Award for Volvo’s flagship model
THE honours keep coming for Volvo’s flagship model as the XC90 Recharge Plug-in Hybrid T8 won the Hybrid SevenSeater of the Year award in the first What Car? Electric Car Awards.
The accolade emphasises the large luxury SUV’s status; it also received ‘best plug-in hybrid’ honours in the general What Car? Awards in both 2019 and 2020, plus the 2019 ‘best used hybrid’ title.
This time the focus is on electrification, where Volvo has taken a market lead in introducing a plug-in hybrid version of every model in its UK line-up.
What Car? describes the XC90 Recharge T8 as an “outstanding plug-in hybrid package” that is “luxurious, spacious and quick”.
Although it is a large vehicle, its pure-electric driving range (officially up to 30 miles) is considered “plenty to electrify most commutes or school runs”, while its powertrain also offers “great performance”.
What Car? reports: “Its practicality and performance make the
XC90 one of the most versatile PHEVs going.”
The plug-in hybrid system combines a 303hp 2.0-litre petrol engine with an 87hp electric motor in what is the most potent powertrain in the XC90 range.
Not only does this enable acceleration from rest to 62mph in 5.8 seconds, its efficiency means CO2 emissions from just 63g/km and fuel economy of 100.9mpg.
Thanks to the low CO2 figures, the XC90 Recharge T8 earns a low benefit-in-kind rating for company car taxation of just 15 or 16 per cent, depending on the car’s equipment grade.
The XC90 Recharge T8 is available in two main grades, RDesign and Inscription, and in higher-specification ‘Pro’ versions of both.
Standard features include a four-zone climate control system, all-wheel drive, power-operated tailgate, LED headlights, heated, power-adjustable front seats, leather upholstery and a rear parking camera.
Sensus connectivity provides a nine-inch touchscreen to co-ordinate the navigation and multimedia functions, access to the Volvo On Call connected services platform and a SIM card with up to 100GB of data.
The Volvo City Safety package of active safety systems is also provided as standard on all versions.
The comfortable and fully flexible interior provides seven individual seats in three rows, together with generous load space that can be extended.
Volvo Car UK commercial operations director Matt Galvin said: “As our flagship model, the XC90 Recharge T8 is the ultimate expression of what we are striving to achieve, in advanced electrified powertrains, design, connectivity, safety and premium quality.”