Plug-in | On the road

Volvo XC60 Hybrid

By Bill McCarthy

It’s been 10 years since Volvo separated from Ford ownership and was acquired by Chinese giant Geely. In that time has become an even more important player in the premium motor sector, clocking record sales.

Now the firm is kicking on, determined to become a leader in electrification, autonomous drive and new mobility models and says that by 2025 it wants half of its global sales volume to consist of fully electric cars, with the rest hybrids.

It’s also the case that the firm continues with its legendary reputation for safety, with its Intellisafe technologies and stated aim that from now on nobody shall be killed or seriously injured in a new Volvo.

Sitting below the flagship XC90, the XC60 is an excellent example of Volvo’s evolution with its standout elegant styling, high levels of standard equipment and range of petrol and hybrid vehicles, including the T8 twin engine plug-in hybrid driven here.

It does look the part, sleek and svelte, but with a commanding road presence. It still features the now familiar ‘Thor’s Hammer’ headlamp design, as well as the recognisable updated grille bearing the Volvo Iron Mark and 21-inch diamond-cut alloy wheels.

All new Volvos feature a connectivity and infotainment system called Sensus via the central screen interface that combines car functions, navigation, connected services and in-car entertainment applications. The tablet-style touch screen enables easy and fast access to a host of functions and features. Smartphone integration with Apple CarPlay and Android Auto is also available.You can even turn the car into a WiFi hotspot thanks to the standard data SIM card.

‘It does look the part, sleek and svelte, but with a commanding road presence.

But it’s the plug-in T8 or twin engine hybrid that is the beating heart of this model, offering sporting performance, low emissions and excellent economy from the petrol engine/electric motor combination. In addition it is capable of around 30 miles of range on electric power only and zero emissions. Volvo’s official mpg figure of 134mpg seems pretty fanciful for every day driving, but it is fairly economical for such a big car, delivers emissions of less the 50g/km.

The power delivery is a combination of powerful two litre petrol engine assisted by a 65kW (87bhp) electric motor and powerful lithium-ion battery, giving a combined output of around 400bhp.

For a daily work commute the electric range of around 15 miles each way will keep the petrol costs down, but the vehicle needs to be plugged in and charged every day. Otherwise the combination of petrol and electric work together, which also drains the electric power fairly quickly. To mitigate this the ‘B’ position on the auto gears selector allows the battery to regain power under braking, while slowing the vehicle by just taking your foot off the accelerator.

On the inside build quality is exceptional with soft touch materials throughout, powered and heated leather seats which are firm and supportive and a large glass areas. There is good leg and headroom all round and occupants feel cocooned in luxury. Features include two-zone climate control, cruise control, rear parking sensors, electric windows and door mirrors and this R Design also features parking camera, head-up display in windscreen and heated steering wheel.

It is an engaging drive, Even at high speed, engine and road noise is muted, with just a hint of wind noise on the large, folding door mirrors. Excellent torque means motorway driving is a comfortable affair, the key acceleration range of 50-70mph achieved with ease.

There are selectable modes, including EV only, Off Road and Individual or sport with vehicle setting adapting accordingly.

It’s a big car, bit can hit 60mph in neck-wrenching 5.5 seconds with a more dynamic version of the standard suspension for that sportier, feel. It handles well for the type and size of vehicle, with little body roll while the adaptive on demand all wheel drive is perfect for rougher terrain or inclement weather condition.

It’s practical with plenty of stowage and oddment holders. Boot space is decent with 483 litres, while the 60/40 split folding rear seats open up to 1,410 litres. All models offer a power-operated tailgate, which can be raised or lowered at the touch of a button or by simply putting your foot beneath the rear bumper, perfect for when you’ve got your hands full or when loading bulky, heavy objects in the boot.

It’s a Volvo and almost by definition is safe, so safety kit is extensive, with City Safety, part of the Intellisafe package, which includes pedestrian, cyclist and large animal detection, and front collision warning with fully automatic emergency braking and steering assistance, plus Run-off Road Protection which automatically tightens the front seatbelts should the car inadvertently leave the road.

Factfile

Volvo XC60 T8 R-Design Pro AWD PHEV

Price: £57,720

Mechanical: Combined 390bhp, 1,969cc, four cylinder petrol engine and electric motor driving four wheels via 8-speed automatic gearbox

Insurance: 42E

Max speed: 143 mph

0-62mph: 5.5 seconds

Combined mpg: 134.5

CO2 emissions: 47g/km

Warranty: 3yrs/60,000 miles

Vauxhall Grandland Plug-in Hybrid

Review by Bill McCarthy

Vauxhall is continuing its journey towards electrification with a hybrid technological tour de force.

The Grandland is the firm’s first four wheel drive plug-in hybrid SUV with electric performance in more ways than one.

Now part of the PSA group, it is part of the the French firm’s wider drive to electrification, with Vauxhall aiming to go fully electric by 2024.

In typical hybrid style there is more than one power unit, three in this case.

The combination comprises a 200hp, 1.6-litre turbocharged direct injection four-cylinder petrol engine with two electric motors delivering a combined 109hp and powered by long-life13.2kWh lithium-ion battery.

Added together, this delivers a stonking 300bhp and 520 Nm of torque or pulling power, indicating it would be an ideal towing vehicle with a 1.25 tonne capability.

It has a muscular yet stylish look with alloy-effect door sill covers, 19-inch diamond-cut alloy wheels, black roof and door mirror, bright front and rear skid plates and neat light clusters and foldable door mirrors with puddle lights.

The interior feels well put together with a logical instrumentation and controls set up and nice soft touch finish, which is just as well because the starting price is just under £37k, with this top spec model a shade over £48k.

For that you get a car with the full bells and whistles of creature comfort, connectivtiy and safety kit. It features alloy-effect sports pedals, leather seat facings and heated front seats with the driver eight-way electrically adjustable, 3D instrument cluster and alloy-effect door sill covers.

The eight-inch touch screen houses the infotainment system with premium audio system, Navi 5.0 IntelliLink system with voice control, and smartphone and Bluetooth® connectivity, wireless charging for mobile devices and Vauxhall Connect assistance.

In typical hybrid style there is more than one power unit, three in this case.

As an SUV it is naturally practical, but boot space is compromised slightly to accommodate the large battery to a maximum stowage area of 1,523 litres.

Vauxhall says the hybrid is mostly aimed at business users and PCP users who will account for around 75 per cent of sales. It is available in SRi Nav trim for just £399 per month on Personal Contract Hire. The customer pays an initial rental of £8,379.

The new power combination also delivers theoretical consumption with 204mpg, when all the planets are aligned, and just 34g/km CO2, which puts it into a 20 per cent Benefit in Kind bracket. The reality is, if you are constantly doing less than 30 miles per day, you can charge it up overnight and rarely see the inside of a petrol station.

Performance wise, acceleration is electrifying. It can hit 60mph in just 5.9 seconds which is in real hot-hatch territory, as quick nearly as a fully blinged up hot hatch I drove recently, if not quite having the handling capability. It literally races away from a standing start and on top a top speed of 146mph where permitted.

Having said that, it does feel assured, with the all-wheel traction kicking in on demand. Not a full fat off-roader, it should be more than capable on muddy tracks, fields and in tricky weather conditions.

A front electric motor is mated with an electrified eight-speed automatic transmission, while the second motor and differential are integrated into the electrically-powered rear axle, providing the all-wheel traction on demand.

There are four driving modes – electric, hybrid, AWD and Sport.

In pure electric mode, the car has a range of 35 miles. In hybrid it automatically selects the most efficient method of propulsion. Switch to sport and you have a real flying machine.

It comes with a 3.7kW on-board charger, with an optional 7.4kW version also available. The ‘e-Save’ section of the infotainment system allows the driver to determine how much battery needs to be saved for entering zero-emissions zone. The driver can choose to save six or 12 miles of range, or reserve all of the battery energy.

In addition, regenerative braking captures kinetic energy during deceleration allowing electrical energy to be returned to the battery and stored. Vauxhall will also offer devices for fast charging at public stations, as well as wallboxes at home. With a 7.0kW wallbox, customers can fully charge the battery in less than two hours.

Vauxhall has also introduced an exclusive charging offer where customers will receive a free six-month membership to the Polar charging network, providing an easy, convenient and reliable means to charge their vehicle away from home.

This vehicle is a clever piece of engineering with its three power units and gearbox setup that delivers blistering performance with major economy savings.

Meanwhile, the electric revolution continues apace with the imminent new Corsa-e and Vivaro van.