2028 Volvo XC60 and XC40 First Look: Massive Range Boost & Tech Overhaul!

Volvo was one of the first brands to truly embrace plug-in hybrids and for 2028 it is giving its T8 models a serious range boost. Now this is going to apply to both the XC90 and XC60 but I'm here with the latter because Volvo's best-selling model ever has come in for a facelift both inside and out. Now before I talk about the design changes we're just going to knock out those nitty-gritty This has an enormous battery pack it is 41.2 kilowatt hours net and 37.9 of that is usable. It's also moved it's no longer in the center tunnel it is actually in the floor which means that second row space is just slightly higher in terms of the floor. What this all means though is that range has over doubled we're talking 126 kilometers of range in the XC60 and 117 in the larger XC90. Not only that Volvo has said that it has a more powerful electric motor here so while total system horsepower is actually unchanged from the 2026 at 455 you now have 560 pound feet of torque. The styling upgrades aren't surprising yet welcome all the same. The XC60 sees new designs front and back with reshaped headlights housing a simplified version of the Thor's Hammer DRL signature. There's a thinner grille for a cleaner hood line too. The heather bronze color you see here is very good picking up orange and purple highlights depending on the ambient lighting. Inside the XC60 it's pretty familiar from before though there are a few detail changes it's all about warmth. We're starting with the cardamom leather in this case it is Napa leather and you get ventilation up front which is very nice and it is paired with this nice wood grain on the dashboard. There's a little bit of a curve here a concave surface that allows the ambient lighting to really highlight the grain of the wood which is nice and then just above it it is a renewable knit material. Down on the center console you have the classic crystal shifter because that is one of the main appeals in the interior of gas-powered Volvos. Over here there's also a slight design difference for the door panel too which you'll see when you look at the previous model for comparison. This example also has the excellent Bowers & Wilkins sound system. I can't stress enough how that is probably the best pick in the class. There is also a new infotainment setup but since it's shared between the two I'll save that talk for the XC40. New sensors and the more powerful operating system means an upgraded safety suite this is Volvo after all. The company says the existing systems now work more naturally plus there's a safe exit assist and 3D around view camera to get a better look at your surroundings. With the big range and tech upgrades not to the arrival of the EX60 Volvo is giving luxury SUV buyers options. Expect the 2028 XC60 to arrive in dealerships early 2027. Now Volvo hasn't forgotten about its littlest gas model either with the XC40 coming in for significant design upgrades not to mention improvements to its safety suite. So starting right off the bat up front you have the deconstructed Thor's hammer headlights which we saw on the XC60 not to mention the slimmer grille with its diagonal elements very similar. Over here on the side we have these 20 inch wheels which are a new design it's kind of a play on the old ones where it's a no better way to explain this kind of a double three-spoke setup which I think looks pretty funky. Of course you also still have the contrast black roof that is dependent on trim. Around back there are also some design changes though probably more subtle. The first thing you'll notice are the redesigned taillights it's more of an abstract simplified version of Volvo's light signature you just have this thin red line here underneath the main section. There is no more curve and I know it doesn't seem like much but if you put a picture of the existing model back to back or side to side with this one you will really see how it's just a lot simpler in its shapes. There's no more little indent here around Volvo and it just emphasizes the width of the XC40 not to mention brings it more in line with its siblings. This is all about a more cohesive full lineup from Volvo. You might notice this B4 badge here we are not getting the B4 engine in North America we will just be getting the B5 and it has a slight upgrade to its total torque now at 266. I'm going to pop this powered lift gate and the space is the same as before it's very flat easy to load but you now have buttons up here for both closing the lift gate and closing and locking it it's just nice to have both. Volvo hasn't dramatically changed much inside the XC40 and honestly it didn't really need to. This is all about just addressing certain aspects that have become a little long in the tooth while maintaining the strengths of this vehicle. For example I still have the integrated trash can feature here which is still so clever not to mention some useful storage behind it. I have the two level cup holders which seems like a minor detail but honestly very clever. What is new is the brown ash wood trim over here and there's some indirect ambient lighting that just highlights it and then of course the cardamom leather seats that we already saw in the XC60. However this is not Nappa leather it's regular leather which also means you're not getting ventilated seating in the XC40 which has been the case the entire existence of the model. The big news in the cabin is the upgrade to the tech suite. I'm going to start with a smaller but still useful upgrade which is the availability of twin wireless chargers. We're seeing that slowly roll out across the industry and it's just helpful but the main event is of course the 11.2 inch touchscreen here in the center. It is canted slightly towards the driver and it's also pushed forward so the whole point here is just to make it easier to use and with this upgrade to the newest infotainment system it is easier to use not just because there's some high res visuals it's because Volvo has made a lot of effort to ensure that I'm not pressing a ton of times to get to any particular feature. If I need to turn off my lane keeping aid or my distraction alert any of that stuff it's just a few clicks away. Google navigation is here because this is a google-based system so you know it's going to be good and you can still beam your navigation directly onto the instrument cluster which I like doing because then it frees up the center screen for audio. Since this is a google system you also have the Gemini AI assistant here which should help for more hands-on driving without having to get distracted by poking around on your screen. Like its big brother the 2028 Volvo XC40 features the upgraded safety suite and will arrive in dealerships early 2027. Do you think these updates will keep these two fresh enough? Let us know in the comments!