Volvo XC60 T6 Recharge | Comfortable Quality Plug-in Hybrid
The Volvo XC60, the first Volvo on my list of cars I reviewed. I’ll be honest, I had high expectations of the brand because Volvo is known for quality and good cars. There are a lot of people that own a Volvo and who want to stay with the brand in specific because they're so satisfied with it. So let me answer the big question, did this car reach the high expectations or not?
Sporty Class
The looks of this car won't disappoint you. The metallic Silver Dawn exterior color suits this big and bulky car very well. It’s a simple concept without a lot of fuss, it looks very refined and streamlined and that’s what I really like about this one. Even though it’s kept simple, it still looks so sophisticated and modern. Join my walk around the Volvo XC60 and let us explore what the exterior has in store for us. As usual we start our tour at the front of the car. There we will notice the full LED headlights with active high beam. They fit this car perfectly and have a nice modern-looking T-shaped DRL signature. We also got a good-looking, blacked-out grille with glossy black trim. In the center of the grille we will find the specific and well-known Volvo Logo. I’m a big fan of this front in general! It’s really good-looking and has those beautiful sharp lines in the hood towards the bumper.
If we continue our tour we will arrive at the side of the car. There we will see the glossy black mirror caps which give the car a sporty touch. Also, the tinted windows with black trims are a great addition to that sportiness. This one came with the 19” glossy black diamond cut rims with 5 double spokes and they suit the car very well. Our next stop will be a little bit adventurous, let’s take a look from high in the sky. Now we have a perfect view of that beautiful big panoramic roof. It has a sliding and tilting function with an electronically operated blind. Alongside that panoramic roof we see those glossy black roof rails which are a perfect finishing touch. Let’s get back down to earth and let’s move to our last stop, the rear. There you will definitely notice one thing in particular, the taillights. They have a “special” design and I can't figure out if I like them or not. In some way the taillights make this car look a bit demon-like. One thing I like at the rear is that the same design as the front bumper can be found in the rear bumper, it’s a great design. On the right side of the rear, underneath the taillight, you will spot the T6 Recharge badge which refers to the engine option of the car.
Charming Simplicity
The inside is perfectly in line with the outside, simple yet very pretty. The one thing that immediately catches the eye is the 12” driver’s display and the 9” infotainment screen. Talking about the infotainment, this system is a bit of a struggle for me. There’s no wireless CarPlay or Android Auto so you need to connect your phone with a cable. Wired Apple CarPlay or Android Auto is just “old-fashioned” and outdated. Wires are just a no-go for me in new higher-class cars. Volvo’s infotainment system works with Google but it’s a bit of a work in progress. You should be able to download all your favorite apps directly from Google play but, as a user of Waze on a daily basis, this is a downside. I can’t download the app because Waze is not available to download. The basics are fine but I’m curious about what Volvo is going to do to make it perfect.
Once you take a better look, there are a lot of nice things in this interior. For example, that giant panoramic roof we talked about earlier and those super comfy black nappa leather sports seats with heating. Even the rear seats are heated too. Some nice Harman Kardon badges can be found on the speakers and behind those badges, there’s a 600W audio system containing 14 speakers with a ventilated subwoofer. One thing we didn't talk about it yet is the steering wheel. It’s a big -but good-feeling- steering wheel that can be heated too. I have just one problem with it, the buttons. They are slightly recessed into the steering wheel, which makes it a bit harder to use them while driving. But maybe it’s just a problem with my fingers.
The Center console has a lot of storage space. You have the sliding compartment, in which you’ll find the wireless charging system and a little space for the car key. Beneath the armrest, there’s a space with 2 USB-C ports and enough space to put your wallet in for example. When using this interior you will feel very comfy and relaxed. Everything is so well crafted and you feel that Volvo is working on the quality and luxurious feeling of their cars.
Powerful Hybrid
Driving this car is great and the drivetrain delivers a powerful experience. The T6 AWD engine option has 350hp and 659nm which feels pretty sportive. It will launch you from 0-100km/h in 5.7s until a maximum speed of 180km/h is reached. With the 14.7 kWh battery, providing a 78km (WLTP) electric driving range, this hybrid is perfect for everybody. It has an electric consumption of 19.4 kWh/100km (Combined).
The only downside is that this car isn’t super eco-friendly when the battery is drained, because of the 350hp engine. With the hybrid functions not active anymore I had a consumption of around 11l/100km (Tested). It’s the same consumption as my personal car, an Audi RS3. With this in mind, you should make sure the XC60 Recharge is always charged so you can enjoy the profits a hybrid car can offer you.
The XC60 Wrapped Up
This car is an amazing option for almost everyone. You can do your daily city trips and even your long trips in full EV mode. It’s a spacious, yet very practical and powerful car. With its price starting at €65.550(BE) it’s not the cheapest option, but you get a lot of quality in return. It was my first experience with a Volvo and it didn’t disappoint, I can’t wait till the next one!
