Volvo XC60 T8 - Polestar catapults the SUV
Many predicted a slow demise for the Volvo brand from the moment it was announced that the company was passing into Chinese hands. That was in 2010. Since then Volvo has flourished, sales have grown and new models keep appearing. There were fears about preserving the authenticity of a strong, recognisable brand and keeping jobs at the headquarters and factories in Scandinavia, yet the Chinese chose to strengthen the brand's "Swedishness" and invest on a scale never before seen in Gothenburg.
The first big fruit of the changes at Volvo was the flagship XC90 SUV, unveiled in 2014. It was followed by the debuts of the new S/V90, XC60, XC40 and S/V60. At the same time the Chinese-Swedish company was developing its performance sub-brand Polestar, which aims to go head to head with what the M line offers BMW and AMG offers Mercedes.
Volvo, like Citroen once did, is making bold and even controversial decisions: there will be no engines larger than 2 litres and no diesel engines. It is also consistently working to limit its models' top speed so that it does not exceed 180 km/h.
A 405 hp powertrain and 720 km of range
The Volvo XC60 T8, a plug-in hybrid, is the fruit of the experience of many departments and an attempt to meet the needs of different groups of customers. Want to be eco? Be my guest! Want to be first away from the lights? No problem! The powertrain used in this model produces as much as 405 hp. That figure comes from the combined efforts of an electric motor and the small two-litre unit mentioned above, which, with the help of a turbocharger, produces as much as 318 hp.
As a result the car's drivetrain delivers stunning performance: 0-100 km/h in 5.4 seconds and a top speed of 230 km/h. The two combined power units are responsible for the performance, and the electric drive for the low fuel consumption. The batteries have a capacity of 11.6 kWh, and the company says that is enough for 40 km. It is worth stressing that the car's total range is as much as 720 km. The battery pack and its hardware, which often spread out across the floorpan, take up some of the space normally occupied by the fuel tank. The result is the relatively short range of plug-in hybrids. That is not the case with the Volvo. Nevertheless, because of the large battery pack and what are effectively two complete drivetrains on board, this SUV weighs as much as 2,145 kg. But compare its weight with other dual-powertrain SUVs and it turns out that such "excess weight" is unavoidable. Read about the BMW X5 here or the Porsche Cayenne here
Design and interior
A few words about the design. The car's manageable dimensions and boxy silhouette will certainly appeal. Extra charm comes from the tasteful daytime running lights: the distinctive horizontal "T" shapes are the signature of the latest Volvos. In my opinion it is the best-styled lighting design on the market. The interior is one of the most elegant and best-made cabins in its class. The incredible performance is expressed through tasty details inside and out. The brake calipers are yellow, and so are the seat belts. This "eye-popping" yellow may jar a little at first, but after a few glances you come to appreciate the contrast between the dark, elegant upholstery and the brightly coloured belts. Overall, the finish and materials are faultless, and for music connoisseurs there is a Bowers & Wilkins sound system. Most functions are operated from a large, vertically mounted screen in the centre of the console. I had my doubts about whether it could be operated intuitively. They proved unfounded. It is very user-friendly, and even in such a standard application as navigation Volvo has managed to offer something new that simplifies operation; the "recent destinations" function, which appears among the first options, came in handy several times.
Sporty or eco - test summary
Is the Volvo XC60 T8 "by Polestar" "eco" or "sport"? When you look at the low-profile tyres, the beautiful 22-inch wheels, the powerful brakes and the yellow belts mentioned earlier, you become convinced that this car is closer to sports cars than to green ones. Even when you switch on zero-emission mode and force it to run on electricity only, the vehicle is not very keen to communicate the fact that nothing is coming out of the exhaust pipe. This mode has been shyly named "economical", which does not really convey the fact that electric drive is being used.
The Volvo XC60 T8 is another successful model in the Chinese-Swedish brand's range. This exotic marriage is producing very good results. The Scandinavian image of an eco-friendly SUV is very clear and places it at the forefront of the spacious dual-powertrain cars on the market.
