MasterTorque recently tested the Volvo XC90 T8 Recharge Hybrid. It was on the heels of testing the XC40 fully-electric vehicle, yet, the two are miles apart in charging efficacy. While the XC90 has more tech than one can properly test in one week, the charging tech left me somewhat disappointed.
If this is one’s first experience with hybrid tech, you are unlikely to feel emboldened by the future of electric technology. I made an effort to test the hybrid functionality but eventually abandoned it in favour of the IC engine.
An important caveat is that buyers get a 6.4kW 2-phase onboard wall-mounted charger at home which makes a huge difference compared to charging it by plugging into a socket. A wall charger charges to full in a few hours whereas the alternative takes a full night.
Unfortunately, the XC90 Recharge is only compatible with AC chargers at public charging stations which are significantly slower than DC chargers. I did not realise how much slower until I charged the XC90 at a public station. After two hours I gained about 10% in charge whereas a DC charger will get you to 70% in less than 40 minutes.
Thus, I certainly would not bank on saving fuel when travelling long distances. The SUV shows the charge level and time to complete while charging. In my case, it estimated it would take over seven hours to charge to 100%.
The battery provides a 77km range. With the power of the vehicle, real-life range is closer to 50km. The range is ideally what one would use to drive to work and back daily. it is a somewhat large city-car with a fuel powered engine for occasional longer distance trips.
The drive
Moving on from charging woes, there is little to find fault with in the XC90. Much of my test was using IC engine only. It is responsive and powerful, particularly for a large vehicle, performing in every driving scenario. The drive is particularly smooth eating up road imperfections.
The rear electric motor has a power output of 107 kW while the two-litre supercharged and turbocharged engine has an output of 340 kW and 790 Nm of torque. This is paired with an 8-speed Geartronic transmission.
Volvo says the two powertrains make it the most powerful XC90 yet. The e-motor also increases the all-wheel capability by 65% directly impacting driveability and performance.
Whether you make use of ICE or electric power, the SUV is very quiet – close to that associated with EVs. Up until this moment, I did not think that IC engine could run so quietly.
Shorter distances are ideal for the XC90 T8 hybrid as it uses the kinetic energy from braking to recharge the battery. Personally, I did not see this benefit even though the driving circumstances were ideal.
There are options that one can enable to assist with optimising efficiency. B mode ramps up the self-charging ability by automatically braking as you stop accelerating. Alternatively, using the vehicle’s GPS to switch between ICE and electric depending in different driving scenarios is how to get the best economy and efficiency.
The claimed fuel consumption is 7.2L/100km whereas our consumption was 9.1L/100km from a range of driving scenarios from congestion to suburban stop-and-go driving. While considerably off the claimed figure for a vehicle with that level of power and size, it is still impressive.
The design
Volvo is one of the forerunners when it comes to current and future vehicle technology. Their design aesthetic echoes this. The futuristic design of Volvo’s current vehicles suits this positioning. They embody what I would have imagined ‘flying cars’ would look like as a child.
Despite this, there are there are no radical changes to the exterior styling of the XC90. Volvo says it is an evolutionary approach only featuring subtle changes, there are a number of new and changed interior features. The grill still draws the focus creating a powerful and muscular design.
The XC90 is an extremely spacious vehicle. Whether in the front or second row, there is ample leg and head room. When the third row is down, it has a sizable boot. Even with the row up, there is a good amount of space and items are well hidden from the exterior.
The interior oozes luxury and comfort. The seats are ergonomically designed, the dash has soft touch material and there is even a new gearshift made from Swedish Crystal. Volvo, however, says the XC90 has simplified upholstery.
Stepping inside
There is such an abundance of tech inside the XC90, a week was not long enough to fully experience it all. Additionally, it was not as intuitive as the tech in Volvo’s normally are. An example is the difficulty of activating the seat massagers. I could see the tech was there, I could see where you could control it from but despite repeated attempts, I could not actually get it to work.
Be sure to keep your AC charger inside the vehicle as you cannot make use of the DC chargers attached to charging stations. Have your key fob ready to disconnect the charger when you return. Proximity with the fob is not enough to release it as is with some other chargers.
The stop/start technology is also significantly improved. It ensures that the switching off and on functions are barely discernible and respond much faster.
A new CleanZone system dramatically improves air quality inside the SUV. It comes with a sensor that measures the air quality and removes tiny particles (that can be 100 times smaller than human hair), normally inhaled by the motorist. Via the Volvo app, it is even possible to pre-clean the XC90 air.
Other tech includes an electronically opening tailgate and foot activated sensor to open it, wireless charging pad, USB and C charging ports, full panoramic sunroof, start button, Apple Carplay and Android Auto, keyless entry and exit, seat massagers, climate control, seat heaters and coolers, heads-up display and parking ticket holder.
Safety features
- Cross-traffic alert
- Intellisafe Assist (includes City Safety with pedestrian, cyclist and large animal detection and front collision warning with full auto brake)
- Driver Alert Control (DAC) with Lane Keeping Aid (LKA)
- Intelligent Driver Information System (IDIS)
- Road Sign Information display (RSI)
- Full LED headlights with Active High Beam
- Park Assist – Front & rear
- Power driver and passenger seats
- Adaptive Cruise Control with Pilot Assist
- Volvo on Call (VOC)
Perhaps my expectations are inflated and the XC90 is not that much different to other hybrids as this was my first test of a hybrid and all my expectations are based around fully electric vehicles. Though, if you do not need the extra row of seats or the abundance of tech (much of which is in other derivatives too), I would rather opt for a fully electric Volvo.
If you do intend on using the vehicle for longer distances, the hybrid technology does remove the range-anxiety limiting EV uptake. But over R1,5 million for 77km battery range? That I am not too sure about.
Good to know
The specs
Engine: 2L, turbopetrol engine
Battery: 48V
Transmission: 8-speed Geartronic transmission
Power (petrol): 340 kW
Power (battery): 107 kW
Torque: 790 Nm
Fuel consumption: 7.2L/100km (claimed)
Price: from R R1 560 600
Warranty and service plan: 5-year/100 000km warranty and maintenance plan and 5-year Roadside Assistance and an 8-year/160 000km warranty on the lithium-ion battery.
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