Enlarge / The styling changes to the Volvo XC60 as part of its midlife refresh are much more subtle than the engineering changes. (credit: Jonathan Gitlin)

Back in 2018 we tested the Volvo XC60 plug-in hybrid, Sweden’s midsize electrified crossover. A handsome thing, it has mostly supplanted the trusty Volvo station wagon, as car buyers prefer the loftier driving position but want to keep a generous cargo capacity and a handy rear hatch. Last year, Volvo gave the crossover its midlife refresh, adding a hefty bump in battery capacity—and therefore electric driving range—in the process.

At the time, I wrote that the XC60 made a compelling case for itself, but is that still true five years later?

Visually, the Volvo’s facelift appears extremely subtle. The XC60 was already a handsome-looking machine—I find most of the current Volvos to be easy on the eyes—but to be honest I would struggle to tell you what has changed when comparing photos of the older and newer cars. It’s perhaps a case of “don’t fix it if it’s not broken.”