The 2023 Volvo XC60 Recharge delivers luxury, power and eco-friendliness – The Oakland Press

Image courtesy of Volvo

As car brands shift to offering exclusively electric vehicles, a shift that will take many years, the role of hybrids will remain important for many automakers.

Volvo’s current hybrid offerings include the 2023 XC60 Recharge, a midsize SUV that offers style, performance and safety, and competes well with other hybrid offerings from brands like Lincoln, Lexus and Porsche.

This Swedish beauty may make a case for the best in its class, offering increased power and greater range for 2023.

Read on for a full breakdown of what the XC60 Recharge offers buyers looking for an environmentally friendly and fun ride.

For your information

• Vehicle: 2023 Volvo XC60 Recharge
• Price as tested: $74,690
• Best Feature: Sharp Scandinavian style, excellent Google-based tech settings, and plenty of horsepower
• Rating: 4 out of five stars
• Who would want this car?: Buyers who are looking for a powerful green luxury car but don’t want a full electric car are ideal targets for a hybrid like the XC60 Recharge.

Look

The 2023 Volvo XC60 Recharge features an attractive but unflashy Scandinavian design style inside and out.

The car is graceful with eye-catching lines, the designs on the 20-inch alloy wheels are particularly sharp, and it has a high-gloss black grille that is less in-your-face than most luxury rivals.

The illuminated panoramic sunroof features an electric sunshade; There are high-gloss black windows and mirror caps and illuminated door handles.

When moving around inside the car, the Volvo really shows off its luxury credentials. Beautiful wood trim highlights the interior design, and the car is very spacious, even for back-seat passengers. All five people on board will be comfortable, even on long flights, thanks to the seats made of high-quality Nappa leather and heated front and rear seats.

The unique crystal gear shifter stands out in this segment, and the physical controls are well-placed and easy to master.

Cargo space is good, with 22.4 cubic feet with the rear seats up, and 63.3 cubic feet with the rear seats down.

How is the trip?

The 2023 Volvo

A total of 143 hp comes from electric power, and 312 hp comes from the turbo power plant. These are huge numbers that provide an excellent overall driving experience.

The battery in the XC60 Recharge has a capacity of 18.8 kilowatt-hours, and the car features an 8-speed automatic transmission with start-stop technology.

Electronic all-wheel drive is included in the XC60 Recharge, and multiple drive settings (hybrid, pure, power, permanent all-wheel drive and off-road) can be selected depending on your situation. This versatility means it will be a solid choice for tackling roads in climates where heavy rain and snowfall are common.

Hybrid mode is best for everyday driving; Power mode provides a sporty ride and was my preferred option. Pure is EV power only; Off-road mode activates hill descent control and is best for rough terrain. Continuous All-Wheel Drive optimizes power to all four wheels when maximum traction is needed.

An optional four-corner air suspension system is available ($1,800), which results in a huge improvement in overall ride quality.

The XC60 Recharge delivers a smooth ride across the board, and delivers its big power numbers when you really want to get moving.

Zero to 60 comes in less than 5 seconds. This bad boy can move, but remains responsive to driver inputs at all speeds. Although it’s not a full electric car, the XC60 Recharge offers a very quiet ride.

This rapid acceleration means that passing on highways and other high-speed scenarios will not be a problem. And keep an eye on the speedometer, because you won’t realize how fast you’re going sometimes.

Technology and safety

The XC60’s vertical, tablet-style 9-inch touchscreen has a Google-based infotainment system that worked effectively during testing. It’s integrated with features like Google Maps, Google Assistant, and the Google Play Store.

Whether I was controlling music, phone calls, navigation, climate, or other features, I was quickly able to discover the right buttons to use. Voice commands were easier and became my default option.

All settings are easily adjustable, including the sound profile of the optional Bowers and Wilkins premium sound system, which is very powerful.

In addition to the 9-inch central display, there is a 12.3-inch digital progressive display in front of the driver. SiriusXM satellite radio is included on a trial basis, and there are several USB-C ports in the car, as well as a 12-volt charger.

An in-car Wi-Fi hotspot is also available, and Apple CarPlay and Android Auto compatibility come standard.

Moving on to safety, Volvo has been a leader in this area for a long time and this car continues that tradition.

A 360-degree surround-view camera is extremely helpful for the driver, as is Pilot Assist – a limited self-driving system that keeps the XC60 in your lane when activated (although your hands must remain on the wheel for the entire drive).

The XC60 Recharge also features LED headlights, automatic emergency braking, blind spot information system with steering assist, adaptive cruise control, collision mitigation (detects vehicles/pedestrians/cyclists/large animals), lane departure warning, lane keep assist, And automatic braking after that. Collision.

A head-up display is also available to help keep the driver’s eyes on the road.

Fuel mileage, charging

As a plug-in hybrid, the 2023 Volvo XC60 Recharge relies first on its battery as a power source, providing approximately 36 miles of electric-only range. After that, the car switches to a standard ICE engine as a power source.

What this means, in practical terms, is that people who drive short distances every day, and charge the car regularly, rarely need to stop at a gas station.

Those with higher total daily mileage will get less use of the electric-only range.

The MPGe (combined city/highway) rating for the XC60 Recharge is 63 mpg, while the gas-only rating is 28 mpg. In my real-world testing, I averaged 26 mpg with gas alone, which is slightly below the stated number, but that’s largely due to the driving modes I chose.

The 18.8-gallon tank means you’ll get a long way with a full tank, if you end up using the ICE side of things more than the battery.

For drivers who charge at home using a 220V home charging station, they can keep the XC60 Recharge fully charged every night by plugging it in for approximately 5 hours.

Therefore, drivers who travel short distances daily can only use electric vehicle power on a daily basis, charge it at home every night, and rarely use gas – making trips to the gas station rare.

It’s also important to note that regenerative braking can boost the XC60 Recharge’s electric range.

The XC60 Recharge and other hybrids are a solid choice for buyers who don’t want to commit to a full electric car, but want something that heads in that direction.

price

The base price for the 2023 Volvo XC60 Recharge starts at around $58,000, and my test car (the XC60 Recharge AWD Ultimate) came in at $74,690. Base ICE versions of the XC60 can be found for around $45,000.

The XC60’s trim levels include: Core, Plus, Ultimate, Recharge, Recharge Plus, Recharge Ultimate, and Recharge Polestar Engineered, with base prices ranging from $45,000 to $75,000.

Warranties include a 48-month/50,000-mile limited warranty; 144-month/unlimited-mile corrosion protection; Volvo roadside assistance on request; Scheduled maintenance is covered for 3 years/36,000 miles.

Recharge buyers also receive a hybrid vehicle warranty that covers 8 years/100,000 miles and protects against any issues with hybrid system components.

minimum

Boasting stylish Swedish design, fuel efficiency and eco-friendly credentials, and excellent technology and safety features, the 2023 Volvo XC60 Recharge Hybrid is a great midpoint between EVs and ICE vehicles in the luxury world.

Add to that its great driving experience, and the XC60 will be even more enticing for drivers looking for luxury and performance credentials.

Those looking to jump the fence for a while before diving into a full electric vehicle have an excellent option available to them in the 2023 XC60 Recharge.

Matt Myftiu can be reached via email at matt@autotechreviews.com. All of his previous reviews can be seen online at autotechreviews.com. Follow AutoTechReviews on Instagram at @Autotechreviews.