Here’s a rather startling admission that the 2025 Volvo XC90 T8 PHEV brought to light. We have never actually reviewed a plug-in hybrid before on The South African. Remarkable, isn’t it? Countless fully electric and 48V mild hybrids have passed through our ‘doors’ (metaphorically speaking). But never a full plug-in hybrid like the Volvo XC90 T8.
Which brings us to the Swedish marque’s rather unconventional hierarchy of products available right now in South Africa. Back in 2021, Volvo said it would be a ‘fully electric car company’ by 2030. It boldly said 50% of its volume would be fully electric models by this year (2025), with a further one-million electrified (plug-in hybrids) Volvos on the roads globally.
VOLVO XC90 T8 PHEV
It’s difficult to say if the brand has achieved those goals. But it often doesn’t matter, because car companies say stuff like that to grab headlines. What we can tell you is the Volvo EX fully electric range is the best-selling new-energy vehicle (NEV) in South Africa. Even if that only amounts to a few hundred per month.
Nevertheless, let’s rather focus on the 2025 Volvo XC90 T8 plug-in hybrid we have before us. Clearly, it acts as a bridge between the internal-combustion engine (ICE) vehicles we know and love, and the all-electric NEVs steadily filtering in. As such, it has a turbocharged four-cylinder petrol engine and a battery electric powertrain working in unison.
SUBTLE EVOLUTION
Intriguingly, Volvo SA quietly introduced the updated model this year and the aesthetic and specification updates are very subtle. However, as the grand saying goes: “If it ain’t broke, don’t fix it.” Nevertheless, we were most excited to sample the new dual-energy drivetrain. It comprises a 19-kWh battery that takes three hours to charge at home. However, more impressive is the energy consumption of 26.7 kWh/ 100 km.
To the uninitiated, this means you can drive between 50 – 75 km on the battery alone before the petrol engine is called upon. As a result, the claimed fuel consumption is just 1.8 l/100 km for this near-three tonnes, seven-seat SUV! No jokes, that’s the official laboratory tested consumption of the Volvo XC90 T8 PHEV. However, there’s a little more to it than that …
VOLVO XC90 REPRESENTS BEST OF BOTH WORLDS
Of course, the issue comes in keeping the electric battery topped up. Because as we found out in our test, we drove the first 100 km (starting with a fully charged battery) and the consumption was a marvellous 2.0 l/100 km. However, once the battery was depleted, consumption quickly climbed to 10 l/100 km. So, it’s just like anything in physics – every action has an equal and opposite reaction.
Ideally, you’ll want to keep your Volvo XC90 T8 PHEV battery topped up all the time via a home charger. Unfortunately, we didn’t have that facility open to us, so we had to top up as we went with public chargers, which is no hardship. Although, you can also recharge on the move by selecting ‘Power – Recharge’ mode. This is accompanied by a faint drone from the engine is it works in the background to refill the battery as you drive along.
VOLVO XC90 T8 MEETS IN THE MIDDLE
In the end, our average consumption across the full review period settled at 8.5 l/100 km. Which is way higher than claimed, but still hugely impressive for this luxury halo model. However, we were expecting more from its kinetic recovery system to harvest energy in braking and coasting. We experimented with various settings in the eight-speed gearbox’s ‘B’ mode, with the fetching Orrefors crystal shifter. And there’s little to gain, perhaps 1 km EV range at a time.
Otherwise, we can’t say we have any qualms regarding the mechanical refinement of the Volvo XC90 T8 PHEV. The silky-smooth drivetrain – when charged – has upped the game. It is impressively quiet and responsive under hard acceleration (zero to 100 km/h in 5.5 seconds). And instant pick-up when firing the engine for an overtake is barely discernable to vehicle occupants.
THE VERDICT
Calling the Volvo XC90 T8 PHEV a subtle evolution may sound like faint praise. But that’s because it has been our go-to big seven-seat SUV for nearly a decade. Thankfully, the things we’ve perennially loved about it remain. Drawcards like the cavernous, practical and beautifully crafted cabin. Its classy and relaxed driving manners and excellent standard specification. However, the benefits of the silken plug-in hybrid powertrain on running costs and performance are undeniable. Only time will tell if the stopgap to Volvo’s electric future isn’t, in fact, already as good as it gets …
VOLVO XC90 T8 FIGURES
- 2025 Volvo XC90 T8 PHEV
- Engine: 2.0-litre, turbo 4-cylinder + plug-in hybrid
- Power: 340 kW & 709 Nm
- Performance: 0-100 km/h 5.5 sec (claimed)
- Economy: 8.5 l/100 km (tested) / 1.8 l/100 km (claimed)
- Transmission: 8-speed auto
- Price: R1 807 300
DO YOU THINK A PLUG-IN HYBRID IS A GOOD STOPGAP SOLUTION?
Let us know by leaving a comment below, or send a WhatsApp to 060 011 021 1.
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