- We're driving the 2023 Volvo XC90 T8 Recharge.
It's a plug-in electric hybrid for 2023.
There's actually a little less driving range than before,
but we'll explain why and also go over what we like
and where we think there's room for improvement.
The 2023 model has 33 miles
of all electric-rated driving range
and that's a little less than the 2022 model that had 36,
and that's because there is a larger standard wheel size,
and wheel size has a big impact on energy consumption.
So I was able to achieve around 25 to 28 miles of EV range
in my driving, and I think that's pretty impressive,
because it was colder outside
and even my maximum predicted range was only 31 miles.
But I was driving in the winter,
and I wasn't pre-conditioning the cabin consistently,
so once the weather warms up,
I really think that EPA-rated range will be very achievable.
One-pedal driving is a feature that you don't see
in plug-in electric hybrids very much.
It's typically limited to full battery electric vehicles.
And I like it because I just find it much easier
to drive smoothly.
And that's notable in the XC90 because the brake pedal,
while improved over previous versions,
still doesn't have that very natural feel,
so I acclimate to the one-pedal driving very nicely
and that's my preferred way of driving.
The XC90 received a lot more power
when it was updated in 2022.
Now, you're at a combined 455 system horsepower
with the more powerful electric motor in the back
that pairs with a turbocharged four cylinder up front
and it's a difference you can feel,
0 to 60 in five seconds flat,
and that compares with the B6 trim level
that does 0 to 60 in 6.4 seconds.
And what I really like is, you know, yes, more power,
it's fast, it moves quite quickly
for a 5,000 plus pound SUV.
But also when you're in EV mode,
you can use a lot of accelerator pedal
and not get out of EV mode.
Now, there's this little resistance at the bottom
of the accelerator pedal that once you move past,
the gas engine will kick in to deliver power,
but it's not going to start very frequently
unless you get past that point.
So it's really easy to drive in EV mode,
and you have plenty of getting around power in EV mode.
Like a full battery electric vehicle,
the XC90 can pre-condition the cabin while it's plugged in
and that'll preserve range once you get on the road,
so when it's hot or cold outside,
you can heat up the cabin to save battery energy
because you're using the onboard charger,
instead of the battery.
Interior dimensions are unchanged from the gasoline model,
which means you're getting just as good interior room
and comfort as the regular version.
And as far as interior quality,
it's just as good as it was in 2016,
which was good then and it's good now.
For an $85,000 luxury SUV,
the multimedia and control system is one area
where I do think the XC90 needs improvement.
The screen just isn't that big anymore
in the days of massive Hyperscreens.
And then also there's no wireless CarPlay,
there's no wireless Android Auto,
and there's no wireless charging.
And the Google built-in system,
I'm just not seeing the advantages
versus using Apple CarPlay that comes with it.
The multimedia control system and touchscreen
is one area where the XC90 is falling behind.
I would've liked a little more powerful onboard charger
to replenish range more quickly.
The XC90 can replenish its battery
from zero to a hundred percent in five hours
when it's maxed on a level two charger.
But that's just not as powerful
as something like a Toyota RAV4 Prime plug-in hybrid
that has a similarly sized battery,
but can replenish its range in two and a half hours.
And that was most evident when, you know,
I'd be out driving around
and I would use all of the range and then I'd be back home
or at an establishment's charger
and I was only adding about six miles of range per hour,
and I just wanted a little bit faster recharging speeds.
The upside to the lower power charger
is that if you have a 240 volt outlet
in your garage or nearby,
it means you probably won't have to make many modifications
to use that versus a more powerful charger
where you might have to have a dedicated circuit.
$85,000 is a lot of money
and the feds aren't gonna help you anymore
because this car is no longer eligible
for the $7,500 tax credit and it's $10,000 more expensive
than a similarly equipped B6 trim level.
All in all, the roughly 25 miles of EV range that I observed
was pretty impressive and that's because it was winter
and also I wasn't pre-conditioning the cabin at every start.
So, you know, and after that range runs out,
you're still left with 27 miles per gallon combined,
which is top of the range for the XC90.
Those looking for an electrified three-row luxury SUV
really don't have many options,
but the XC90 T8 Recharge might be one of your best bets.
To learn more, visit cars.com.