- The Volvo XC60 mid-size plug-in hybrid crossover is about to get yet another refresh.
- For its 10th anniversary, Volvo’s main money maker with a plug will reportedly get a serious electric range boost.
- According to people with knowledge of the plan, the upcoming XC60 PHEV’s electric range could get near the 100-mile mark.
The Volvo XC60 has long been the Swedish automaker’s best-selling model, but it’s getting a bit long in the tooth. The second generation debuted back in 2017 and has received several nip-and-tucks over the years, including a serious range boost for the plug-in hybrid version starting with the 2022 model.
For its 10th anniversary, Volvo is planning to go one step further, though, with yet another significant range increase planned for the 2028 XC60 T8 AWD Plug-in Hybrid, which is slated to debut in the first half of 2027.
The XC60 was last updated for the 2026 model year.
Photo by: Volvo
According to people with knowledge of the plan quoted by Automotive News, the upcoming facelift is expected to more than double, and potentially even triple, the current model’s 35-mile EPA-estimated electric range figure.
The insiders who provided the unconfirmed information claim that the near-100-mile electric range will be achieved thanks to a larger-capacity and more energy-dense battery pack, which is expected to boost the PHEV crossover’s MPGe rating by about 30%. That aligns with what the next-generation XC90 SUV’s extended-range hybrid powertrain will deliver.
For a bit of context, the 2026 XC60 T8 is powered by a 2.0-liter turbocharged gasoline engine that drives the front wheels. An electric motor, which draws energy from a 14.7-kilowatt-hour battery, drives the rear wheels. The battery pack is nestled in the middle of the car, beneath the central armrest, and it will be interesting to see how Volvo will beef up this compact layout, as the space is quite limited.
That said, the Swedish automaker did it before. The second-gen XC60 PHEV debuted with a 9.2 kWh pack, which was upgraded to a 14.7 kWh unit in 2022, resulting in a nealy 60% increase in capacity.
Besides a bigger battery and more range, the latest XC60 facelift is expected to bring a few styling changes, including a redesigned front grille and slimmer headlights. The gas engine is also poised to get a power bump.
As an owner of a latest-generation Volvo plug-in hybrid myself, I can say that the current setup is perfectly adequate for my use case. On most days, I can drive over 40 miles on a full battery, which is enough for my needs, but I’ve also made trips where I squeezed over 60 miles from the high-voltage battery before the gas engine kicked in.
With a bigger battery and a more efficient powertrain, the updated XC60 PHEV will likely come on top of its main rival, the Mercedes-Benz GLC 350e, which is rated for 54 all-electric miles. Volvo’s mid-size crossover will also start rolling off the assembly line at its plant in Ridgeville, South Carolina, for the first time early next year.
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Source: Volvo