The Volvo XC60 has been one of the Swedish brand's best sellers in SA. It is now even more appealing with the addition of a full plug-in hybrid model in the form of the T8.
In this article:
High-grade plug-in power
As European emissions standards continue to get stricter and stricter, automakers are ramping up their commitment to a greener and more efficient vehicles. Fully electric battery-powered vehicles are still mostly outside the wheelhouse of many drivers and many of said drivers are still not completely convinced about the technology. The answer here is the hybrid, hybrid drivetrains give nervous car buyers the best of both worlds.
In the world of hybrids, you get a few options and each manufacturer has its own take on the technology. Volvo has opted to go the route of the PHEV (Plug-in Hybrid Electric Vehicle) and it is rather fascinating how well this system works. We spent a week plying the roads of Gauteng to find out if the drive is as good as an ICE vehicle and if the savings are real.
Styling
The T8 XC60 is now even smarter than ever on the inside but from the outside, it still looks the same as its fully iCE compatriots. The only dead giveaway is the extra fuel filler tab on the front fender that alludes to the fact that this is an alternative drive vehicle. LED lighting smartens up the exterior styling and despite the very large wheels the XC60 does have some offroad chops and can, at a pinch, tackle gravel and doe shave the styling to do just that.
Space & Interior
The interior of the Volvo XC60 is layered in soft supple leather with piano black and brushed aluminium trim, Space is optimum for passengers with plenty of legroom and shoulder room. The luggage area is ample with 468l in the PHEV due to the battery pack versus the 505l in the standard petrol derivative. The rear seat is a 60/40 split affair and with a lip less hatch opening you can easily load the rear compartment.
Comfort & Convenience
Like other XC60 derivatives, the T8 AWD ships standard with the company’s market-leading Android-powered infotainment system, complete with built-in Google apps and services. That means you can use the “Hey Google” voice function to perform tasks such as switching on the air conditioning or getting a weather forecast. This particular test unit is furthermore fitted with air suspension, a graphical head-up display, a 360-degree camera system and the Pilot Assist system. The latter incorporates adaptive cruise-control technology that automatically makes small adjustments to the steering and is able to support the driver in stop-and-go traffic as well as out on the highway.
Performance
As the flagship variant in the strong-selling XC60 range, the plug-in hybrid T8 AWD boasts lofty combined peak outputs of 340 kW and 709 Nm, courtesy of the turbo- and supercharged 2.0-litre petrol engine, and an uprated electric motor positioned on the rear axle. That makes it the most powerful XC60 yet.
Thanks to its 18.8 kWh lithium-ion battery (which can be charged via a cable or regenerative braking), the XC60 T8 AWD’s pure electric range tops out at a useful 81 km. It also boasts a clever one-pedal driving mode – just like a fully electric vehicle – that allows the driver to slow the vehicle to a complete stop by simply lifting off the accelerator.
The XC60 T8 AWD offers the best of both worlds, with its 0-100 km/h sprint time coming in at just 4.8 seconds.
Fuel Economy
Volvo claims a combined fuel consumption of an unbelievable 1.6 L/100 km (the latter a weighted figure between electric and petrol driving according to EU/WLTP regulations for PHEV vehicles). However here in the real world you can expect 60 odd km of full-electric range and 620km of petrol range. Combine these and you can expect, with conservative driving and regenerative braking, just shy of 1000km of range on a single tank of fuel and charging at home everyday,
Safety
Standard safety equipment includes the Intellisafe Assist package with pedestrian, cyclist and large-animal detection as well as front and rear collision warning with full automatic braking and a lane-keeping aid.
Price
The Volvo range is considered an upper premium brand in SA and all the luxury and technology do come at a premium price. Throw in the hybrid system, charging port and battery pack and you push the price up past a million, very close to that of the smaller XC40 P6 full electric but with the PHEV you get the peace of mind of the petrol engine running in tandem.
Model | Price (incl. VAT) |
Volvo XC60 B5 Momentum | R 796 900 |
Volvo XC60 B6 AWD Inscription | R 1 058 200 |
Volvo XC60 T8 Recharge AWD R-Design | R 1 278 900 |
Volvo XC60 T8 Recharge AWD Inscription | R 1 282 400 |
5 practical accessories you can retrofit to your used Volvo XC60
Competitors
The only true competitor to the XC60 T8 here in SA is the Jaguar E-Pace P300e.
Verdict
This variant can be seen as an attractive first step for South Africans who are considering making the switch to an electric or indeed those who used to drive diesel vehicles, combining ultra-low tailpipe emissions with brisk performance, they can expect invaluable savings during the daily commute.
Keyword: Volvo XC60 T8 Recharge AWD R-Design (2022) Review