Swede success

The latest Volvo XC90 mixes sensible design with attractive looks and is even more spacious and practical than the old car, as discovered

Volvo’s XC90 has been around for a little over a year, but in that time, it’s already secured a stack of awards and is proving hugely popular with buyers too but now the crowing glory of the XC90 range has arrived in the shape of the T8 model.

Combining a 2.0-litre petrol engine that is both turbocharged and supercharged, with an electric motor and battery pack makes the T8 a plug-in hybrid, and one that has the potential to deliver some impressive performance and economy figures.

Looks and image

Only the keenest of eyes will be able to distinguish the T8 from its conventional siblings. This car then doesn’t make a fuss about its capabilities; it is as discreetly handsome as all the other XC90S you can buy. Where much of the competition has decided that bold or even brash is the way to design a large SUV, the more subtle Volvo approach is welcome. Space and practicality It’s not just a pretty face however, as the XC90 is even more of a family wagon than before. Up front there’s acres of space, the second row is comfortable and spacious too while the third row is one of the more useful in the class car sorts out the best use of energy for itself, pure which uses electric only, power mode where both petrol engine and electric motor work at the same time to give four-wheeldrive and finally save mode, where the battery’s charge is maintained until you choose to use it. In hybrid mode, the petrol engine is dormant at low speeds and while the battery is charged, but should you prod the accelerator hard enough, it chimes in seamlessly. You can charge the battery pack by careful use of the brakes, helping it to reach the claimed electric-only range of 27 miles. On the flip side, in power mode the T8 is something of subtle rocket ship.

Who would buy one?

There’s no doubt the T8 is a relatively expensive car, £60,455 in Momentum guise as tested here, but whatever your combination of kids and adults, the XC90 T8 can cope with it, making it a superb family vehicle. On the other hand, if you have to commute, having that saved electric mode is a handy bonus, especially as you can relax in the sumptuous cabin while you do it. It’s a luxury car for sure, but one that justifies the expense.