 Momentum takes some of it.

Front legroom is adequate and sits in the lower-middle of the SUV band.

Rear headroom is good for a compact SUV despite the glass roof.

Rear legroom is generous for the compact luxury class.

No 2019 XC60 configuration has a third row. Buyers who need seven seats have to move up to the XC90.

The cargo hold is competitive for a compact luxury SUV but well short of mid-size SUVs on the segment-wide band.

Maximum cargo volume is typical for the compact luxury class.

Storage is sensible: door pockets, a center-console bin, an underfloor cargo tray and 60/40 split rear seats with a pass-through. It is competent, with nothing that stands out.

Reviewers repeatedly rank Volvo's front seats among the most comfortable in the class over long drives, and the rear seat offers good support.

The steel-sprung Momentum on 18-inch wheels rides comfortably. Larger wheels and the R-Design tune get busy over broken pavement, and the optional air suspension is smoother.

Wind and road noise are well suppressed at highway speed, but the four-cylinder gets loud and strained under hard acceleration.

Dual-zone automatic climate is standard. On the volume Momentum, heated front seats and a heated wheel are a $750 option. Four-zone climate and ventilated/massaging seats are reserved for upper trims. Volvo On Call allows remote pre-conditioning.

MY2019 is the second year of the second-generation XC60 (2018–) and the first with a front-drive T5 entry model, which brought the starting price down to just under $40,000 before destination.

The T5 Momentum AWD was the core of US XC60 volume, and most dealer stock carried the ~$2,500 Premium Package, putting a typical sticker around $45,600; T6 and T8 versions stretched far higher.

Same SPA-platform T5 drivetrain as 2020; CarEdge's XC60 projection runs below the luxury-SUV average while Edmunds' cost-to-own for this generation runs higher, so a blended mid-pack figure is used, with the first three services covered by Volvo's complimentary maintenance.

Now about seven years old, the 2019 T5 Momentum trades around $17,500 against a ~$43,000 original sticker (~41%); back-adjusted to the 5-year mark this lines up with CarEdge's 49% generic XC60 retention, slightly below compact luxury SUV peers.

Volvo's New Vehicle Limited Warranty runs 4 years or 50,000 miles — a year longer than the mainstream norm and matched to the German luxury standard.

Volvo offers no separate, longer powertrain warranty in the US — engine and drivetrain are covered only for the concurrent 4 yr/50,000 mi term, weaker than Lexus, Acura, Infiniti or Genesis.

MY2019 XC60s are covered by Volvo's Complimentary Factory Scheduled Maintenance (3 yr / 36,000 mi), on par with BMW and Audi, plus 4 years of unlimited-mileage roadside assistance and a Volvo On Call connected-services subscription.

$45,600 volume-trim price minus its estimated resale value after 5 years (47% retained, or about $21,432) leaves about $24,168 in depreciation. Add the projected $5,500 in 5-year maintenance and repairs, and owning this vehicle for 5 years costs about $29,668 in total.

Consumer Reports rates the 2019 XC60, the second model year of the second generation, as about average for its year. Owners report recurring brake problems (premature pad and rotor wear, pulsation) along with infotainment and power-tailgate faults, which leaves it mid-pack and below the Lexus and Acura tier.

In the dependability and initial-quality studies covering 2019 models, Volvo sat below the industry average. In Consumer Reports' brand rankings it was in the lower half, a lower-third standing that later fell to near-last.

Seven NHTSA campaigns apply to the gas 2019 XC60, which is heavy for one model year. They include AEB software that may miss obstacles, a fuel-pump fuse that can stall the engine, power-tailgate lifting arms that can separate in the cold, loose wiper nuts and loose seat-rail nuts. None of them is a systemic powertrain defect.

The volume T5 uses Volvo's widely deployed 2.0L Drive-E turbo four with the Aisin eight-speed automatic, a combination with no single systemic failure pattern. The family does attract reports of oil consumption and turbo or timing-chain repairs, and the turbo-plus-supercharged T6 adds complexity.

Reviewers consistently rank the second-generation XC60's Scandinavian cabin among the best in the compact luxury class against the GLC, X3 and Q5. It has wood inlays, quality leather and knurled controls, with only a few hard plastics in low-touch zones.

Reviewers generally find the physical assembly tight. However, early-generation build issues show up in assembly-related recalls (missing seat-rail nuts, under-torqued wiper nuts, a double-installed steering screw), and the brand's initial-quality results were below average.

Volvo's US retailer network is adequate in metro areas but thin nationally compared with the German luxury brands. The 2019 ownership package was comparatively generous, with three years of complimentary scheduled maintenance.

Repair frequency and annual spend are about average for the luxury compact class. However, parts come mostly through dealers and from Europe, the independent aftermarket is thinner than for Japanese rivals, and owners report repeated brake pad and rotor replacements.

The portrait Sensus touchscreen is standard across the 2019 lineup and was large for its time.

Sensus looks premium and has a tablet-like layout, but it is slow to respond. It also puts climate and many vehicle functions in swipe-heavy touch menus.

Apple CarPlay and Android Auto are on every 2019 trim, but only over a USB cable. Wireless projection came in later model years.

Native Sensus navigation with voice commands works, but the voice system takes fixed commands rather than natural language. Most owners default to phone projection.

The 10-speaker base system is solid. Upgrades include Harman Kardon and the 15-speaker Bowers & Wilkins system, which reviewers rank among the segment's best.

In 2019 the volume Momentum got a smaller 8-inch digital driver display. The 12.3-inch full digital display was upper-trim or optional until it became standard on every trim for 2020.

2019 Sensus cars get map updates and app downloads over the air but no whole-vehicle software updates. Those arrived with the later Google-based system.

Volvo On Call provides remote start and pre-conditioning, lock/unlock, vehicle location and trip data, free for an initial period. There is no phone-as-key.

Ports are USB-A front and rear plus 12V sockets, with no USB-C. Wireless phone charging is optional, so the port mix is dated.

Push-button start and a power liftgate are standard. Full keyless entry with a hands-free liftgate is a package option on the Momentum. Remote start works through the app, and phone-as-key is not offered.

A rear camera and parking sensors are standard. The 360-degree Surround View camera is part of the Advanced package, which is available on every trim.

A graphical HUD is available on every trim, including the volume Momentum, but only through the optional Advanced package.

Wide rear doors and generous rear legroom make car seats easy to fit, and the 29.7 cu ft hold takes a stroller. There is no third row, and IIHS rates LATCH ease of use only Acceptable.

It earned an IIHS 2019 Top Safety Pick, with City Safety automatic emergency braking and lane keeping standard. NHTSA did not rate the 2019, and blind-spot monitoring requires the Premium package on the Momentum.

The seats are excellent and the cabin is quiet. However, rear amenities such as four-zone climate and heated rear seats are upper-trim only, even front heated seats cost extra on the Momentum, and compact cargo space limits luggage.

Light controls and good visibility make it easy around town. Abrupt engine stop-start and a laggy touchscreen add minor daily friction.

At 23 MPG combined on premium fuel, the T5 AWD is below average for the class, which makes it relatively costly to commute in.

A compact footprint and a 37.4 ft turning circle make city parking manageable. The 360-degree camera is optional.

A 3,500-lb tow rating and modest cargo space suit light trailers only. This is a luxury crossover, not a work vehicle.

A luxury-trimmed cabin and a turbocharged four are not built for hard work use, and the XC60 has no fleet track record.

Work provisions are limited to cargo tie-downs, roof rails and an optional hitch. There is no onboard AC power and no work upfit ecosystem.

Superb seats, a quiet cabin and about 430 miles of range make it a strong tourer. Pilot Assist semi-automated driving is optional through the Advanced package.

AWD, an Off Road mode with hill descent control and roughly 8.5 in of ground clearance handle gravel and snowy roads. Roof rails and 3,500-lb towing cover bikes and small toys.

The 60/40 split-folding rear seats, roof rails and available hitch handle normal luggage. Bulky gear is limited by the compact cargo dimensions.

It is secure and composed, with 0.81 g of skidpad grip, but tuned for comfort rather than engagement. The R-Design firms it up.

The steering is accurate and reasonably weighted, and firmer in Dynamic mode, but it offers little feedback.

An instrumented 70-0 mph stop of 161 ft is competitive for the class, and the pedal is firm and progressive.

The 250-hp T5 and eight-speed automatic are quick enough (6.1 s to 60 mph), but they hesitate at low rpm and on sudden throttle inputs. Stop-start restarts are abrupt.

It is quiet at cruise, but the 2.0-liter four sounds strained and coarse under load, which is out of character for a luxury SUV.

The turning diameter is mid-pack for a compact SUV.

Seat and wheel adjustment is excellent and the view is commanding, but routing climate and many other controls through the touchscreen hurts the layout.

It is pleasant, calm and stylish to drive, but the T5's unremarkable engine and comfort-biased tuning make it more serene than engaging.

The 2019 T5 Momentum carries the 250-hp turbo four, the 9-inch portrait Sensus touchscreen with Apple CarPlay/Android Auto, a digital cluster, LED 'Thor's Hammer' headlights, power liftgate and a standard suite of City Safety AEB with pedestrian detection and lane-keeping assist. But Pilot Assist adaptive cruise, blind-spot monitoring, panoramic roof and heated seats sat in option packages, and the new FWD entry model made AWD a $2,300 extra.

At roughly $41,000–$46,000 the T5 slightly undercuts comparably equipped BMW X3 and Audi Q5 models while bringing a premium cabin and strong safety tech, but its 250 hp is merely class-par, the Acura RDX offers more for less, and T6/T8 versions carry steep price steps (T8 Inscription $61,245). Fair value rather than a bargain.

Three grades (Momentum/R-Design/Inscription) across three powertrains — the T5 turbo in new-for-2019 FWD or AWD, the 316-hp turbo-and-supercharged T6 AWD and the 400-hp T8 plug-in hybrid — spanning roughly $40,800 to $62,000 before options. Broad for the segment, though the Polestar Engineered halo did not arrive until 2020.

Volvo's best seller in a record year for the brand, at roughly 30,600 US units in 2019 — a dip from 2018 as the new XC40 drew some buyers — leaving it a steady mid-pack seller well behind the Lexus RX/NX, BMW X3 and Audi Q5.

Volvo carries a real safety halo and well-regarded Scandinavian design, riding a resurgence on its new SPA-era lineup, but sits a rung below the German brands in aspirational image, and mixed reliability perceptions temper the badge.

MY2019 sold in the pre-pandemic, pre-shortage market when Volvo routinely supported the XC60 with subsidized leases, loyalty/conquest cash and negotiable discounts off MSRP.

The second generation launched for MY2018 on the SPA platform, so 2019 was only its second year — current in design, safety tech and its PHEV option — with the 2022 Google-infotainment facelift and 2023 mild-hybrid switch still years away.

Well reviewed for comfort, design and safety, an IIHS Top Safety Pick for 2019, and the generation's 2018 World Car of the Year title was fresh; still, it was rarely the comparison-test winner against the BMW X3, Acura RDX or Porsche Macan.