Volvo Car USA announced today details for the Swedish manufacturer’s 2026 lineup of hybrid vehicles in the U.S., highlighted by introducing two major tech upgrades and updates to one of the company’s best-selling SUVs.
For the 2026 model year, every new Volvo car will come equipped with Volvo’s next-generation user experience, Volvo Car UX.
Designed to make interacting with the Volvo car more intuitive and enjoyable, it allows drivers to focus on what matters most and access what they need easily, when they need it.
Already seen in the EX90, EX30, and new XC90, Volvo Car UX was developed to make complex tasks simple, using real-world data and customer feedback, ensuring customers can interact with their Volvo car in a safe and enjoyable way.
Later in 2025, Volvo Cars will deliver this to existing Volvo cars with Google built-in*. Through a simple over-the-air software update, around 2.5 million customers around the globe will get an upgrade to their vehicles built as early as 2020**.
Faster, More Responsive Infotainment
Another major upgrade is the introduction of the next-generation Snapdragon® Cockpit Platform from Qualcomm Technologies.
This enhancement makes Volvo Cars’ Google Android Automotive-based infotainment system more than twice as fast as outgoing models, with graphics generation up to 10 times faster.
The result is a more responsive infotainment system that displays the correct information at the right time, helping decrease distraction and create safer drivers.
Already available on the EX90 and EX30, this upgrade will expand to the 2026 Volvo Cars lineup, enabling more personalised and continuously upgradeable premium in-car experiences.
A Refreshed Bestseller
For the 2026 model year, Volvo Cars’ global top-selling XC60 receives a significant refresh, highlighted by key updates to user experience, design, and comfort, alongside a faster and more responsive infotainment system.
Focused on the areas that matter most to customers, the refreshed XC60’s interior features several enhancements that build upon the SUV’s timeless Scandinavian design.
Equipped with a larger 11.2-inch, free-standing centre screen, customers will benefit from improved user experience and clarity, thanks to a 21 per cent higher pixel density than outgoing models.
The XC60 remains versatile and practical, thanks to smart storage, new cupholders, and an improved wireless phone charger. A mix of fresh interior decor, inlays, and upholsteries, such as Quilted Nordico and Navy Herringbone Weave, also complements it.
The exterior of the XC60 features a new air intake, first seen on the new XC90, that accentuates the strength of Volvo’s iconic diagonal.
This signature design element has appeared on nearly every Volvo car since its founding in 1927. The refresh also includes new wheel options and darker rear lights.
Named World Car of the Year in 2018, the current generation XC60 has sold more than 1.5 million units worldwide, with 2024 marking the model’s best year to date.
Additional Enhancements Across the Lineup
Adaptive cruise control is now standard across the entire U.S. lineup. It allows each car’s suite of sensors to constantly scan the road, automatically adjusting speed and distance relative to vehicles ahead.
The popular Black Edition styling option is now available on the XC40 and XC60. Already offered with Onyx Black, the option will also be available with Crystal White, Vapour Grey, and Denim Blue exterior colours.
Volvo Cars has also introduced two new exterior colours – Forest Lake, a semi-dark green metallic with an elegant turquoise sparkle when exposed to sunlight and Aurora silver, a futuristic silver metallic with a balanced purple tint.