2022 Volvo XC60, XC90 Recharge plug-in hybrids get bigger batteries, more power
A higher-capacity battery and more potent rear electric motor boost power and range in Volvo's plug-in hybrid SUVs, due in Australia in early 2022.
Volvo has announced updates to plug-in hybrid versions of its 60 Series and 90 Series cars and SUVs – with the upgrades due in Australia early next year as the 2022 Volvo XC60 Recharge and 2022 Volvo XC90 Recharge.
The XC60 and XC90 Recharge plug-in hybrids (PHEVs) – along with Volvo’s wider 60 and 90 Series ranges in Europe – benefit from a larger, more energy dense battery pack offering 18.8kWh of capacity (up from 11.6kWh), and a more powerful rear electric motor now developing 107kW (up from 65kW).
The PHEVs are available in less potent ‘T6’ and range-topping ‘T8’ power levels in Europe, though only the more powerful of the two will come to Australia, with the sport-themed R-Design package to be offered as standard locally.
The upgrades see outputs increase to 335kW and 709Nm – up from 287kW and 640Nm in European markets, 300kW/640Nm in current Australian ‘T8’ models, or 311kW/670Nm in the now-defunct XC60 Polestar Engineered (which will be discontinued to make way for the new power-boosted Recharge variant).
The electrical components are paired to a circa-230kW 2.0-litre turbocharged and supercharged petrol engine, as before, driving all four wheels through an eight-speed automatic transmission.
Volvo claims a 5.4-second 0-100km/h dash in the XC90, or 4.9 seconds in the XC60 – the latter making the medium SUV not only one of the most powerful, but also one of the quickest cars the company has ever built.
Driving range according to Europe’s WLTP cycle increases to 68km in the XC90 Recharge T8 (up from around 48km), or 76km in the XC60 – up from 52km in the outgoing T8, or approximately 45km in the Polestar Engineered.
The same Recharge T8 powertrain in the S60 sedan can deliver a 4.6-second 0-100km/h sprint time, and a 90km WLTP electric range – the former just two tenths down on a petrol-only BMW M340i xDrive, and the latter on par with the new Mercedes-Benz C300e’s 89-100km range. It’s understood there are no plans to bring the updated hybrid S60 to Australia, after the T8 was discontinued earlier this year.
Other improvements as part of the Recharge powertrain update include refined all-wheel-drive capability in low-grip situations, the addition of one-pedal driving functionality (though initially only on the XC60), cabin pre-heating or cooling functionality via a smartphone app, and greater engine power at low revs from the 2.0-litre petrol engine.
Pricing for Australia has yet to be revealed, however expect mild price bumps over the outgoing XC90 Recharge Plug-in Hybrid and pre-facelift XC60 Polestar Engineered, which cost $116,990 and $100,690 before on-road costs respectively.
Standard equipment levels in the XC90 should be similar to the current Model Year 2022 Recharge PHEV, though the XC60 will lose its predecessor’s Polestar performance components in favour of more luxury features expected to include a panoramic sunroof and 15-speaker Bowers & Wilkins sound system.
Production of the 2022 Volvo XC60 Recharge Plug-in Hybrid and 2022 Volvo XC90 Recharge Plug-in Hybrid will commence by the end of 2021, ahead of first customer deliveries in early 2022. Stay tuned to Drive for all the latest