The 2018 Volvo XC90 T8 looks elegant and usual Volvo style grille is retained. The Volvo Swedish carmaker is on a mission to make its vehicle lineup greener in the next few years. The company has said its entire lineup will be electric powered either partially or fully, by 2019. Now, that is a tall order to fit but Volvo has started revamping existing popular models with hybrid engines.
The XC 90 mid-sized SUV which is among the top sellers from its stable is also being revamped with PHEV version. It is getting powerful hybrid powertrain and lots of amenities to woo target buyers.
2018 Volvo XC90 T8 – Quality Design
The XC 90 was the first vehicle from Volvo stable to be developed on the Scalable Platform Architecture. The exterior styling of T8 PHEV does not change much for 2018. Cabin material quality is quite lavish and craftsmanship is evident. The nice thing is that the electric motor or battery does not get into cabin space. However, based on trim chosen, you get features like walnut wood trim, Nappa leather seats. The model gets Thor’s Hammer style daytime running lamps and LED headlamps.
Safety Features
Like most Volvo cars, the 2018 Volvo XC90 T8 PHEV is laden with latest amenities as well as cutting edge safety technologies. It is equipped with the company’s famous Pilot Assist, a semi autonomous driving system. It is similar to Tesla’s AutoPilot technology and works really well, both in city and highway traffic. You will like the Sensus touch screen infotainments setup deployed in the car which comes with Smartphone integration.
Engine and Battery
The 2018 Volvo XC90 T8 is among the top PHEV class vehicles to come with a really powerful engine setup. The powertrain is made up of a 2.0-liter turbocharged I-4 engine and an electric motor run by a 10.4 kWh lithium-ion battery. The gasoline engine makes 313 HP and with the Electric Motor that produces 87 HP, the total output is 400 HP. This setup is also clubbed with an eight-speed automatic gearbox. Average fuel economy is 25 mpg combined, 54 MPGe combined.
The cabin remains quiet and ride quality is great. While in the USA, the Volvo will use gasoline engine in the hybrid setup, in other countries diesel engines may be used. There are various driving modes such as Pure, Hybrid and Power. The Volvo says the car can cover around 20 miles in only electric mode but that will vary based on some factors. Charging the battery takes 2.5 hours approx. The hybrid mode is quite nice and operates as desired. In power mode, the acceleration is great.
Price and Availability of the 2018 Volvo XC90 T8
The pricing of 2018 Volvo XC90 T8 PHEV starts at approx $66,000. It is now available for sale.
Summing it up
The 2018 Volvo XC90 T8 PHEV is a nice mid-sized SUV that offers hybrid driving tech with oodles of amenities. The fuel efficacy, however, is not category best. Still, it emerges as a capable hybrid vehicle for versatile usage.
