Volvo has introduced a new plug-in hybrid powertrain for its two largest SUVs, which gives the best-selling XC60 a range of 124 miles in EV mode - the longest of any PHEV on sale.
The new big-battery versions of the XC60 and XC90 come as part of a strategic pivot away from all-out electrification for the Swedish brand, which is investing in a new generation of long-range hybrids, having scaled back plans to totally electrify its cars in the coming years.
The new four-wheel-drive PHEV powertrain continues to be based around a 2.0-litre four-cylinder petrol engine but boosts battery capacity from 19kWh to 41.2kWh while also adding a more powerful electric motor.
The updated models arrive at a time when PHEV sales are firmly on the rise in the UK: 225,143 PHEVs were sold in the UK in 2025 – 35% more than in 2024 – for a record 11% market share. In August 2026, sales were up 39.8% on the same period in 2025, accounting for 14.5% of the total market.
Two PHEV variants of the updated XC60 are available: the 178bhp T6, which has the claimed electric-only range of 124 miles, and the 246bhp T8, which is said to be capable of 117 miles on a single charge.
The T6’s range is two-and-a-half times more than that of the previous XC60 PHEV, which could go 49 miles with the engine off, and matches that of the XC70 – a slightly larger crossover that's currently available only in China but could come to the UK.
Volvo describes the XC60 PHEV’s maximum EV range as “class-leading”, and indeed the rangiest PHEV versions of its rivals fall well short: the BMW X3 30e cracks 56 miles as an EV, the Audi Q5 TFSIe 62 miles and the Mercedes-Benz GLC PHEV 80 miles.
Indeed, the XC60 T6 will offer the longest engine-off range of any PHEV in the UK, beating the current title-holder, the Omoda 9 SHS, by 19 miles.
Despite the use of a bigger battery, Volvo promises that “clever” packaging will mean no compromise to the XC60's boot space, which currently stands at 468 litres with the rear seats up.
