Aspiring to be known as a knowledgeable automaker, Volvo has announced that it will only manufacture Electric Vehicles from 2030. This date is earlier than most rivals. By now, Volvo offers only 2 EV’s – the mechanical C40 Recharge and it’s stable twin, XC40 Recharge. The other Recharge models are plug-in hybrids which also inspire towards an electrified future.
New hybrid
The two famous versions of the V90 Cross Country wagon, XC60, S90 sedan, and S60 sedan have added hybridization in the powertrain. However, this is a minimal effort for electrification as it’s only a 48-volt hybrid. Like before, the powertrain of XC60 utilizes a 2-liter in-line-4 but with the arrival of this hybrid system, things will change. The base T5, is now called B5, whereas the higher T6 is now B6. All models are equipped with 8-speed automatic while the B5 offers all-wheel or front-wheel drive.
Changes in power, torque and fuel economy
The hybrid system does not increase the power output of B5 or B6. The base turbo powertrain now generates 247 ponies (less than before) and the same torque as before. Both the turbo and supercharged variant decreased from 316 hp to 295 horses. However, the torque increased from 295-pound feet to 310. The 48-volt hybrid system does allow the XC60 to get better fuel efficiency. According to the EPA, the base model with front-wheel drive gains 1 mpg on the highway and city, which leads us to 23 mpg in the city and 30 mpg on the highway.
As opposed to the outgoing model, the B5 and B6 with all-wheel drive improve by 1 mpg in the city; their estimates are:
- 22 mpg in the city and 28 mpg on the highway (B5 all-wheel drive)
- 21 mpg in the city and 27 mpg on the highway (B6)
In a test, the XC60 averaged 23 mpg on 40,000 miles and the 0-60 distance was covered in 5.4 seconds. According to the manufacturer, the future B6 variant will skip a few tenths but will boast better response at low speeds due to the 48-volt bolsters torque and hp. Moreover, turbo lag is hidden by the electric assists. The response towards light throttle applications has gotten linear, whether you are at a high speed or going downhill.
The starter-generator also offers flawless auto restarts which can prevent drivers from turning off the auto stop-start system. When it comes to stop-and-go driving, when we turn on the brake-by-wire system in order to boost regenerative braking, it is not felt from the driver’s seat because the brake pedal modulation feels similar to the standard brake system. Finally, Volvo has added a new alert to notify an unfocused driver when the car has started moving.
The suspension of the XC60 is the same and the R-Design vehicle offers an option for 4C adaptive dampers. This optional feature successfully represses body motions apart from the lean in corners. But when driving with the optional 21 inches wheels, the car still feels heavy on broken roads. The existing XC60 was introduced in 2018 and 2022 marks the conventional mid-cycle refresh. This is why Volvo is adding extra changes apart from the mechanicals.
Read More: 4 Best Electric Cars to Buy in the UAE for 2021
More changes
This midpoint makeover consists of a light exterior nip-tuck including new wheel style, refreshed lower fascia, new grille texture, and a new rear bumper that hides the tailpipes. The cleanest exterior feature is quite hidden from the eye: the logo in the middle of the grille is now heated. This is done in order to avoid ice buildup which blocks the sensors.
When it comes to the Scandinavian interior, a new wool blend upholstery is added as a leather alternative. There is little space in the stowage but 4 adults can be seated and the cargo is sufficient too. The only noteworthy interior update is that a Google-based operating system is a replacement for the old infotainment system.
Instead of nav, you will have Google maps and instead of the stereo system, Google Play is responsible for it. For answering questions, Siri-style Google Assistant is provided. The 9-inches touchscreen is unchanged and the homepage still displays 4 horizontal tiles. At the base of the screen, a touchpoint is added to call various features. This means you won’t have to search for the surround-view camera in the menu.
Last words
XC60’s recent step to electrification has boosted fuel efficiency and drivability. This step has updated Volvo’s bestseller.
