The Volvo XC70's Gone Electric (Sort Of) and It's Got More Juice Than a Fruit Salad
Image Credit: Volvo.
A resurrected Volvo? And not just any Volvo, but the legendary XC70! My old faithful, the brick on wheels that could seemingly conquer continents and still look rather dashing, parked outside a garden center. Except… hold on a minute. They've slapped a plug on it? And turned it into… a crossover? I suppose even legends must evolve, or in this case, perhaps slightly mutate.
This all-new XC70, currently gallivanting only in the mystical land of China, is apparently what they're calling an "extended-range plug-in hybrid." I've always viewed plug-in hybrids with the same enthusiasm I reserve for lukewarm tea. A bit of electric here, a bit of petrol there – never truly excelling at either. They always struck me as a sort of automotive purgatory, a halfway house for the indecisive. But, and it pains me to say this, Volvo might just have stumbled upon something intriguing here.
They're claiming a frankly rather eyebrow-raising 124 miles of pure electric range. One hundred and twenty-four miles on electrons alone! That's a first for a plug-in hybrid. Of course, this figure comes courtesy of the rather optimistic Chinese Light-Duty Vehicle Test Cycle, which I suspect involves a lot of gentle downhill coasting with a tailwind and perhaps a bit of wishful thinking. But, even if you shave a considerable chunk off that number for real-world driving, you're still looking at a decent chunk of emission-free motoring.
The original XC70 was a glorious estate car, a proper wagon with a slightly raised ride height that whispered adventure without shouting it. This new iteration, alas, has succumbed to the ubiquitous crossover craze. It seems every manufacturer these days is churning out these high-riding hatchbacks like there's no tomorrow. While I understand their appeal – they're practical, I suppose, in a vaguely inoffensive way – they lack the sheer panache of a proper wagon.
But let's not dwell on the body style too much, especially as Volvo themselves are hinting that this new XC70 is "slightly larger and more spacious than the Volvo XC60." That's a fair bit of metal, then. We're probably looking at something around 190 inches long, maybe 75 inches wide, and standing about 65 inches tall. Plenty of room for the Labradors and the antique grandfather clock you inexplicably decided to purchase on a whim.
Image Credit: Volvo.
Under the skin, things get rather interesting. It seems this XC70 might be sharing its oily bits with the Lynk & Co 08, another Geely-owned brand. And if that's the case, we're talking about a rather potent combination: a 1.5-liter turbocharged four-cylinder petrol engine working in tandem with a pair of electric motors to produce a stonking 585 horsepower and a colossal 667 pound-feet of torque. That's enough grunt to embarrass a few sports cars off the line - Lynk & Co 08 gallops to 62 mph in 4.6 seconds. That's way, way quicker than my old XC70 could manage a Sunday morning dawdle to the shops.
Powering this electrifying performance is a substantial 39.5-kilowatt-hour battery pack. That's a serious chunk of lithium-ion, and it's what allows for that impressive (if slightly optimistic) electric range. And when the electrons do eventually run dry, you can apparently plug it into a DC fast charger and replenish the battery from 10 to 80 percent in a rather reasonable 33 minutes. That's just enough time to down a lukewarm cup of coffee and complain about the weather. The total claimed range, with a full tank of fuel and a fully charged battery, is a staggering 683 miles. That's enough to drive from New York to Detroit without stopping for fuel, which is rather remarkable for something that can also pootle around town on pure electricity.
Image Credit: Volvo.
Unfortunately, hasn't exactly been forthcoming with all the juicy details. They're keeping their cards close to their chest, teasing us with vague pronouncements about their "strategic entry into the extended-range plug-in hybrid segment." Apparently, it's a "perfect bridge to full electrification" for those who aren't quite ready to take the full electric plunge. Which is probably most people. Full EVs are all well and good, but the charging infrastructure still has a way to go, and range anxiety is still a genuine concern for many. This XC70, in theory, offers the best of both worlds – guilt-free electric motoring for shorter journeys and the reassurance of a petrol engine for when you need to go the distance.
Visually, Volvo says this new XC70 bears a resemblance to its larger electric sibling, the EX90, albeit with "slightly different proportions." So, expect a sleek, minimalist Scandinavian design language, probably with those distinctive Thor's Hammer headlights. If you were to debadge it, you might struggle to tell it apart from the rest of the Volvo lineup, which, as they themselves rather cheekily point out, is a bit like Audi's design strategy from a few years back – different sizes, same overall look. Still, it's a handsome design, even if it lacks the rugged charm of the original XC70 wagon.
The big question, of course, is whether this intriguing plug-in hybrid will ever see the light of day outside of China. Geely, Volvo's parent company, has hinted at a European launch for the Lynk & Co 08, which strongly suggests that this new XC70 could follow suit. Will it ever make it to the shores of America? If it does, with that impressive electric range and that surprising turn of speed, it could be a genuinely compelling alternative.
Image Credit: Volvo.
The Volvo XC70 is back, but in a rather different guise. It's swapped its sensible shoes for trendy trainers and its rugged wagon body for a sleek crossover shell. But underneath, there's a potent plug-in hybrid powertrain with a genuinely impressive electric range. It might not be the XC70 I remember, but perhaps, just perhaps, it's the XC70 the world needs now. And if it does make it to America, I might just have to take it for a spin. For old time's sake, you understand.
