Volvo XC60 has surpassed the iconic Volvo 240 to become the automaker’s best-selling car of all time. Volvo has sold over 2.7 million units of the SUV. Making its debut in 2008, the XC60 found instant success in the midsize SUV segment. Initially manufactured in Europe, Volvo later shifted the production of the SUV to China. The XC60 was introduced in India in 2017. It was named World Car of the Year in 2018.
Read Also: Tata Harrier EV awarded a 5-star safety rating by BNCAP
Table of Contents
Volvo XC60: The journey so far
For decades, the 240 was Volvo’s highest-selling car in the world. It was introduced in 1974 and quickly became a renowned family car. The 240 set the safety benchmarks in its segment, featuring an advanced body design with front and rear crumple zones and a reinforced passenger compartment. On top of that, it was one of the first Volvo cars to incorporate the Side-Impact Protection System (SIPS). The introduction of the Child Booster Cushion (CBC) on the 240 in 1978 was an innovation at the time.
The Volvo XC60 carried forward the legacy that the 240 set in safety standards. It made its debut with the envelope-pushing ‘City Safety’ feature, which was the world’s first standard low-speed automatic emergency braking system designed to help avoid or mitigate a collision at speeds up to 30 km/h. Since then, this feature has been assimilated by other cars as well.
In 2017, the Volvo XC60 was updated with ‘Oncoming Lane Mitigation’, a feature that steers the car back into its lane if the driver drifts it into oncoming traffic. Like City Safety, Oncoming Lane Mitigation was also ahead of its time.
The latest facelifted version of the Volvo XC60 was unveiled in February 2025. It is available in 2 powertrains. The 2-litre turbo-charged petrol engine with a mild-hybrid system generates a maximum power output of 250hp and 350Nm of torque. It is mated to an 8-speed torque converter gearbox. This is the only powertrain offered in the India-spec version of the SUV. Overseas, the XC60 is also available with a 2-litre twincharged plug-in hybrid engine that produces a maximum power output of 455hp and 640Nm of torque.
Susanne Hägglund, head of Global Offer at Volvo Cars, said, “Growing up in Sweden in the 1980s, the Volvo 240 was the iconic family car – you could spot one in almost every driveway. Today, the XC60 has taken over that position in two ways. Not only as the family favourite, but also 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.”
Read Also: Tata Ace Pro launched at Rs 3.99 lakh, becomes India’s most affordable mini truck
Final Thoughts
The facelifted model of the Volvo XC60 will go on sale globally later this year. The soon-to-be-outgoing model is currently priced at Rs 70.75 lakh in India. The midsize SUV rivals the Audi Q5, BMW X3, Mercedes-Benz GLC, and Jeep Grand Cherokee in India.
