- Volvo XC60 has surpassed 2.7 million global sales, making it the brand’s best-selling model to date.
- For 2026, the XC60 receives updated design, enhanced infotainment and improved user experience.
- PHEV versions of the XC60 accounted for 48% electric-only driving distance on average, based on Volvo data.
Volvo’s popular medium SUV, the XC60, has officially edged out the iconic Volvo 240 to become the brand’s best-selling model of all time, clocking over 2.7 million units since its 2008 debut.
From boxy estates to electrified favourites
Long considered the quintessential Swedish family car, the Volvo 240 estate was a global household staple through the ’80s and early ’90s.
But as the SUV segment gradually overtook estates in practicality and popularity, the XC60 stepped up as the natural heir. Many drivers who grew up riding in a 240 are now opting for the XC60 for their own families - a generational baton pass, but with plush seats and plug-in power.
The XC60 has been busy collecting accolades as well, including World Car of the Year in 2018. It was also Europe’s best-selling plug-in hybrid in 2024, reinforcing its role in Volvo’s push toward electrification.
The current version offers plug-in capability with around 48% of kilometres reportedly driven in electric-only mode, according to Volvo Cars’ internal data.
Refreshed for 2026
For 2026, the XC60 has undergone a comprehensive update: modernised design, improved comfort, quicker infotainment and a more intuitive user interface. It’s not a full overhaul, but enough to keep it sharp in an increasingly tech-heavy segment.
“Growing up in Sweden in the 1980s, the Volvo 240 was the iconic family car - you could spot one in almost every driveway,” said Susanne Hägglund, head of Global Offer at Volvo Cars. “Today the XC60 has taken over that position… becoming our all-time top-seller, which in itself is the ultimate proof point of a successful car. And now, with the latest updates, it gets even better.”
Safety stays in the family
The XC60 continues Volvo’s safety-first tradition - one that the 240 helped cement back in 1974 with innovations like crumple zones and side-impact protection.
The XC60 builds on that legacy with tech such as City Safety (automatic emergency braking up to 30km/h) and Oncoming Lane Mitigation, which debuted in 2017.
Unsurprisingly, it remains one of the safest cars on the road.
Production for the XC60 is currently split between Sweden and China, marking it as Volvo’s first global model in terms of manufacturing.
As of the end of 2024, Volvo Cars also posted record-breaking financials - over 763,000 cars sold and SEK 27 billion (NZ$4.7 billion) in operating profit - suggesting the XC60’s success is part of a broader brand upswing.
And with a new generation of kids now climbing into the XC60’s back seats, it may well define another era of family travel, but this time with less exhaust and more electrons.
