Volvo lead the charge to an electric future T

ESTING new cars for a living, I notice the gathering pace of change and innovation as we race towards the future of automotive transportation.

And no manufacturer is more at the forefront of innovation than Volvo - who have always been known for breaking new ground in terms of safety and reliability.

But now they are leading the way with alternative powertrains, like in this week’s test car the new XC60 T8 Twin Engine Auto Inscription Pro.

A plug-in hybrid, the ‘twin engines’ are a fairly conventional 1969cc four cylinder turbo petrol driving the front wheels and an electric motor driving the rear.

Again nothing new there, hybrids and electric cars have been with us for a while now but it is the way this car delivers the power and the power that it can muster, some 400bhp, that makes it stand out.

The T8 is fast - really fast - 0 to 60 in 4.9 seconds and frugal - really frugal - with Volvo claiming a combined mpg of over 134! All in a large-ish SUV which weighs in at over two tonnes.

Not only that but the 86 bhp electric motor will power you on a single overnight charge for around 25 miles up to speeds of 80mph. None of this petrol engine cutting in the moment you go to overtake or pass 30mph.

This means, if like me you have an average UK commute to work of under 20 miles, you can get to work and, if a powerpoint is available, back using much, much cheaper electricity than that increasingly expensive petrol stuff.

And when you do boot it and the petrol engine cuts in it is seamless - the only indication being on your dashboard as the Volvo engineers have made the unit very quiet unless pushed hard.

Now I know what you are thinking - top-of-the-range spec Volvo with hybrid power has got to be very expensive. Well not so as our test car starts from £43,355, while non-hybrid XC60s can be had from £35,655.

Also, unlike boxy Volvos of the past, this smart SUV is a real looker - with loads of road presence, space and cutting edge design. Gone is the somewhat rounded design of the old XC60 to be replaced with more bold, striking lines.

The kit list on every XC60 is also impressive, with standard across the range equipment like a large central infotainment touch screen with DAB radio and sat nav, voice control, Sensus Connect, LED headlights, power tailgate, leather seats (heated at the front) and 18” alloy wheels.

On top of all that there is, as you would expect from Volvo, a raft of safety systems including City Safety with Steer Assist, Oncoming Lane Mitigation, Runoff road protection and airbags everywhere, plus four driving modes - pure electric, power, hybrid and 4x4.

The T8 is only available in the two range-topping trims – Inscription Pro or R-Design Pro and Our Inscription Pro added luxury touches like cooled front seats with memory and massage functions and air suspension.

And included in over £10,000 worth of optional extras on our car were a power glass panoramic sunroof, 360 degree camera system, park and pilot assist, adaptive cruise control and a head up display.

So with all this on offer and Volvo’s best in the business safety and build quality the latest XC60 is sure to be a strong contender in the upmarket, midsize SUV market.

More info at www.volvo.co.uk