Volvo XC60 PHEV review: Classy SUV lacks dynamism

But ostentatiousness is not part of this man’s make-up and, although — like any honest broker — he likes the nice things in life just the same as anyone else, but it would just not do to be seen to be flaunting it.

So, Volvo was the answer to his motoring problems and while it must be said that Volvo products are not that much cheaper than its German rivals, they still do not carry the same sort of automotive gravitas. Volvo might disagree with that analysis, but in the case of the Irish market and the Irish buyer, it is true.

It is also a fact that in the small- to medium-sized premium SUV market and up against such as the BMW X3, the Audi Q5, and the Mercedes GLC, the Volvo XC60 outsells the lot of them and that may very well just be for the case I have outlined above.

The Volvo is not regarded as a ‘getting-ahead-of-yourself’ sort of car, while the others could definitely be adjudged to fit that description. But, if the cumulative sales of Audi, BMW, and Mercedes, all by far outweigh those of Volvo, in this critical SUV market, the Swedish company holds sway.

And it is the XC60 that we test this week, in the shape of the T8 AWD PHEV version which is the range topper and costs just shy of eighty-five grand. Coming in an Onyx Black overcoat with opaque rear windows and rear hatch as well as 21in diamond cut alloys in black and dark gloss trim (instead of chrome), all of which makes it look a bit like Batman’s weekend runabout.

On the technical side you also get stuff like active dampers, air suspension, active headlights (with a built-in cleaning system), electric front seats, a Bowers and Wilkins stereo system, Nappa leather upholstery, and a panoramic sunroof.

Under the hood you have a 1969cc four-cylinder engine which is turbocharged, supercharged, and allied to an electric motor which boosts power output to 401 bhp and allows for a 5.5 second 0-100km/h time and a top speed of 180km/h.

As is the case with all PHEVs the claimed fuel consumption rate is ridiculous at 1.3l/100km, or 217mpg for old lags like myself. Of course, this is an aspirational figure more than anything else, but you can expect a real-world figure of 4.7l/100km (58 mpg) without strain.

That said, if you want to unleash its potential on a fairly continuous basis, you will not find it to be an economic proposition.

The 50km of electric motoring you get is only just on the useful side, but once it’s gone you can use up the petrol reserves fairly quickly too if you’re of a mind for it and a figure of 9.4 l/100 km is possible (29.5 mpg).

I suppose the best way to describe the driving experience is that it is powerful without the neck-snapping madness you might expect get from a car with both turbos and superchargers, so it is a relatively sophisticated thing in that regard.

But the cleverness it shows in terms of power delivery and an almost complete absence of vices such as understeer, mask what might be a defining problem for this particular XC60.

Its German rivals are damn fine at coping with the aggressive stuff, but not this Volvo. At sane speeds the car is smooth and refined, but when you push it to the limits, it loses composure pretty quickly. There is a lack of on-road dynamism here which fits in perfectly with the Volvo ethos as the company is willing to cede that ground to the Germans.

Unfortunately, that means that the ride is not that capable on Irish surfaces and, ironically, that tends to discourage the pants-on-fire brigade. Now if you’re only ever driving on motorway surfaces, that’s great, but unfortunately that’s never a reasonable option here.

It does handle well — largely thanks to the 4x4 system — but the ride issue is one that will put serious drivers to thinking they might be better off in one of the German alternatives.

It must be said too that the brakes are a little over-active and you do really have to be gentle on the middle pedal to keep the drive comfortable for you and whatever passengers you might have.

On the upside, the interior is a rather classy place to be and Volvo has really pulled out most of the stops here. The décor is suitably Nordic — minimalist is certain ways, but splendidly luxurious in others — and beautifully put together.

I did find that the evolution of the infotainment system — controlled by a 9in portrait screen — seems to have actually made it less user-friendly than was originally the case and a dependence on Google systems seems to have made it more finicky and trickier to use.

It has a veneer of high-tech-ness about it, but it is actually fiddly and distracting by comparison with previous Volvo systems and I thought it to be regressive rather than progressive.

The 12.5in digital instrumentation screen is a lot more upmarket and Volvo-esque, but it will certainly take punters a while to get used to the centre screen system and to overcome its inherent fussiness.

That said, the overall solidity and comfort levels on offer are up with the best and will almost certainly fit the bill for a majority of clientele.

Bottom line

Bottom line, therefore, is this is a classy car and it is no surprise that so many Irish buyers, including my north Kerry buddy, have taken the XC60 route and been happy to do so.

From a dynamic point of view, it is a little disappointing that the ride is not as sophisticated as it might be — especially so when the engine potential is so obvious — and the infotainment system is not as intuitive as so many others these days.

For the most part, buyers looking at the Swedish option as a purchase will not be disappointed by the quality of what’s on offer, but if you’re looking for true engagement, you may well find you’re looking elsewhere.