A Volvo can be an attractive buy – they’re stylish, practical, well-built and luxurious.
But what if you want all this wrapped up in a more economical package in the form of an EV or a plug-in hybrid? What options from Volvo do you have?
Twin-engine T8
Volvo’s T8 setup is comprised of a 2.0-litre turbocharged and supercharged four-cylinder petrol engine mated to a powerful electric motor – with the powertrain is available on several models, such as the XC90, XC60 and S90. The powertrain is designed to offer environmentally-friendly performance, meaning you’ll still get high MPG and low CO2 emissions, despite the power unit developing 407bhp. And all you have to remember to do is fuel it and plug it in every now and again.
Twin-engine T6/T5/T4
If crazy performance isn’t quite what you’re after when looking at a new Volvo, then the T6 and T5 hybrids may be for you. Although both still utilize a 2.0-litre supercharged and turbocharged petrol unit, plus an electric motor, the T6 doesn’t produce as much power as it’s more potent counterpart – 316bhp to be exact. That’s still enough to make the large XC90 SUV feel rather quick.
In regards to the T5 and T4, these twin-engine plug-in hybrids aren’t available just yet, but will be an option with the XC40 and other models in the future.
Models
As stated previously, Volvo offers plug-in hybrid options across its line-up. Currently, you can get a Twin-Engine power unit on the XC90, XC60, V90, V60 and S90 – with further additions to follow. The T8 is the most widely available, with the T6, T5 and T4 Twin Engines being steadily introduced to the range.
Take the XC90 T8 engine for example, and the large SUV offers claimed figures of 134mpg and 49g/km of CO2. These will vary slightly depending on the specific model the engine is fitted to.
Upcoming EVs
As of this being written, Volvo doesn’t have any sole electric vehicles in its range. However, the firm is planning to introduce some very soon. Polestar, an electrified performance brand owned by Volvo, has just revealed an all-electric car named the Polestar 2. Furthermore, it’s been said an XC40 EV is on its way, along with the next-generation XC90 potentially getting an electric version.
The Swedish brand has also openly spoken about the future of its EVs, as by 2025, Volvo predicts that around 50 per cent of annual sales will be fully-electric vehicles.
