THE SMARTER UTILITY VEHICLE (some text hidden) SECTIONED_new_volvoxc60phev_2024

By Jonathan Crouch

Volvo's XC60 is at its cleverest - and priciest - in Recharge T8 Plug-in hybrid form. Jonathan Crouch drives the revised version

Ten Second Reviewword count: 82

The top Recharge T8 plug-in hybrid version of Volvo's XC60 mid-sized premium SUV combines turbocharging, supercharging and electrification for potentially astonishing efficiency returns, despite this Swedish crossover's huge power output. There's a significant price to pay for this technology and you'll need to tailor your motoring life to suit what this car can offer but if you can deal with these caveats, then this is a potentially very likeable package, especially in this improved 18.8kWh model with its much higher EV range.

Backgroundword count: 169

Quite a few brands have only recently jumped aboard the plug-in hybrid bandwagon but Volvo has long planned for it. The company's current petrol and diesel cars are all based around a single 2.0-litre four cylinder engine block unveiled by Volvo's then R&D Chief Peter Mertens way back in 2011. It was a configuration fundamentally designed around the requirements for plug-in tech and as a result, Volvo was quickly able to launch plug-in electrified versions of all its larger models, including the XC60 mid-sized SUV we feature here. Since then, plug-in variants of rival Audi Q5, BMW X3 and Mercedes GLC rival SUVs have also hit the market. Can this XC60 Recharge Plug-in hybrid still appeal in that company? Well its much more competitive since an Autumn 2021 update which saw the original 11.6kWh drive battery replaced by a much larger 18.8kWh unit delivering a big boost in EV drive range. Plus, as part of a mid-term model update, this car's been embellished with extra media and safety technology.

Driving Experienceword count: 315

Under the bonnet of the Recharge Plug-in hybrid AWD XC60 models, you'll find a 2.0-litre turbocharged and supercharged petrol engine which is now mated to an 145hp electric motor sited on the back axle (updated from 87hp as part of this mid-term update). The main powerplant comes in two levels of output: 350hp for the base Recharge T6 or 455hp for the Recharge T8 version. In each case, the set-up is aided by a 25bhp starter motor/generator that pitches in from time to time to smooth any gaps in torque delivery between the two main power sources. It's all enough to deliver a set of stats that it's rather hard to get your head around. In the case of the T8 variant we tried, an enormous 455bhp combined power output offsets the extra weight of all these mechanicals, so 62mph from rest can still be dispatched in just 4.9s. Yet there's also the potential for the kind of fuel and CO2 readings that theoretically could better those of a frugal supermini. Which of those two extremes you reach in an XC60 T8 will depend on your choice between the five driving settings that owners of all XC60 Plug-in hybrid models are offered. Ultimate speed is delivered by a 'Power' mode that sees both petrol and electric units permanently working together. Alternatively, there are four other drive choices: a 'Hybrid' setting that sees the two engines cutting in and out as necessary: a 'Constant AWD' mode that gives you permanent 4x4 traction: plus a 'Pure' electric setting that only uses the battery power and can take you up to 49.7 miles (more than most people's daily commuting distance) on a single charge. There's even a 'Save' option so that on a longer trip, you can hold that charge until you get to the city driving you might have to do at the end of the journey.

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