By Jim Meachen and Ted Biederman

(August 9, 2020) Volvo Cars aims to establish itself as a leader in electrification in the coming years, and by 2025 it wants half of its global sales volume to consist of fully electric cars, with the rest hybrid electrics.  While this is a lofty objective, we think based on the still small size of the all-electric segment Volvo might have difficulty meeting its goal without seriously compromising sales.

However, if Volvo concentrates on hybrid-electric vehicles such as the mid-sized 2020 XC60 T8 Polestar plug-in hybrid we think its future will be very secure. The XC 60 T8's combination of electric and gas power is stunning in a format that can make just about anyone happy and without range anxiety. The XC60 T8 in the "Polestar Engineered" form develops an enormous 415 horsepower and 490 pound-feet of torque from a combination of an electric motor and a sophisticated turbo- and supercharged four-cylinder gas engine yielding a 0-to-60 time of 4.9 seconds.

Polestar is the relatively new performance arm of Volvo and its upgrades add 15 horsepower and 22 pound-feet of torque to the standard XC60 T8 hybrid along with additional performance bits and pieces including 22-inch forged-aluminum wheels, Akebono brakes with 14.6-inch rotors and six-piston calipers up front, and blacked-out exterior trim. Volvo says its target with the Polestar T8 is the Audi SQ5.

If you want the T8 performance, but don't relish the north-of-70-grand price-tag, the standard T8 will bring 400 horses with a savings of around $10,000. On the other side — plug-in charging brings 19 all-electric miles. While our driving fell a bit short of 19, the Volvo does offer enough all-electric range for short work commutes or around-town shopping trips without dipping into the gas tank.



Following in the footsteps of its predecessor, the second generation XC60 has quickly become the best-selling model in Volvo Cars’ range. The original XC60 sold almost one million units globally and was the best-selling mid-sized premium SUV in Europe. And the 2020 edition can be purchased starting at $41,145 including destination charge in the base T5, which brings a 250-horsepower turbocharged four-cylinder. Move to the T6 and you will gain a turbocharged and supercharged 4-cylinder making 316 horsepower. All versions come with an 8-speed automatic and with available all-wheel drive. The range tops out with the T8 plug-in hybrid.

We were happy for the opportunity to drive the T8 AWD Polestar Engineered flagship, but we think the XC60 sweet spot that brings an excellent combination of price, performance and features is the T6 Inscription edition that offers virtually all of the crossover's available features including the full suite of safety technology and standard AWD. The T6 Inscription carries a bottom line of $53,645.

We found the performance impressive on our T8 test vehicle. It's a stealth muscle car that could leave a Mustang 5.0 owner scratching his head in wonderment as it powers off the line when the stoplight turns green — without the menacing engine sound found in most vehicles with this much performance. Merging and passing as you might expect was satisfying and we enjoyed touring our usual winding rural road "test track" where we found the T8 more than adequate in cornering, but short of outstanding.

Modern Volvo interiors are gorgeous and the XC60 lives up to the Volvo standards with an elegant design. There is a 12.3-inch digital driver display, and a nine-inch touchscreen. The cabin features clean lines and high-quality materials as well as a quiet and comfortable place to spend time. This is luxury personified. The seats are rewarding for long-distance travel both front and back and our test vehicle even came with a massage function as well as heating and cooling. To get adjustments just right you will have to delve into the touchscreen menu, which involves some study time to get used to.

The infotainment unit is intuitive and user-friendly, responding to swipe and pinch gestures like those for a smartphone or iPad, with good response times. The Bowers and Wilkins premium sound system provides pleasing sounds.

Leg room in back is excellent. The XC60, with 29.7 cubic feet of cargo space behind the second row seats, is a perfect vacation vehicle for four adults. If you are in the market for an upscale crossover, we recommend you put the XC60 on your "must drive" list.

Like the Volvos of old, there's safety equipment galore including automated emergency braking, blind-spot monitoring, and a lane-departure system.

Our T8 Polestar plug-in hybrid carried a base price of $72,045 including destination charge and a bottom line with a couple of options of $73,490.

2020 Volvo XC60 T8 Polestar

Essentials
Base price: $72,045; as driven, $73,490
Engine: 2.0-liter supercharged, turbocharged 4-cylinder; 2 electric motors
Horsepower: 415 combined
Torque: 490 pound-feet
Transmission: 8-speed automatic
Drive: all wheel
Seating: 2/3
Wheelbase: 112.8 inches
Length: 184.6 inches
Curb weight: 4,741 pounds
Turning circle: 37.4 feet
Luggage capacity: 29.7 cubic feet
Cargo capacity: 63.3 cubic feet
Towing capacity: 3,500 pounds
Fuel capacity: 13.2 gallons (premium)
EPA rating: 57 MPGe gas and electric, 27 combined gas
0-60: 4.9 seconds (Car and Driver)
Also consider: Audi QS5, Jaguar F-Pace

The Good
• Beautiful interior
• Comfortable seating for four
• Impressive performance

The Bad
• Too many controls embedded in touchscreen

The Ugly
• Big price tag for Polestar edition