Plug-in hybrids are a great option for those who have smaller commutes but want the flexibility of having a petrol engine on standby for those longer journeys.
They’ve become particularly popular with the company car market too, thanks to their low CO2 emissions which helps to give them a low benefit-in-kind (BIK) percentage – meaning affordable company car tax bills.
And a firm that’s right at the helm of plug-in hybrids is Volvo. It was the first to offer a PHEV derivative of every model it sells, and it has one of the most comprehensive electrified line-ups of any manufacturer.
But what’s available? Here’s a quick look at Volvo’s range.
S60 T8 – from £45,230
Electric range: 36-37 miles
BIK: 10 per cent
CO2 emissions: 38-47g/km
The compact executive market has various plug-in hybrid saloons, such as the Mercedes C300e and BMW 330e – and now, Volvo has an electrified version of its stylish S60. Producing 390bhp with the T8 powertrain, it’s impressively quick as well as efficient, managing 0-60mph in just 4.4 seconds. A stylish Polestar Engineered trim also offers a sportier drive for £5,000 extra.
Enquire on a new Volvo S60S90 T8 – from £55,305
Electric range: 37 miles
BIK: 10 per cent
CO2 emissions: 44g/km
The S90 is Volvo’s first model to be sold only with plug-in hybrid powertrains, with the firm removing the petrol and diesel options from the range as part of an update in 2020. This BMW 5 Series-rivalling saloon has a high-quality interior and looks superb as well.
Enquire on a new Volvo S90V60 T6 – from £45,230
Electric range: 33-34 miles
BIK: 10 per cent
CO2 emissions: 42g/km
The V60 is the first Volvo to be available with a pair of PHEV powertrains, with a new T6 powertrain being introduced in 2020 as a more affordable and efficient option. It’s essentially the T8 powertrain, but the 2.0-litre petrol engine has been detuned by 50bhp to allow for lower running costs.
V60 T8 – from £51,530
Electric range: 37 miles
BIK: 10 per cent
CO2 emissions: 50g/km
If you want something a little bit more powerful than the T6 PHEV in Volvo’s spacious V60 estate, you should consider the T8. With this model, it’s only available in a flagship Polestar Engineered grade, which brings sporty styling cues and performance enhancements to make it better to drive. In terms of performance, the T8 is 0.8 seconds quicker to 60mph – reaching it in just 4.4 seconds.
Enquire on a new Volvo V60V90 T6 – from £55,305
Electric range: 36 miles
BIK: 10 per cent
CO2 emissions: 47-48g/km
Volvo is perhaps best-known for producing incredibly spacious estate cars, and Volvo’s largest wagon – the V90 – is definitely a car for those wanting maximum practicality and space, thanks to its 560-litre boot space. A T6 powertrain offers a great mix of efficiency and performance, and could be a very cheap model to run if you make the most of that 36-mile electric range.
Enquire on a new Volvo V90XC40 T4 – from £39,130
Electric range: 28 miles
BIK: 12 per cent
CO2 emissions: 47-48g/km
Volvo's most affordable plug-in hybrid is the XC40 T4, which also happens to be the brand's newest electrified model to. The T4 is the first three-cylinder PHEV model used by the firm, and brings impressively low running costs. With Volvo recently removing diesel from the XC40 range, this T4 is set to prove popular.
XC40 T5 – from £41,080
Electric range: 26-28 miles
BIK: 16 per cent
CO2 emissions: 41-43g/km
If you fancy a bit of extra power with your XC40 plug-in hybrid, the T5 is the model to go for. While still being a three-cylinder PHEV, the T5's engine packs an additional 50bhp – allowing for quicker acceleration, but while retaining the same efficiency figures as the T4 model. It's also only around £2,000 more expensive, though does sit in a higher road tax band.
Enquire on a new Volvo XC40XC60 T6 – from £50,695
Electric range: 33 miles
BIK: 14 per cent
CO2 emissions: 55-56g/km
Volvo’s mid-size XC60 SUV is another model to benefit from the newly introduced T6 powertrain, and it makes the XC60 a credible rival to the BMW X3 xDrive30e and Audi Q5 TFSIe in the PHEV SUV market.
XC60 T8 – from £57,720
Electric range: 28-32 miles
BIK: 14-17 per cent
CO2 emissions: 59-73g/km
If you fancy a bit more power in your XC60 plug-in hybrid, take a look at the punchier T8 option. You can choose it in a stylish R-Design Pro grade or a sporty Polestar Engineered model – the latter being 15bhp more powerful, and producing 399bhp in total. That means it’s abe to sprint to 60mph in just 5.1 seconds.
Enquire on a new Volvo XC60XC90 T8 – from £67,620
Electric range: 29-31 miles
BIK: 15-16 per cent
CO2 emissions: 63-69g/km
Volvo’s largest plug-in hybrid was also one of its first, with an electrified version of its flagship XC90. It’s one of very few plug-in hybrids available with seven seats, and offers a huge and spacious interior and strong performance.
Enquire on a new Volvo XC90Wondering what the benefits of a plug-in hybrid are? Click here to find out more
