Volvo X60 Recharge crossover comes with plug-in hybrid system
Volvo’s XC60 premium compact crossover now comes in a “Recharge” version, featuring a plug-in hybrid drive system, and it has been upgraded for 2022 to give it extended battery range.
The XC60 Recharge model is included in the second generation of the XC60, introduced four years ago.
This year, the XC60 Recharge T8 Inscription Extended Range model (base price $62,250 plus $1,095 freight), which we tested, is a fun ride thanks to its total of 455 horsepower and 523 foot-pounds of torque.
That comes from its combination of a 2.0-liter turbocharged four-cylinder gasoline engine and a 143-horsepower electric motor. The gasoline engine by itself is rated at 312 horsepower. Power on our tester was supplied by an eight-speed Geartronic automatic transmission driving the front wheels, and the electric motor powering the rear wheels, giving the car allwheel drive.
Electric-only range with the improved long-range battery is now an EPA estimated 35-41 miles when driven in pure mode, on a single full charge. Volvo says that owners with access to charging at home or at their workplaces can use battery power for the majority of their routine daily driving.
All Recharge T8 models also qualify for the full $7,500 federal tax credit.
Volvo says the new battery has an added third layer of cells to increase nominal energy from 11.6 kwh to 18.8 kwh.
The electric motor also was boosted in power from the previous model’s 87 hp. Besides the new powertrain, upgrades include one-pedal drive capability on XC60 and S90 Recharge models.
That extra power from the electric motor increased power to the rear wheels by about 65 percent, enhancing performance and drivability, as well as improving the allwheel-drive capabilities.
One-pedal drive, already a feature on all-electric
Volvo vehicles, allows the driver to control acceleration and braking using only the accelerator pedal. Just as in the Nissan Leaf electric car we recently tested, this feature uses so-called regenerative braking – back pressure from the electric motor in braking mode – to stop the car without having to depress the brake pedal.
It takes a little bit of practice, as we learned on the Leaf, but is a useful feature.
Volvo says the extra battery capacity also helps on cold winter days and hot summer days when accessories – such as heating and air conditioning – tend to gobble up battery power. Drivers can pre-heat or pre-cool the cabin remotely
via the Volvo Cars app while maintaining all-electric driving range.
The XC60 Recharge model’s turbocharged T8 gasoline engine has also been upgraded to provide better fuel efficiency and performance. That includes reduced tailpipe emissions.
EPA ratings on our XC60 Recharge T8 were 65 mpg-e (primary electric driving), and overall regular combined mpg of 28, using gasoline and electric drive together.
It’s in the lineup along with the regular gasoline XC60 models, which begin at
The Volvo XC60 Recharge plug-in hybrid is part of the second generation XC60 compact crossover, introduced for 2018.