Why You Need a Volvo XC90 T8 Recharge In Your Life - Quick Review

Overseas, Volvo's 45-year relationship with diesel-powered cars has drawn to a close, and the South African lineup no longer entertains diesel Volvo XC90s either. If you want a new XC90, you'll have to choose between the turbo-petrol or petrol-electric hybrid variants. Our test model, the rechargeable XC90 T8 Recharge Twin Engine AWD Ultimate Bright, the aforementioned plug-in hybrid, impressed us with its luxurious skillset for survival in 2024 recently, making it the ultimate seven-seater family SUV. Here's why.

Which Volvo XC90 is better, petrol or diesel? Find out here.

Styling: The XC90 has presence and designer kerbside appeal

Few manufacturers manage to marry sophistication and size so successfully. The XC90 is a mammoth vehicle that doesn't look clumsy, but is sophisticated and timeless. Volvo's signature Thor's Hammer headlights are a recognisable design element that adds to the car's distinctiveness, while the tall concave grille is the glamorous icing on the minimalist cake. In 'Bright' trim, the chrome detailing adorns the exterior for a "bright, sophisticated Scandinavian exterior,"  says Volvo. 

Buying used? Read our 2019 XC90 launch report here.

Our test model rides on stunning 20″ 5-Multi Spoke Black Diamond Cut wheels, another no-cost option. 

Parked outside the gates of my kids' high school, the XC90 may not be new but it still gives off Camp's Bay-mom vibes. With a swing of a teenager's foot underneath the tailgate, the boot lid opens to allow for the nonchalant placement of school bags on the luxurious carpeted boot floor.

Related: This is the most affordable Volvo C40

The XC90 is large yet shapely. Only the Swedes can get this right!

 

The interior: A safe haven from the chaos and the noise outside

The most well-known traits of Scandinavian design are clean lines, simplicity, functionality, natural materials, and a focus on craftsmanship. Once you set foot inside the XC90, all of this is evident. Buttons are kept to a minimum, and thanks to the integrated Google infotainment system, you can do everything without using your hands.  Watch this video for a quick glimpse on the Google built-in infotainment features, and best of all, it's voice controlled.

Standard features in the XC90 include semi-autonomous Pilot Assist with its raft of clever driving assistants, so all you really need to do is hold the steering wheel - but these can be switched off if you prefer to do all the thinking, of course.

Related: 2023 Volvo C40 Launch Report

Even the pickiest of customers will find the XC90 interior simply irresistible.

While the dark, 'Charcoal Ventilated Nappa Leather in Charcoal Interior' would not be my first choice, it's ideal if you have children. Besides, the Grey Ash wooden inlays add that earthy touch that is revered by the Swedes, and in Ultimate Trim, there's a massive panoramic roof overhead that bathes the cabin in natural light. Volvo's seats are co-designed with orthopedists, and the front seat-bottoms can be extended if you need more support for longer legs.

View the endless list of features on this specific Volvo XC90 variant here.

The XC90's interior is perfectly driver-centric, and is especially loved by women. Why? It's uncluttered, practical, and intuitive, just the way we like things to be.

The cabin is massive, and the fact that the second row boasts three separate, full-sized seats means the middle passenger won't feel like a sardine.

If you opt for the pale interior theme (at no additional cost), the entire space becomes lighter and more contemporary. And whether the engine or electric motor (or both) are doing the work, the cabin is always whisper-quiet.

Other opulent touches include the Orrefors crystal gear lever that sparkles in the sunlight.

The XC90's hybrid system: It charges fast and saves you major bucks on fuel

The Volvo XC90 PHEV's superpower is that it can be driven in Hybrid, Power, or Pure (EV) Mode, with options for Off-Road and Constant AWD mode too. 

In its default hybrid mode, it switches between the electric motor and supercharged engine for best possible efficiency, while Power gives you the sportiest drive by putting all systems to work. Pure mode is electric power only, and is good for 77 km, according to Volvo. And whenever you use the brakes, the kinetic energy is stored and recharges the battery to a certain extent, but you still need to plug your XC90 in for a proper charge.

When you want to have your cake and eat it too, the XC90 PHEV makes perfect sense.

When you drive your T8 in B mode, it charges the battery with even more fervour. Every time you remove your foot from the accelerator, the XC90 brakes automatically, and the battery is fed through this action. It's basically like one-pedal driving found in full EVs like the Volvo C40. Our top tip would be to use the built-in GPS to plan your trip, as that will optimise the use of ICE combined with electric mode for the best possible fuel economy and overall efficiency.

Employing the built-in Satnav is the way to go if you want to conserve fuel and power.

Home charging is quick and convenient. I don't have a wallbox at home (who does, if you don't own a rechargable car?), so I just plugged the XC90 into my normal garage outlet. Fully charging a 100% electric car can take up to 20 hours if you don't have a wallbox, but given that a PHEV or plug-in hybrid's battery is so much smaller (in this Volvo it's 18.8 kWh), I just plugged in every night before going to bed and woke up to a fully charged car the next morning. This allowed me to drive around town in Pure mode electric power alone, giving me around 55 km of real-world range (a tad less than the 77km Volvo claims) before I would need to recharge again. 

Related: Read our Volvo XC40 P6 Recharge Review here.

Hybrid cars like the XC90 PHEV allow for unplanned adventures, while fully electric cars don't always let you take detours.

If you're planning on hitting the N1 for a family roadtrip, just bear in mind that the Volvo XC90 PHEV can't utilise the DC outlet at fast-charging stations - you're still going to be charging via the Type 2 SA socket (22kW AC outlet) from public charging infrastructure, so ensure your cable is in your boot when you leave home.

If you do buy a Volvo XC90 PHEV, you'll get a 6.4kW 2-phase onboard wall-box as part of the deal, allowing you to charge your XC90's battery from empty to full in only three to four  hours at home.

When the battery is depleted, your consumption figures will rise as just the engine will be doing the heavy lifting, averaging about 9 litres per 100 km on the highway (in D, not B) which is still not bad, considering how big the car is and how powerful the ICE engine is. (For more information on consumption read our Volvo XC60 Recharge roadtrip review here.) Fortunately, there are more and more charging stations popping up everywhere, so just plug in while you grab a burger and when it's full, keep the car in hybrid mode, and utilise the GPS at all times, for a very decent 4 - 5 litres per 100 km.

Performance: The powerplant offers serious shove

The XC90 is a large and heavy vehicle but should you employ power mode, it feels like all natural laws are defied. 

Don't be fooled by the XC90's people-moving looks; it is one fast SUV.

The 2.0-litre petrol-hybrid engine which is both supercharged and turbocharged, is mated to Volvo's seamless eight-speed Geartronic automatic gearbox. The engine alone produces 233 kiloWatts of power, but is coupled with an additional 107kW electric motor located on the rear axle. The combined output of the two powertrains is a whopping 340 kW and 709 Nm, making it massively potent and giving it a 0-100 km/h sprint time of a mere 5.3 seconds. If your foot is heavy it will chomp your power and your petrol, but having the power to quickly (and safely) overtake a long truck or two on the highway is priceless.

Active air suspension is standard on the Ultimate variant, ensuring a magic carpet ride, so those pesky speed bumps underfoot won't make you wish you rather wore your sports bra today.

Your weekday commute/weekend getaway-chariot awaits!

The verdict: Volvo's XC90 PHEV equals one shot and two kills

Many adventurous South Africans (like me) are put off by the fact that EVs with their limited range can be a real stick-in-the-mud if you like to take an interesting-looking detour at the drop of a hat. With a plug-in hybrid like the XC90, you always have the backup of the internal combustion engine for many, many kilometres! This means you can live an almost fuel-free existence during the week and have sufficient fuel in the tank for impromptu road-trips with your family and friends on weekends, without that dreaded range anxiety.

ENDS

*Buying used? The previous XC90 T8 Recharge employed a smaller battery, offering a smaller electric range and a combined output of 300 kW and 640 Nm. These models can be had from R499 950 on AutoTrader - search here!

*Diesel models are even cheaper and cost less to run - 2015 and younger Volvo XC90s (D4 and D5) can be had from a mere R389 900 - search here!