Road Test: 2021 Volvo XC90 Recharge T8 PHEV

Local Electric Driving, No Range Anxiety

Volvo has been talking about going electric a lot lately. The company plans to do it with a mixture of all-electric vehicles, like the new XC40 Recharge, and plug-in hybrid versions of its SUVs and sedans. The XC90 Recharge is an example of the second group.

The XC90, as Volvo’s largest SUV, is currently its most popular model in the United States. If you track the history of Volvo, the Swedish (now Chinese-owned) company was famous for decades for its safe, solid, boxy sedans and wagons. With today’s crossovers and SUVS at the forefront of the market, they have pivoted nicely in recent years, although wagons are still available if you want one.

While Volvo offers a T5 turbocharged model and T6 turbocharged and supercharged model of the gasoline-only XC90, it’s the T8 that’s the focus here. While it shares the other models’ 2.0-liter engine, the T8 gets a modified version with 313 horsepower and 295 pound-feet (lb.-ft.) of torque, which combined with a rear-mounted electric motor and front-mounted starter motor, bumps power up to 400 horsepower and 472 lb.-ft.

The 34-kilowatt (kW) starter motor sits on the engine and seamlessly transitions power between it and the electric motor in back—which is what Volvo drivers expect. It also adds 111 lb.-ft of torque to the propulsion system, so it’s small, but significant.

The main electric motor sits on the rear axle, adds 87 horsepower, and makes all-wheel drive easy by providing a separate power source for the rear wheels. Of course, high tech helps coordinate this so it’s seamless from the driver’s chair.

It all runs through an eight-speed Geartronic automatic transmission and uses start-stop technology. The engine shuts off when you’re at a traffic light to save fuel.

The View from Here

That driver enjoys a great view of the road over the XC90’s clean, tailored dash. I got to see this a lot, since during our test week I took two 170-mile round trips to visit my family (in my COVID-19 bubble). The XC90 lives for these cruises, with fine highway manners and the Bowers and Wilkins premium sound system ($3,200). In fact, part of accurately describing the experience of driving this car is listing a sample of its many charms, all of which add to the bottom line, of course.

My Savile Gray Metallic tester had the Inscription trim, which base prices at $69,750 before shipping ($995). But let’s look at what made my sample a premium ride.

Volvo has developed an excellent user experience with its vertical center touch screen, so it’s easy and pleasant to use the audio system and seek information as you roll along. You can swipe to open up vast areas of customization, best tackled while the car is sitting in your garage or driveway.

The Inscription features nappa leather or tailored wool blend upholstery–your choice–both are elegant. It has the expected power seats, which include side support, lumbar, memory and heat. As they’re Volvo seats, they’re supremely supportive and comfortable. There are wood inlays, the Sensus navigation system, sun curtains on the back windows and lots more.

More Options

It goes up from there. The Lounge Package ($1,700) provides backrest massage for the front seats, which I admit I didn’t use, but would be great for long trips. It’s meant to keep the blood flow going, not to put you to sleep.

The Climate Package ($750) is a must-have in cold climates, featuring heated windshield wipers, heated rear seats and a heated steering wheel.

The Advanced Package ($1,500) adds a fully featured head-up display and 360-degree surround cameras.

But wait—there’s more. That Savile Gray paint is a $645 option. The 4-Corner Air Suspension ($1,800) provides smooth sailing and load leveling. I noticed it settling down after I parked the car at my destination. Although the Inscription arrives with 20-inch alloys standard, my tester wore stunning 21-inchers for an extra $800.

What does all this add up to? $81,690. If you’re in the market for a luxury ride, it feels worth it.

The Plug-in Hybrid Option

A plug-in hybrid vehicle is especially good for local electric motoring with the freedom to burn gas on a longer trip. The XC90 is old school, in that its 11.6-kWh battery, tucked away under the car along the center tunnel, provides just 18 miles of all-electric motoring. That’s perfect for errands and modest commuting, especially if there’s charging at work, but for longer trips, it empties quickly. Luckily, you can still get some benefit from the electric motors by regenerating some power with braking.

Fuel economy for the Recharge is 55 miles per gallon equivalent (MPGe) when you use electricity and gasoline and drops to 27 mpg when you don’t charge up the battery. The EPA’s green scores on the standard 0-10 scale, where 10 is best, include a 7 for Smog, 7 for MPG the Fuel Economy score and a 9 for CO₂ on Greenhouse Gas score. Not bad for a big hauler with room for up to seven people and their stuff. I averaged 25 mpg over 364 miles of mostly freeway driving.

Charging is easy–with public stations or your home charger. Volvo also supplies a dual-mode charging cable, allowing you to charge slowly overnight with regular 120-volt household current or plug into your dryer’s or other 240-volt outlet to fill the battery in 2.5 hours.

The XC90 Recharge T8 has several drive modes to choose from. The default Hybrid mode uses its computer to balance gas and electric propulsion for maximum efficiency. Pure mode uses just electricity and makes several adjustments to the drivetrain while providing information to help the driver be more efficient. Power mode maximizes everything. All Wheel Drive mode improves traction in slippery conditions. You can use Individual mode to customize your settings. Off Road mode maximizes the car’s performance at speeds below 12 mph for slowly traversing rough terrain.

Of course, as a Volvo, the XC90 inherits a long list of safety features—too many to detail here. See the Volvo website for more details, but you can feel assured that your family is well-protected in this car.

The Swedish-built 2021 Volvo XC90 Recharge T8 fulfills its task as a luxury cruiser for those who can afford it. There are rivals out there, but none possess the Scandinavian design approach. The addition of a plug-in hybrid drivetrain makes it a powerful and cleaner beast and moves Volvo forward on the path to an all-electric future.

Story by Steve Schaefer; photos from Volvo.

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Disclosure:

Clean Fleet Report is loaned free test vehicles from automakers to evaluate, typically for a week at a time. Our road tests are based on this one-week drive of a new vehicle. Because of this we don’t address issues such as long-term reliability or total cost of ownership. In addition, we are often invited to manufacturer events highlighting new vehicles or technology. As part of these events we may be offered free transportation, lodging or meals. We do our best to present our unvarnished evaluations of vehicles and news irrespective of these inducements.

Our focus is on vehicles that offer the best fuel economy in their class, which leads us to emphasize electric cars, plug-in hybrids, hybrids and diesels. We also feature those efficient gas-powered vehicles that are among the top mpg vehicles in their class. In addition, we aim to offer reviews and news on advanced technology and the alternative fuel vehicle market. We welcome any feedback from vehicle owners and are dedicated to providing a forum for alternative viewpoints. Please let us know your views at publisher@cleanfleetreport.com.