Volvo calls it a bridge to full electrification. But with a battery big enough to eclipse most rivals and a petrol engine kept firmly in reserve, Volvo’s new PHEVs look more like a remedy for a slower-than-hoped EV transition. Nevertheless, the figures are impressive.
Volvo has launched plug-in hybrid versions of its XC60 and XC90 SUVs which are labeled ‘Long Range’. These have enough battery capacity to make most daily commutes petrol-free.
Same battery
The XC60 now claims up to 200 kilometers of WLTP electric range, more than double that of the outgoing model. The heavier XC90 manages up to 160 kilometers from the same battery.
The strategy is curious. Deliveries of the fully electric EX60 have just started and keep the production lines running extra hours because of overwhelming demand.
But rather than gently guiding buyers towards its new battery-electric flagship, Volvo is simultaneously offering what may well be the most capable plug-in hybrid in the mid-size SUV class.
Volvo’s trick
Until their arrival, Volvo’s plug-in hybrids proved respectable but hardly class-leading. The outgoing T8 variants used an 18.8 kWh battery good for roughly 80 kilometers on a sunny day.
The new long-range models jump to a whopping 41.2 kWh. Don’t forget that some smaller EVs on the low end of the market boast even less capacity than this. Dacia Spring? 24.3 kWh. ID.Polo? 37 kWh. Renault 4? 40 kWh.
Volvo’s trick for that increase in capacity is moving the battery from inside the transmission and boot cavity to integration in the floor, harnassing more of the available space.
The electric motor, too, gets a hike and now produces 177 hp and 309 Nm, up substantially from 145 hp before. System output rises to 357 hp for the T6 and 461 hp for the T8, the latter comfortably outgunning most hot hatches.
Beating the competition
The petrol engine remains a 2.0-litre four-cylinder for when the battery runs dry, but disciplined charging will restrict its rumble to long-distance travel.
The XC60’s 200 km figure pushes the model past the Mercedes GLC 350e (130 km) and well beyond the BMW X3 xDrive30e (90 km) or Audi Q5 eHybrid (90 km) in this segment. Not different is the headstart for the XC90, which surpasses its closest rival in range, the BMW X5 xDrive50e (110 km) by 50 kilometers.
Whether owners actually see 160 or 200 kilometers in winter traffic is another matter, but even a realistic 100 to 150 kilometer is still more than generous.
On the other hand, with daily commutes in Belgium averaging a little over 40 kilometers, one can wonder if the boost in electric range isn’t more about technical prowess than practical everyday comfort.
No design change for XC90
Alongside its new powertrain, the XC60 receives a thorough visual overhaul: new front and rear ends, reshaped Thor’s Hammer LED headlights, a redesigned dashboard and an 11.2-inch infotainment screen running Google Gemini.
The XC90, by contrast, gets the long-range hardware without any cosmetic changes.
In Belgium, the new XC60 T6 Long Range opens at €66,990, the T8 at €81,190, and the XC90 T8 Long Range at €95,490.
