What is it?
Given Volvo’s brilliantly executed and duly over-hyped statement about the (yes, inevitable) electrification of its future line-up, the arrival of the new Volvo XC60 T8 in the UK seems perfectly timed. With its petrol-electric plug-in hybrid arrangement, the range-topping SUV certainly exemplifies the brand’s compass heading for the next decade.
Like the pronouncement itself, there is nothing particularly revolutionary about Volvo’s Twin Engine tech. Up front, there’s a 314bhp combustion engine driving the front wheels; at the back, there’s an 86bhp electric motor for powering the rear axle. The 2.0-litre petrol four-cylinder motor is both supercharged and turbocharged, while the motor’s charge comes from a mains-chargeable 10.4kWh battery pack.
Although new to the Volvo XC60, the combination is familiar to Volvo’s Scalable Product Architecture, having made its debut in the larger XC90. While the system’s output and functionality are much the same, the benefit of transferring to the smaller model is plain enough: the XC60 weighs about 200kg less than its sibling, meaning that gains are made in the T8’s already very brisk acceleration from 0-62mph.
Emissions and economy remain the same at 49g/km and 134.5mpg respectively. Counterintuitive, perhaps, but as Volvo is pedalling the meaningless figures returned by the current European Drive Cycle, it’s not worth fixating over. Arguably the more relevant figure is the 28 miles the manufacturer claims for the car’s all-electric range, and the three and a half hours it takes to recharge from a domestic plug.
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Compare the T8
to the F-Pace, why? There is no hybrid F-Pace.
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Sorry - superstevie was the next post - with which I am going to agree! I am thoroughly sick of the uk market's obsession with going up the range means sporty not comfortable. Why is everyone doing this - including Volvo who claim to be different. When the current xc90 was launched, Volvo had an interview in the telegraph I think says they were an alternative to the Germans and by not going down a sporty / bling route and doing luxury differently (with comfort) they would stand out. So they then launched it with a ludicrous rugged styling pack with 22" wheels. And the car I test drove had horrendous tyre noise. From about 15mph. And I seem to see more r-design xc90s than anything else... harrumph- at this rate I will have to get an s class except apparently in the U.K. they are dropping the se line and only bringing in the amg lines now. Give me strength
Company car tax
The corporation tax reduction illustrated by superstevie is largely a timing difference - no mention that you have to pay corporation tax on the proceeds when disposing of the vehicle (there is some permanent gain depending on the co2 emissions of regular car you are comparing with as there is a limit (130g? Might have dropped from that) where you lose 10% I think of write down as non deductible). Against that, I think the purchase price is offset a bit by a grant. Also, current monthly bik tax figures are going to be hiked over the next couple of years until they reach 16%. For pure electric vehicles that then drops to 2% (I will have an electric car then!) but I think the T8 will stay around 16%.
i considered getting an xc90 t8 when they came out but the PCP depreciation was forecast at £1k per month over 4 years /80k miles. No thanks. So I got a used Land Rover D4 privately and a BMW i3 through my business which is costing less than that