2022 Volvo XC60 B6 AWD Review: Doing Things Differently

Volvo marches to the beat of its own drum.

The brand doesn’t care what the rest of the industry is doing. Conformity isn’t in the Swedish manufacturer’s vocabulary. Volvo is going to do things the Volvo way; there is no compromising. The 2022 Volvo XC60 B6 AWD is a prime example of this.

The ignition switch? It’s a spring-loaded dial on the center console that is twisted to the right to turn the engine on and off. The key fob, like most in the industry, is a flat rectangular piece of plastic. But instead of the lock/unlock buttons being on the top and bottom, it is completed blank. These functions are controlled by little buttons the thin side of the fob, like a smartphone.

Twin charging an engine isn’t a new technology, but its complex and can be costly. Volvo doesn’t care and did it anyway and did it well. The engine on its own produces 295 hp, but the company didn’t stop there. For 2022 all XC60s are now hybrids of various levels. The B6 AWD receives a mild hybrid assist that bumps power to 308 hp and 310 lb-ft. of torque combined. For those keeping score at home, yes, there is a turbocharger, a supercharger, and a hybrid motor attached to the 2.0-liter engine. It is all good to propel the 4,251 lbs. vehicle from 0 to 60 mph in a very respectable 5.9 seconds.

But it’s more than just a sprinter. Sometimes an engine’s power deliver just speaks to a driver, and this is the case for me here. There’s always all the power I need, at any engine or vehicle speed. It is just there, ready to be used. Floor it at highway speeds and of course the limits of just 308 hp are obvious. But in 99% of driving, it is fantastically suited.

The B6 powertrain resides in the middle of the XC60 lineup. Renamed this year, it replaces the T6 and gains its new moniker thanks to the addition of the mild hybrid assist. Below it resides the B5 which has a 2.0-liter engine with the turbocharger and hybrid assist, but minus the supercharger. Above the B6 is the T8 which is essentially the B6 powertrain, but with a more powerful electric motor and plug-in capability.

For review I have the XC60 B6 AWD Inscription, which is the fanciest trim level. Added on are the Climate and Advance package as well as 20-inch wheels. In Canada the Active Chassis with Air Suspension and Bowers & Wilkins audio system would also be added to the build – two features well worth the cost.

The exterior of my tester is finished in the premium Silver Dawn paint which my wife was not convinced was a true silver but I quite liked. Inside, I was less keen on the Blond Ventilated Nappa Leather since, as a father of an adolescent, I prefer darker colors that better hide dirt and stains.

Configured as it is, the XC60 resides in a bit of a conundrum – what does it compete against? The Acura RDX doesn’t really match up, nor does the Cadillac XT5 or the Infiniti QX50. The BMW X3 xDrive30e would be in the running, but it’s a plug-in hybrid that is no longer sold in the United States. The closest competitor is either the Lincoln Corsair Hybrid, which is once again a plug-in hybrid, or the Lexus NX. But even with the Lexus, the XC60 B6 AWD falls in between the NX 350h AWD and plug-in hybrid 450h+ AWD.

The XC60 is available with two different suspensions, conventional shock absorbers or an air ride suspension. With the air suspension, the SUV sits at a rather off-road ready ground clearance of 8.3 inches while the conventional suspension sits at 8.5 inches. Volvo clearly spent a lot of time dialling in the air suspension to soak up bumps as well as limit body roll when cornering. The ride isn’t punishing because the suspension hasn’t been tuned to be overly sporty, but it also doesn’t bob and weave through corners like a pontoon boat.

The XC60 can be driven hard, and it doesn’t get phased, especially with the air suspension set to hard mode. But it’s not a vehicle that encourages or rewards a driver to push it hard like the BMW X3 M40i or Porsche Macan. It’s more at home briskly driving the family around during weekend errands, or heading out on vacation, utilizing its 3,500 lbs. towing capacity.

Inside, the vehicle is rather simple in design, with a very minimalistic feel. It’s a bit too minimalistic in some areas, notably hard buttons, and controls. Most features are controlled though the vehicle’s touchscreen which quickly becomes a nuisance when simply trying to adjust the heated steering wheel or heated seats. And while on the topic of the infotainment system, as crazy as it may sound, in the year of 2022 the 9.0-inch touchscreen feels small, a fact exaggerated by smallish text

And while discussing less favorable aspects of the XC60, I found the B-pillar caused a large blind spot. It is partially due to where I sit in the vehicle, but rear three-quarter checks over my shoulder are pointless, as I just see pillar. I also noticed an excess of wind noise at highway speed compared to what I expected for a vehicle in this class.

But not to worry as the fantastic Bowers & Wilkins audio system sounds great and can easily drown it out – as mentioned, it’s well worth the upgrade. My son appreciated it too as well as the expansive panoramic sunroof.