Used correctly, this Volvo has a recharge advantage
Volvo calls its ‘Recharge’ plug-in system Twin Engine. It marries Volvo’s handy 233 kilowatt 400 Newton-metre turbo and supercharged 2-litre petrol four-pot with 107 kW and 309 Nm of electric gubbins to deliver a staunch 340 kW and 709 Nm total output.
That turns all four wheels via the Swedish brand’s loyal Geartronic 8-speed auto with ERAD electric rear axle all-wheel drive to deliver a claimed 4.8 second zero to 100 km/h run while sipping 1.6* litres per 100 km and emitting 37* grams of carbon per kilometre. All very impressive and awesome on the road. But be warned, plug-in driving is an acquired taste!
Be warned: plug-in driving is an acquired taste
It is said that a frightening proportion of plug-in hybrids run around without their batteries ever being charged these days. Why? Well ‘they’ say that it soon becomes too much of a hassle to recharge, because people simply become too lazy to plug their PHIV car into its socket every night. And because the car is more than good enough running just on gas, after all. Intrigued we depleted the battery and tested our XC60 Recharge without that fabled electric assistance.
Indeed, there was hardly a difference, maybe a tenth of a second to 100 km/h. But there was a noticeable improvement in overtaking acceleration and at the top end of the performance envelope. Nothing you’d really feel in the seat of the pants though. The point of the PHIV is however that it can drive up to 50 km on electric power only. Which is pretty handy, especially if you have a decent solar set-up at home. Or free volts at the office. Means zero fuel costs, if you live less than 25 km from work.
But there’s a rider. See that asterisk on this, and all Volvo PHIV energy claims? Well that’s thanks to yours truly. Ignorance is bliss, but taken at face value, this car’s 1.9* litre per 100 km claim, and 71-litre fuel tank suggests that old Recharge will travel an absurd distance. It won’t. And when we a decade or so ago proved that by struggling to get 400 km out of an XC90 Recharge versus its mad claim on the long road, there was a hell of a hullabaloo. How could we possibly make such an absurd accusation, Volvo demanded?
Why Recharge economy claims have a rider
Well, the long and short of it was that we stood our ground, Volvo replicated our trip, well proving our objections. And the asterisk has been there ever since. Yes, around town, you can quite happily achieve zero gas driving. In the correct circumstances, driving it can cost you nothing. But that’s only around town. For the rest, the Recharge is pretty damn good all on its petrol lonesome. So unless you make that effort to plug it in every night, or all day at the office garage, why bother going PHIV at all? That’s entirely up to you!
For the rest, the Volvo XC60 Recharge is a pretty compelling package. Still familiar after all these years, our sea blue machine looks very much the part with those Thor DRLs, and smart five-spoke alloys wrapped in Michelin rubber. Look there’s nothing new to look at, but that doesn’t really matter. Volvo arrived at a pretty timeless design for its SUVs closing on a decade back. It’s aged pretty well. As they say, if it ain’t broke, why fix it? Time is treating it well.
World Car of the Year back in 2018, it has a 98% Adult Occupant Euro NCAP crash test result to keep it among the safest cars ever built. That thanks to a super-strong shell, and the rest. This one packs in Volvo’s Intellisafe Assist bus including City Safety with pedestrian, cyclist and large animal detection and front and rear collision warning with full auto brake. Add Intelligent Driver Information and Road Sign Information and Aid. But what about no buttons. Watch this space!
Talking to your Recharge can be fun
It’s supremely equipped throughout with four-way power adjustable lumbar ventilated and heated front seats, and dual-zone climate control. Add keyless entry with remote tag and handsfree tailgate opening, Gen 3 front and rear parking assistance comes with a fancy reversing camera, all supported by Volvo On Call. And Volvo’s latest Android-powered iCUP infotainment with Google Automotive Services is lurking behind the familiar portrait infotainment screen.
The Google bit is fun and welcome to those who like to talk to their cars. That may have once been a taboo, but talking to cars seems all the rage these days. Volvo promises it will seamlessly integrate you, your car, and your life, like never before. Just ask, ‘Hey Google, what’s the weather like today, hey Google, turn on the air conditioner, open Spotify, how much range do I have left, or where’s the closest recharging station?” And hey presto, your Volvo becomes your driving secretary too.
That despite the mostly buttonless and knob-free Volvo system forcing you to delve deep into a mire of windows to access menial tasks that a simple button could do so much better. It baffles us that using cell phones is banned in cars Yet the cars themselves have significantly more difficult to operate systems like this? Let’s wait and see how Volvo combats losing precious safety stars once Euro NCAP starts docking them on idiot systems like this from 2026.
Recharge power and torque really delivers
All that power and torque delivers too. The VBox measured our charged-up test run to be all but a hundredth of a second off Volvo’s claim. Which would have made it the fastest SUV on the block just fifteen years ago. Follow the Auto test history link at the bottom of the data to see for yourself. The XC60 Recharge also sounds good. Really good when asked. Makes a heartening gruff thrum.
Quiet, unassuming, and solid on the road, with the ability also to growl and run like a rocket, the XC60 has never skimped on ride quality, which remains exceptional. Progressive handling and road-holding makes it a pleasure to drive, wherever or however you drive it. Even if hampered a touch by a wooden steering feel. In fact, all this electrified ‘Twin Engine’ Volvo did was to reaffirm how good the Volvo XC60 is.
All in all the Volvo XC60 Recharge, and any plug-in hybrid for that matter, is a bit of a conundrum. On the one hand, used correctly it brings zero gas urban driving. Especially so if you happen to have a proper clean energy system where you park it. But it also takes commitment from the owner or driver to make that work. And that seems to be coming a bit of a thing, according to ‘them’.
An excellent X3, GLC, Q5 or Macan rival, the plug-in Volvo may have its charging challenges. But then so do all its PHIV rivals. Visit your nearest Volvo dealership before you make that next a mid-executive SUV decision. This Volvo would be a damn good call. – Michele Lupini
Images & testing: Giordano Lupini
ROAD TESTED: Volvo XC60 T8 Twin Engine Ultimate
Total Output: 340 kW 709 Nm hybrid
Engine: 233 kW 400 Nm 2-litre turbo SC petrol I4
Motor: 107 kW 309 Nm electric
Drive: 8-speed automatic hybrid AWD
TESTED:
0-60km/h: 2.39 sec
0-100km/h: 4.81 sec
0-120 km/h 6.41 sec
0-160km/h: 10.59 sec
400m: 12.9 sec @ 177km/h
80-120km/h: 2.97 sec
120-160km/h: 4.17 sec
CLAIMED:
VMax: 180 km/h
Fuel: *1.6 l/100km
CO2: *37 g/km
Range: 50 km electric, 1050 km total
Warranty/Service: 5y 100K/5y 100Kkm
LIST PRICE: R1.39M
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