Can the 2026 Volvo XC60 Tow Your Boat to the Cottage?

Gravel roads, a loaded roof box, and a boat trailer waiting at the marina: cottage season in Ontario puts a different kind of stress on an SUV than the daily commute does. If you’re weighing the 2026 Volvo XC60 for that job, the questions are practical: what can it tow, what fits in the back, and which powertrain actually makes sense for the drive up and back.

Why Towing Capability Matters for Cottage Season

A small boat, a utility trailer, or a pair of jet skis all add weight behind the vehicle, and that changes how it brakes, accelerates onto the highway, and handles a loaded ramp. The XC60’s braked towing capacity is rated at 1,580 lbs (717 kg), which covers a lot of the light trailers Ontario cottage owners actually pull: aluminum fishing boats, small pontoon trailers, and utility trailers loaded with dock hardware or firewood.

That number matters more than horsepower alone. All-wheel drive is standard across the XC60 lineup, so a wet boat launch or a gravel cottage road doesn’t depend on which trim you choose. Ground clearance does vary by powertrain: the B5 AWD sits at 209 mm, while the T8 plug-in hybrid and Polestar Engineered sit at 200 mm, a difference worth knowing if your route includes a rutted laneway.

What the 2026 XC60 Brings to the Job

Before comparing powertrains, it helps to see the towing-relevant numbers side by side.

All three share the same 8-speed automatic transmission, standard AWD, hill start assist, and hill descent control, features that matter as much as raw power when you’re backing a trailer down a boat ramp or holding position on an incline at a cottage driveway.

Trailer lamp control and a hands-free power tailgate come standard across the T8 plug-in hybrid lineup, from Core through Polestar Engineered, so wiring up trailer lights and loading gear with your hands full aren’t afterthoughts.

B5 AWD, T8 Plug-in Hybrid, or Polestar Engineered: Matching Powertrain to Your Drive

The B5 AWD’s 247 hp and 266 lb-ft handle a light trailer without strain, and its 209 mm of ground clearance gives it a slight edge on rougher cottage access roads. For a driver towing occasionally, mostly on paved highway with the odd gravel stretch, it’s the simpler, lighter setup at 1,883 kg curb weight.

The T8 plug-in hybrid changes the equation with 455 hp combined and 523 lb-ft of torque, plus a 58 km electric range from its 18.8 kWh battery. That torque advantage shows up pulling out of a boat launch or merging onto the highway with a loaded trailer behind you. For mixed town-and-cottage driving, where you’re running errands on electric power during the week and towing on weekends, the T8 covers both without a fuel stop most weekdays.

The Polestar Engineered shares the T8’s 455 hp powertrain but is tuned as the more performance-oriented variant, with its own chassis calibration and 21-inch wheel package. It suits a driver who wants the plug-in hybrid’s torque and electric range with sharper on-road character, not a dedicated towing upgrade over the standard T8.

Cargo Space and Cabin Comfort for the Trip Up

With the rear seats folded, the B5 AWD offers 965 L of cargo space; the T8 and Polestar Engineered offer 950 L, the difference coming from battery packaging. Behind the rear seats with passengers aboard, it’s 483 L on the B5 and 468 L on the T8 and Polestar Engineered, enough for coolers, bags, and dock gear without folding anything down.

For the highway stretch itself, front legroom of 1,055 mm and a 966 mm headroom figure with the panoramic roof keep taller passengers comfortable over a two-hour drive. A two-zone climate system is standard, with a four-zone system available on Ultra and above for rear passengers who want their own settings.

Which Trim Fits Your Towing Needs

Core covers the essentials: AWD, the panoramic roof, wireless phone charging, and the 8-speed automatic with hill descent control, enough for occasional towing without added cost. Plus brings a 360-degree camera and Pilot Assist, useful when backing a trailer down a narrow ramp. Ultra adds a head-up display, four-zone climate, and ventilated leather, aimed at drivers who spend more time in the cabin than most weekend towers do.

The Black Edition Ultra and Polestar Engineered sit at the top of their respective lineups, layering styling and chassis differences onto the same underlying towing numbers.

Can the XC60 Tow a Small Boat?

Yes, within its 1,580 lbs (717 kg) braked rating. Most aluminum fishing boats and small trailers on their own or loaded with light gear fall inside that limit, though the total weight of boat, trailer, and gear together is what counts against the rating.

Does the Plug-in Hybrid Lose Towing Capacity to the Battery?

No. The T8 plug-in hybrid and Polestar Engineered share the same 1,580 lbs (717 kg) braked towing figure as the B5 AWD, so choosing the hybrid for its torque and electric range doesn’t cost you towing capability.

Getting the Right XC60 for Your Cottage Season

The 2026 XC60 pairs standard AWD, a 1,580 lb (717 kg) braked towing rating, and up to 965 L of cargo space with a choice of three powertrains built for different mixes of towing, commuting, and highway driving.

Visit Volvo Cars Oakville in Oakville to sit in the B5 AWD and T8 plug-in hybrid side by side and find the setup that matches your cottage route this season.